Massachusetts Central Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Central Railroad is a short line railroad in western Massachusetts
, USA. It was established in 1979 to provide railroad transportation services between Palmer
and South Barre
on the old Right of Way (ROW) of the Ware River Railroad.
The old Ware River Railroad was an independent line that ran from Palmer to the Cheshire Railroad in Winchendon
and was built in 1868. The first section, from Palmer to Gilbertville
, opened in 1870, and the rest three years later.
Until 1873 it was leased to and operated by the New London Northern Railroad
, it was eventually taken over by the Boston and Albany Railroad and run as its Winchendon Branch.
The B&A wanted to run the Ware River Line in conjunction with the Monadnock Railroad
in order to gain access to the resort areas of Peterborough
, NH. When the B&A failed to gain control of the Monadnock, the Ware River Line was not very profitable.
By 1968, the line came under the control of the Penn Central and tracks were abandoned between South Barre and Waterville, splitting the line in two. The Boston and Maine Railroad
took over the line from Waterville to Winchendon and operated it until it was abandoned in 1984.
The Penn Central continued to operate the line south of Barre, but in 1975 all service between Gilbertville and South Barre were discontinued. Conrail operated the line between Palmer and Ware
and applied for abandonment of the remainder of the line. By 1979, the MCER was formed and resumed operations. The train rarely ran north of Ware until 1999 when new rail customers restored freight service to Barre.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA. It was established in 1979 to provide railroad transportation services between Palmer
Palmer, Massachusetts
The Town of Palmer is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,140 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and South Barre
Barre, Massachusetts
Barre is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,398 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called the Northwest District of Rutland, it was first settled in 1720. The town was incorporated on June 17, 1774, as Hutchinson after Thomas Hutchinson, colonial...
on the old Right of Way (ROW) of the Ware River Railroad.
The old Ware River Railroad was an independent line that ran from Palmer to the Cheshire Railroad in Winchendon
Winchendon, Massachusetts
Winchendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 10,300 at the 2010 census. Home to Winchendon State Forest, the town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs....
and was built in 1868. The first section, from Palmer to Gilbertville
Gilbertville, Massachusetts
Gilbertville is an unincorporated village in the town of Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about 20 miles west of the city of Worcester.-External links:*...
, opened in 1870, and the rest three years later.
Until 1873 it was leased to and operated by the New London Northern Railroad
New London Northern Railroad
The New London Northern Railroad was a part of the Central Vermont Railway from New London, Connecticut, north to Brattleboro, Vermont. After a long period with the Canadian National Railway, it is now operated by the New England Central Railroad...
, it was eventually taken over by the Boston and Albany Railroad and run as its Winchendon Branch.
The B&A wanted to run the Ware River Line in conjunction with the Monadnock Railroad
Monadnock Railroad
The Monadnock Railroad was one of many extension line railroads built to help expand the Fitchburg Railroad/Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad into New Hampshire. This line was to serve the New Hampshire towns on the eastern side of Mount Monadnock, mainly Jaffrey and Peterborough.It took quite a...
in order to gain access to the resort areas of Peterborough
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
, NH. When the B&A failed to gain control of the Monadnock, the Ware River Line was not very profitable.
By 1968, the line came under the control of the Penn Central and tracks were abandoned between South Barre and Waterville, splitting the line in two. The Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
took over the line from Waterville to Winchendon and operated it until it was abandoned in 1984.
The Penn Central continued to operate the line south of Barre, but in 1975 all service between Gilbertville and South Barre were discontinued. Conrail operated the line between Palmer and Ware
Ware, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
and applied for abandonment of the remainder of the line. By 1979, the MCER was formed and resumed operations. The train rarely ran north of Ware until 1999 when new rail customers restored freight service to Barre.