Midland Railroad (Massachusetts)

New York and New England Railroad
Company type	Railroad
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad
Founded	1873
Defunct	1893
Fate	Reorganized as New England Railroad; leased by New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1898
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Southern New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Key people	Jabez A. Bostwick (president)
Products	Passenger and freight rail services

The New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE) served as a rail link between southern New York State and the cities of Hartford, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. Operating under this designation from 1873 until 1893, it originated from the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad, itself created through the consolidation of smaller railroads dating back to 1846. After declaring bankruptcy in 1893, the company briefly reorganized as the New England Railroad before being leased by its competitor, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, in 1898.

Today, most of the original NY&NE routes have been abandoned. However, a portion in Massachusetts remains active as part of the MBTA's Franklin/Foxboro Line commuter service to Boston South Station. In Connecticut, a segment near East Hartford continues to accommodate freight traffic operated by the Connecticut Southern Railroad. Several other stretches across Connecticut and Rhode Island have been converted into recreational rail trails.

Westward from Providence: 1846–1863

The corridor extending west from Providence, Rhode Island into New York was initially developed by three separate entities: the Providence and Plainfield Railroad (chartered in 1846), which reached the Rhode Island–Connecticut boundary; the Hartford and Providence Railroad (established in 1847), which extended to Hartford, Connecticut; and the New York and Hartford Railroad (chartered in 1845), which connected to the New York and Harlem Railroad at Brewster, New York. In 1849, the two Connecticut-based companies merged to form the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad (HP&F), receiving an amended charter to extend service to Fishkill, New York on the Hudson River. The Providence and Plainfield Railroad was absorbed into HP&F in 1851. The initial segment between Hartford and Willimantic opened that same year; subsequent expansions reached Providence by 1854 and Waterbury by 1855. After HP&F entered bankruptcy on January 1, 1858, trustees oversaw operations until it was leased by the newly formed Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad in 1863.

Southwestward from Boston: 1847–1867

At the Boston terminus, one of the earliest predecessors was the Norfolk County Railroad, chartered in 1847. This line commenced service in 1849 from a branch of the Boston and Providence Railroad at Dedham, Massachusetts, extending southwest to Walpole, soon reaching Blackstone. Financial difficulties led to its bankruptcy shortly thereafter. The Medway Branch Railroad was leased in 1851 and began operations in 1852.

The Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad was incorporated in 1849 with plans to extend westward from Blackstone to Southbridge. Meanwhile, the Midland Railroad was chartered in 1850 to establish a new approach into Boston that would merge with existing lines south of Dedham. These companies merged with Norfolk County Railroad in 1853 to form the Boston and New York Central Railroad, which aimed to continue southwest through Connecticut toward New York City. As part of this expansion effort, the East Thompson Railroad was incorporated in 1853.

By that year, tracks had been laid from Blackstone southwest to Mechanicsville, Connecticut. A new direct line into Boston opened in 1855 but was soon closed due to safety injunctions; it reopened late in 1856. Operational challenges forced a rollback to service only between Dedham and Blackstone by August 1855 under control of the Boston and Providence Railroad. The line was repossessed in 1857, terminating B&P operations. The East Thompson Railroad leased the full route briefly before additional shutdowns occurred. Except for the Dedham-Blackstone segment and Medway Branch line, most sections remained inactive until 1867. Attempts by Midland Land Damage Company (later known as Southern Midland Railroad) to resume service were unsuccessful.

Combined routes from Providence and Boston: 1863-1898

The Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad (BH&E) was established in 1863 to assume control of unsuccessful lines and extend westward to Fishkill, New York, where it connected via car float to the Erie Railroad at Newburgh, New York. It secured a lease on the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, providing a route from Providence westward to Waterbury. BH&E also acquired the former Boston and New York Central Railroad but initially left its operations under Norfolk County trustees.

The New York and Boston Railroad had constructed a line running southwest from Brookline, Massachusetts to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, intersecting Norfolk County at Blackstone. In 1865, BH&E absorbed this line as its Woonsocket Division. That same year, control of BH&E’s board shifted to interests aligned with the Erie Railway.

By 1867, BH&E leased the Norfolk County Railroad, reopening the entire stretch from Mechanicsville to Boston. The Southbridge branch was also inaugurated that year. In 1869, BH&E leased the Norwich and Worcester Railroad (N&W), securing a route to Boston via Plainfield and Mechanicsville. The opening of a direct connection from Willimantic northeast to Mechanicsville in 1872 finalized a continuous Boston line with transfer options to other regional railroads.

Although BH&E leased the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad in 1869 with ambitions of westward expansion, it lost this lease by 1870 due to unfinished construction.

Starting in 1872, the Long Island Rail Road’s Boston Express utilized BH&E tracks between Norwich and Boston; by 1891, this service had evolved into the Long Island and Eastern States Express.

