Stony Brook Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Stony Brook Railroad was a short line railroad that ran off the Nashua and Lowell Railroad's main line from the village of North Chelmsford
to Ayer
(then the village of South Groton) where it connected to the Fitchburg Railroad
.
to connect its city with the south and west. A few months before the new line opened, the Stony Brook owners entered into an agreement with the N&L to run the line for them. The SBR never owned its own rolling stock, so the line became an intricate part of the N&L which operated jointly with the Boston and Lowell under the unofficial name of the Boston, Lowell and Nashua Railroad.
During its early years, the Stony Brook line was not very profitable for the N&L, but the company kept the line open to keep it out of the hands of it rivals, the Fitchburg RR.
The line came under the control of the Boston and Maine
and it became part of the main freight line between Maine and the south and west to avoid going through Boston.
By 1911, freight and some passenger trains that used the Worcester and Nashua
line were rerouted over the Stony Brook. In 1928, the line was double tracked to handle the increase in traffic, until 1928. A western Wye was installed at North Chelmsford so all trains between Nashua
and Ayer could use this line.
The Bar Harbor Express
used the Stony Brook line every night, passing through without stopping on its route between Washington, DC and Ellsworth, Maine
. Another national passenger train, The State of Maine also rolled through at night with no stops on its route from Portland
to New York City. These trains ran between 1911 and 1960. Regular passenger service on the line ended in 1953.
In 1946, the B&M decided to relocate the connection of the Stony Brook and Fitchburg lines two miles east of Ayer Station to eliminate the parallel running of the two tracks. The Stony Brook track from the Willows section of Ayer to Ayer Jct were abandoned and a new connection with the Fitchburg line was made at Willows Station. In 1957, the second track was taken up from Willows to Graniteville and from Westford
to North Chelmsford.
Today, the Stony Brook line is still operating as part of the main freight line for Pan Am Railways
through Massachusetts. With trains coming through from Maine and the Nashua, NH area everyday, it is the busiest part of the old Guilford line in the state.
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
North Chelmsford is an unincorporated village in the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. Although North Chelmsford has its own zip code , library, post office, police station, fire station, and local calling area, it is run by the same local town government and is part of the same...
to Ayer
Ayer, Massachusetts
Ayer is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Originally part of Groton, it was incorporated February 14, 1871 and became a major commercial railroad junction. The town was home to Camp Stevens, a training camp for Massachusetts volunteers during the American Civil War...
(then the village of South Groton) where it connected to the Fitchburg Railroad
Fitchburg Railroad
The Fitchburg Railroad is a former railroad company, which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, USA, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. The Fitchburg was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1900...
.
History
The railroad was chartered in 1845 and opened in 1848, by the citizens of LowellLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
to connect its city with the south and west. A few months before the new line opened, the Stony Brook owners entered into an agreement with the N&L to run the line for them. The SBR never owned its own rolling stock, so the line became an intricate part of the N&L which operated jointly with the Boston and Lowell under the unofficial name of the Boston, Lowell and Nashua Railroad.
During its early years, the Stony Brook line was not very profitable for the N&L, but the company kept the line open to keep it out of the hands of it rivals, the Fitchburg RR.
The line came under the control of the Boston and Maine
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...
and it became part of the main freight line between Maine and the south and west to avoid going through Boston.
By 1911, freight and some passenger trains that used the Worcester and Nashua
Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad
The Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad was a railroad line that was to link the city of Worcester, Massachusetts to the city of Portland, Maine via the New Hampshire cities of Nashua and Rochester, by merging several small railroads together....
line were rerouted over the Stony Brook. In 1928, the line was double tracked to handle the increase in traffic, until 1928. A western Wye was installed at North Chelmsford so all trains between Nashua
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
and Ayer could use this line.
The Bar Harbor Express
Bar Harbor Express
The Bar Harbor Express was a seasonal passenger train which served the resort areas around Bar Harbor, Maine, in the United States. It was a joint venture of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, the Maine Central Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad .- History :The Bar Harbor...
used the Stony Brook line every night, passing through without stopping on its route between Washington, DC and Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
. Another national passenger train, The State of Maine also rolled through at night with no stops on its route from Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
to New York City. These trains ran between 1911 and 1960. Regular passenger service on the line ended in 1953.
In 1946, the B&M decided to relocate the connection of the Stony Brook and Fitchburg lines two miles east of Ayer Station to eliminate the parallel running of the two tracks. The Stony Brook track from the Willows section of Ayer to Ayer Jct were abandoned and a new connection with the Fitchburg line was made at Willows Station. In 1957, the second track was taken up from Willows to Graniteville and from Westford
Westford, Massachusetts
Westford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,951 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally a part of neighboring Chelmsford, West Chelmsford soon grew large enough to sustain its own governance, and was officially incorporated as Westford on September 23,...
to North Chelmsford.
Today, the Stony Brook line is still operating as part of the main freight line for Pan Am Railways
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...
through Massachusetts. With trains coming through from Maine and the Nashua, NH area everyday, it is the busiest part of the old Guilford line in the state.