Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad was a railroad in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
. It was incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company to provide a rail link between Sandwich
and Woods Hole on the western part of Cape Cod
, but the name was changed in 1868 before the railroad was completed. As part of the legislative enactment for the name change, the proposal was to extend the line north from Sandwich
and connect with the Old Colony and Newport Railway terminus at Plymouth.
In 1871, the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad was sold to the Cape Cod Railroad Company
who finally completed the 17.5 mile line between Buzzards Bay
to Woods Hole on July 20, 1872. The portion to Plymouth was never constructed.
Later in 1872, the line became part of the new Old Colony Railroad Company
upon the merger of the Old Colony and Newport Railway with the Cape Cod Railroad
. After 1884, the line to Woods Hole would used for the Old Colony's "Dude Train" which provided an exclusive link for wealthy Boston
businessmen to the ferry to The Islands
.
In 1893, it became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
as part of the lease of the entire Old Colony Railroad
network.
The U.S. Government later constructed a spur off the line to Camp Edwards
.
The southern portion of the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad right-of-way is now the Shining Sea Bikeway
.
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902...
. It was incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company to provide a rail link between Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
and Woods Hole on the western part of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, but the name was changed in 1868 before the railroad was completed. As part of the legislative enactment for the name change, the proposal was to extend the line north from Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
and connect with the Old Colony and Newport Railway terminus at Plymouth.
In 1871, the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad was sold to the Cape Cod Railroad Company
Cape Cod Railroad
The Cape Cod Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from Fall River Railroad line in Middleborough to Cape Cod...
who finally completed the 17.5 mile line between Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Buzzards Bay is located at...
to Woods Hole on July 20, 1872. The portion to Plymouth was never constructed.
Later in 1872, the line became part of the new Old Colony Railroad Company
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
upon the merger of the Old Colony and Newport Railway with the Cape Cod Railroad
Cape Cod Railroad
The Cape Cod Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from Fall River Railroad line in Middleborough to Cape Cod...
. After 1884, the line to Woods Hole would used for the Old Colony's "Dude Train" which provided an exclusive link for wealthy Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
businessmen to the ferry to The Islands
The Islands (Massachusetts)
The Islands is the collective name for the set of large islands south of Cape Cod in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Massachusetts: Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Islands, and a small number of minor islands...
.
In 1893, it became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
as part of the lease of the entire Old Colony Railroad
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
network.
The U.S. Government later constructed a spur off the line to Camp Edwards
Camp Edwards
Camp Edwards is a United States military training installation which is located in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It forms the largest part of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, which also includes Otis Air National Guard Base and Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. It was named after...
.
The southern portion of the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad right-of-way is now the Shining Sea Bikeway
Shining Sea Bikeway
The Shining Sea Bikeway is a rail trail in Falmouth, MA, in the north-east United States. The path runs for over ten miles , including nearly a mile along Surf Drive Beach on Vineyard Sound. It runs past several public parking areas, including parking for the Wood's Hole Ferry...
.