Leasing the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad in 1873 granted BH&E access to New Haven. However, that same year BH&E declared bankruptcy and reorganized as the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE). While it retained the N&W lease, it lost the NHM&W lease, which was absorbed into the New York, New Haven and Hartford system by 1879.

Despite enduring receivership from 1873 through 1895, NY&NE managed to maintain vital assets such as the lucrative N&W lease, which supported dividend payments on its capital stock.

In 1881, an extension connected Waterbury westward to Hopewell Junction on the Newburgh, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad (ND&C), enabling trackage rights southwest to Beacon on the Hudson River. At Beacon, a train ferry linked with Erie lines. NY&NE also constructed a short line at Beacon that completed this essential east-west corridor.

The New York, Westchester and Putnam Railway was finished in 1881, connecting New York City northward to NY&NE at Brewster. This created a through route between New York and Boston until its acquisition by New York Central in 1894.

The Poughkeepsie Bridge opened in 1888, providing a permanent Hudson River crossing north of Beacon. By 1892, the Central New England and Western Railroad completed a connecting branch linking traffic from the Poughkeepsie Bridge to NY&NE at Hopewell Junction.

A significant "Midnight Receivership" took place at the end of 1883 into early 1884 but was resolved by 1886.

By 1886 Cyrus W. Field had become a prominent figure within NY&NE but sold his shares after Massachusetts declined to sell state-owned stock due to political concerns; this aligned with Governor Andrew’s policy of divesting railroad holdings.

In 1887 Jabez A. Bostwick—partner of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil—assumed presidency of NY&NE. Rockefeller’s influence extended through board connections with rival railroads such as New Haven, indicating strategic positioning within regional competition that potentially benefited Standard Oil’s transportation expenses.

NY&NE filed for final bankruptcy in December 1893; it was reorganized as the New England Railroad in August 1895 with substantial shareholder assessments. Beginning July 1898, the New York, New Haven and Hartford leased it for ninety-nine years at fixed dividends; full merger followed by 1908.

Market strategies included early acquisition of NY&NE stock by New Haven interests around 1895 after shareholders sold off during financial difficulties. Other parties’ attempts at control resulted in expensive stock purchases by New Haven.

The flagship passenger train of NY&NE was the distinguished New England Limited, introduced in 1891—a luxury Boston-New York service known as the "White Train" for its iconic Pullman cars—earning cultural prominence including literary mentions highlighting its impact on regional rail travel.

New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad: 1898-1969

The origins of the NY & NE can be traced back primarily to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, whose principal route extended from Providence, Rhode Island, to Brewster, New York, traversing important Connecticut cities such as Hartford and Waterbury. During the late 1910s, several Connecticut sections—including the stretches from Danbury to Hawleyville and Waterbury to Bristol—were upgraded to double tracks, incorporating structures like the Pequabuck Tunnel, which commenced operation in 1910.

Passenger train services operated by NY, NH & H ran until 1955 between Boston and Blackstone and Putnam, with connections at Willimantic leading to Waterbury. This included the express Nutmeg service with limited stops. The last remaining passenger route on this corridor, covering Hartford to Waterbury, was discontinued during the 1960s.

As years passed, portions of the line were abandoned, and what once were NY&NE mainlines were relegated to secondary branches. A significant development occurred in 1965 when Bristol invested $15 million to construct a spur line to a newly established General Motors facility on Chippens Hill, thereby ensuring GM’s continued presence in the area.

Branches

In addition to the primary routes diverging toward Boston and Providence at Willimantic, multiple branch lines enhanced local access.

Dedham

The initial Boston-bound route terminated at Dedham, where it connected with the Boston and Providence Railroad. By 1883 this branch had been discontinued; prior expansions included an eastern branch built in 1881 and a southern link added in 1890.

Medway

The Medway Branch Railroad operated between Norfolk and Medway starting in 1852 but ceased operations in 1864 following the New York and Boston Railroad’s arrival in Medway. The line was originally leased by the Norfolk County Railroad.

Valley Falls

Established by charter in 1875 and inaugurated in 1877, the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad provided service from Franklin on the Boston line to Valley Falls on the Providence and Worcester Railroad. The New York and New England Railroad assumed lease control in 1887.

Milford/Hopkinton/Ashland

Incorporated in 1855, the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad opened its line between Milford and Bellingham in 1868; it was leased by the Providence and Worcester Railroad until 1883. The Hopkinton Railway, established in 1870 and opened in 1872, ran northward from Milford through Hopkinton to connect with the Boston and Worcester Railroad at Ashland; this line was also under lease by Providence and Worcester until 1885. In 1884, Milford and Woonsocket acquired Hopkinton Railway, thereafter operating them jointly.

The Milford, Franklin and Providence Railroad, formed in 1868 and opened in 1883, extended southeast from Milford toward Franklin. On April 1, 1897, all three railroads were leased by the New England Railroad.

