Suncook Valley Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Suncook Valley Railroad was a short-line railroad originating in Suncook
, New Hampshire
, and terminating in Pittsfield, New Hampshire
. It was operated as its own business entity since September 28, 1924, when control was regained from the Boston and Maine Railroad
. Starting in 1869, the Suncook Valley RR was leased by the Concord Railroad, and subsequently Concord & Montreal Railroad, then finally the B&M
. It served the Suncook River
valley region in central New Hampshire, stopping in key communities such as Epsom
, Allenstown
and Center Barnstead
.
into the Suncook Valley to Pittsfield. A second charter was granted in July of that same year for a second investment group to extend the rails from Pittsfield to connect with the Dover and Winnipesogee Railroad (modern spelling Winnipesaukee) at an undetermined point near the village of Alton Bay
. The charters lapsed into expiration due to disputes over an easement and a lack of financial backing. The looming Civil War
also halted plans for the railroad.
In 1863, a second pair of charters were granted by the New Hampshire courts for the construction of the Suncook Valley road, and what became known as the Suncook Valley Extension Railroad-the line to be constructed from Pittsfield to Alton. Ground was broken April 26, 1869, with the first Suncook-Pittsfield round trip taking place on December 6 of that year. In 1889 the extension was completed to Center Barnstead, but the connection to Alton never materialized.
On June 29, 1895, the Boston and Maine Railroad
seized control of the C&M and therefore the SV, on the same day. On January 1, 1912, the original lease expired, but was extended until January 1, 1916. All the while, the B&M held onto a shrewd, 60-day notice exit clause. Only on April 1, 1921 did the B&M fully take over the original lease from the C&M. With the Great Depression
becoming an ever-growing reality in the 1920s, the B&M sought to shed the expense of running into the Suncook Valley region and petitioned for abandonment. Since customers and residents along the route were yet to be served by a safe and efficient state highway system, action was taken to keep the line open. Former B&M employee C.J. McDonough became general manager of the SV, the head of New Hampshire's first independent shortline on September 28, 1924.
Until its demise in December 1952, the SV served the customers of its route mainly with carload-type freight and the U.S. Mail's Railway Post Office
essential contract. Service was included to a nearby quarry, the occasional passenger by use of the SV's well-worn combine
, and the commonly-depicted New England milk trains. Mixed trains were not uncommon on the route.
After the war, business dwindled and state highways opened the valley to quick access. March 1947 saw the abandonment of the extension from Pittsfield to Center Barnstead. With the loss of the mail contract in 1952, along with a deteriorating physical plant (the B&M had embargoed the railroad bridge interchanging with the shortline in April) the SV petitioned for abandonment.
The SV was charming and notable for such reasons as the use of steam-power well after World War II-until 1949, its daunting switchback
gaining access to the route in Suncook village, its first-of-a-kind independent status and the never-say-die frugality that defines life in rural New Hampshire.
Suncook, New Hampshire
Suncook is a census-designated place in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,379 at the 2010 census. Approximately 2/3 of Suncook village is located in the town of Pembroke, with the remainder in Allenstown....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, and terminating in Pittsfield, New Hampshire
Pittsfield, New Hampshire
Pittsfield is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 4,106 at the 2010 census.The central village in town, where 1,576 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Pittsfield census-designated place , and is located on the Suncook River near the junction of New...
. It was operated as its own business entity since September 28, 1924, when control was regained from 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...
. Starting in 1869, the Suncook Valley RR was leased by the Concord Railroad, and subsequently Concord & Montreal Railroad, then finally the B&M
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...
. It served the Suncook River
Suncook River
The Suncook River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Gulf of Maine....
valley region in central New Hampshire, stopping in key communities such as Epsom
Epsom, New Hampshire
Epsom is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,566 at the 2010 census.-History:Incorporated in 1727, Epsom takes its name from Epsom, England. Although dotted with several small mountains, the land was suitable for grazing and growing grain...
, Allenstown
Allenstown, New Hampshire
Allenstown is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,322 at the 2010 census. Allenstown includes a portion of the village of Suncook. Just over one-half of the town's area is covered by Bear Brook State Park....
and Center Barnstead
Center Barnstead, New Hampshire
Center Barnstead is an unincorporated village in the town of Barnstead in Belknap County, New Hampshire. It is the largest of several villages in the town....
.
History
The route of the fabled Blueberry Express was first suggested in January, 1849, when a charter was granted by the State of New Hampshire to John Berry to build a railroad from east of ConcordConcord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
into the Suncook Valley to Pittsfield. A second charter was granted in July of that same year for a second investment group to extend the rails from Pittsfield to connect with the Dover and Winnipesogee Railroad (modern spelling Winnipesaukee) at an undetermined point near the village of Alton Bay
Alton Bay, New Hampshire
Alton Bay is an unincorporated village in the town of Alton, New Hampshire, located on Alton Bay, a cove of Lake Winnipesaukee which forms the southeasternmost point on the lake. The village is part of the Lakes Region, a popular resort area of New Hampshire....
. The charters lapsed into expiration due to disputes over an easement and a lack of financial backing. The looming Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
also halted plans for the railroad.
In 1863, a second pair of charters were granted by the New Hampshire courts for the construction of the Suncook Valley road, and what became known as the Suncook Valley Extension Railroad-the line to be constructed from Pittsfield to Alton. Ground was broken April 26, 1869, with the first Suncook-Pittsfield round trip taking place on December 6 of that year. In 1889 the extension was completed to Center Barnstead, but the connection to Alton never materialized.
On June 29, 1895, 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...
seized control of the C&M and therefore the SV, on the same day. On January 1, 1912, the original lease expired, but was extended until January 1, 1916. All the while, the B&M held onto a shrewd, 60-day notice exit clause. Only on April 1, 1921 did the B&M fully take over the original lease from the C&M. With the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
becoming an ever-growing reality in the 1920s, the B&M sought to shed the expense of running into the Suncook Valley region and petitioned for abandonment. Since customers and residents along the route were yet to be served by a safe and efficient state highway system, action was taken to keep the line open. Former B&M employee C.J. McDonough became general manager of the SV, the head of New Hampshire's first independent shortline on September 28, 1924.
Until its demise in December 1952, the SV served the customers of its route mainly with carload-type freight and the U.S. Mail's Railway Post Office
Railway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
essential contract. Service was included to a nearby quarry, the occasional passenger by use of the SV's well-worn combine
Combine car
A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight....
, and the commonly-depicted New England milk trains. Mixed trains were not uncommon on the route.
After the war, business dwindled and state highways opened the valley to quick access. March 1947 saw the abandonment of the extension from Pittsfield to Center Barnstead. With the loss of the mail contract in 1952, along with a deteriorating physical plant (the B&M had embargoed the railroad bridge interchanging with the shortline in April) the SV petitioned for abandonment.
The SV was charming and notable for such reasons as the use of steam-power well after World War II-until 1949, its daunting switchback
Zig Zag (railway)
A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g...
gaining access to the route in Suncook village, its first-of-a-kind independent status and the never-say-die frugality that defines life in rural New Hampshire.
Literature
- John C. Hutchins: The Blueberry Express - A History of the Suncook Valley Railroad. Flying Yankee Enterprises. ISBN 0-96915574-0-0