Newburyport Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Newburyport Railroad was a railroad that came about from the merger of three small rail companies into one large company to compete with the Eastern Railroad
.
The first company was incorporated in 1846 and opened a line from Newburyport
on the Eastern to Georgetown
in 1849, and west to the Boston and Maine Railroad
at Bradford
in 1851. This line was called the Newburyport and Bradford.
The second company was the Danvers and Georgetown Railroad, organized in 1851 and opened in 1853, running from the Newburyport Railroad at Georgetown south to Danvers
on the Essex Railroad
.
Finally, the third company, the Danvers Railroad was incorporated in 1852 and opened in 1855, continuing the line from Danvers southwest to the South Reading Branch Railroad
in Wakefield
.
The first two companies merged in 1855 to form a Newburyport Railroad. The B&M leased the Danvers Railroad in 1853, and the combined Newburyport Railroad in 1860, making the line from Wakefield to Newburyport the main line and the old line to Bradford a branch.
Like all the other rail lines that ran through Essex County
, the Newburyport Railroad slowly became obsolete in the early 20th century, although portions of it survived until the early 21st century.
The B&M did not start abandoning the Newburyport until 1941 when it wiped out the line from Newburyport to Topsfield
. The following year it abandoned the line between Georgetown and the Paper Mill in Haverhill
. Service to the Paper Mill was run from the B&M's main line until 1982 when all service between the Mill and Bradford ended and the line abandoned. Also in 1982, the line between Topsfield and Danvers was abandoned.
Freight service continued on the line between Wakefield and Danvers until all service stopped about 2001. The line served freight customers on the old Essex Branch
from 1985 to 2000 from Danvers Jct to Danversport after a fire destroyed the Waters River Bridge, preventing Guilford
from bringing freight in from Salem
.
Eastern Railroad (Massachusetts)
The Eastern Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine. Throughout its history, it competed with the Boston and Maine Railroad for service between those two cities, until the Boston & Maine finally put an end to the competition by leasing the Eastern in December...
.
The first company was incorporated in 1846 and opened a line from Newburyport
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
on the Eastern to Georgetown
Georgetown, Massachusetts
Georgetown is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,183 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1838 from part of Rowley.-History:...
in 1849, and west to 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...
at Bradford
Bradford, Massachusetts
Bradford is a former town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The name currently refers to the area on the south side of the Merrimack River in Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once Bradford...
in 1851. This line was called the Newburyport and Bradford.
The second company was the Danvers and Georgetown Railroad, organized in 1851 and opened in 1853, running from the Newburyport Railroad at Georgetown south to Danvers
Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
on the Essex Railroad
Essex Railroad
The Essex Railroad was a small independent railroad in the United States that connected Salem, Massachusetts to North Andover, Massachusetts and was named for Essex County as the traversed the county....
.
Finally, the third company, the Danvers Railroad was incorporated in 1852 and opened in 1855, continuing the line from Danvers southwest to the South Reading Branch Railroad
South Reading Branch Railroad
The South Reading Branch Railroad or just South Reading Railroad, was a short line railroad that ran from Wakefield, Massachusetts to Peabody, Massachusetts and was named for town of South Reading, which changed its name to Wakefield in 1868....
in Wakefield
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
.
The first two companies merged in 1855 to form a Newburyport Railroad. The B&M leased the Danvers Railroad in 1853, and the combined Newburyport Railroad in 1860, making the line from Wakefield to Newburyport the main line and the old line to Bradford a branch.
Like all the other rail lines that ran through Essex County
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, the Newburyport Railroad slowly became obsolete in the early 20th century, although portions of it survived until the early 21st century.
The B&M did not start abandoning the Newburyport until 1941 when it wiped out the line from Newburyport to Topsfield
Topsfield, Massachusetts
Topsfield is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,085 at the 2010 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Topsfield.-Colonial period:...
. The following year it abandoned the line between Georgetown and the Paper Mill in Haverhill
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
. Service to the Paper Mill was run from the B&M's main line until 1982 when all service between the Mill and Bradford ended and the line abandoned. Also in 1982, the line between Topsfield and Danvers was abandoned.
Freight service continued on the line between Wakefield and Danvers until all service stopped about 2001. The line served freight customers on the old Essex Branch
Essex Railroad
The Essex Railroad was a small independent railroad in the United States that connected Salem, Massachusetts to North Andover, Massachusetts and was named for Essex County as the traversed the county....
from 1985 to 2000 from Danvers Jct to Danversport after a fire destroyed the Waters River Bridge, preventing Guilford
Pan Am Railways
Pan Am Railways, Inc. , known as Guilford Rail System before March 2006, is a holding company that owns and operates Class II regional railroads covering northern New England from Mattawamkeag, Maine to Rotterdam Junction, New York...
from bringing freight in from Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
.