Today, a segment stretching from Franklin serves as part of the MBTA Franklin/Foxboro Line commuter rail system; meanwhile, the section running from Forge Park to Milford remains active for freight operations. The corridor between Milford and Ashland has been abandoned and is undergoing conversion into the Upper Charles Trail. A portion completed in 2011 utilizes the former right-of-way extending from I-495 to Hopkinton. In July 2020, state authorities allocated $50,000 for designing the Trolley Brook Trail—a rail trail segment located in Ashland—marking the initial phase of a larger planned trail expansion.

Woonsocket/Pascoag

Constructed as an alternative to the NY&NE's Boston route, the rail segment stretching from Brookline, Massachusetts to Harrisville, Rhode Island commenced operations in 1852 under the Charles River Railroad. By 1863, the line had extended to Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The Woonsocket and Pascoag Railroad, established in 1891, further expanded service by linking with the Providence and Springfield Railroad at Harrisville. Ownership of the Woonsocket line transferred to NY&NE following a merger in 1873; subsequently, on April 1, 1896, the New England Railroad leased the portion extending beyond Woonsocket.

Providence and Springfield

Incorporated in 1853, the Providence and Springfield Railroad launched its service in 1873, running from Providence, Rhode Island northwestward to Pascoag. By 1893, it had reached Douglas Junction on the NY&NE main line in Massachusetts. This railroad was leased by the New England Railroad starting July 1, 1896.

Southbridge

The Southbridge Branch, connecting East Thompson, Connecticut with Southbridge, Massachusetts, originated from the initial charter of the Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad and began operations in 1867 following consolidation.

Pawtuxet Valley

Founded in 1872, the Pawtuxet Valley Railroad commenced service and was leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad by 1874. Its route extended from the main line at River Point to Hope. In 1884, it was leased by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad as an extension of their Pontiac Branch Railroad, thereby improving regional transport links.

Norwich and Worcester

The Norwich and Worcester Railroad was established in 1837 through the merger of Connecticut’s Boston, Norwich and New London Railroad Company and Massachusetts’ Worcester and Norwich Railroad Company, with approval from both states’ legislatures. The company constructed a rail line running north from Norwich, Connecticut (later renamed New London) to Worcester, Massachusetts, featuring engineering landmarks such as the Taft Tunnel located in Lisbon, CT.

Leased by the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad beginning in 1869, this arrangement continued through various reorganizations. The railroad intersected Providence’s lines at Plainfield and connected with Boston’s lines between Putnam and Mechanicsville. In 1886, the New England Railroad renewed its lease agreement originally obtained from Boston, Hartford and Erie.

Until 1955, this route accommodated the East Wind, a through train running from New York to Bangor, Maine that bypassed Boston—highlighting its importance within regional passenger transit.

New Haven

The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad, which opened in 1873, was leased to the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad (BH&E), which itself declared bankruptcy that same year. The NHM&W experienced bankruptcy in 1875 before ultimately becoming part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad by 1879.

Rockville

Established in 1857, the Rockville Railroad began operations in 1863 and was leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad. It functioned as a brief spur line running from Vernon to Rockville.

South Manchester

Chartered in 1866, the South Manchester Railroad commenced service in 1869 and was leased by the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad. This line connected Manchester with South Manchester to the south.

Springfield

The Connecticut Central Railroad, chartered in 1871 along with its Massachusetts extension, the Springfield and New London Railroad, constructed a route from East Hartford to Springfield. Opening in 1876, it was initially leased by the Connecticut Valley Railroad before being transferred to the New York and New England Railroad in 1880.

Connecticut River

Created in 1888 through the merger of two smaller entities, the Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad linked Waterbury eastward to Cromwell. It was leased by the New York and New England Railroad in 1892. After declaring bankruptcy in 1898, it was reorganized as the Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad and promptly leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.

Station listing

State	Milepost	City	Station	Connections and notes
R.I.		Providence	Providence	Union Station, central hub for all Providence rail lines
			Dike Street	interchange with Providence and Springfield Railroad (NY&NE)
				connection to New York, Providence and Boston Railroad (NYNH&H) at Garfield Avenue and Cranston Street
		Cranston	West Providence
		Cranston	Cranston
		Warwick	Natick
		West Warwick	River Point	junction with Pawtuxet Valley Railroad (NYNH&H) and Pontiac Branch Railroad (NYNH&H)
		West Warwick	West Warwick
		Coventry	Quidnick
			Anthony
			Washington
			Coventry
			Summit
			Greene
Conn.		Sterling	Oneco
		Sterling	Sterling
		Plainfield	Moosup
		Plainfield	Plainfield	interchange with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)
		Canterbury
		Lisbon
		Sprague	Versailles
		Sprague	Baltic
		Scotland
		Windham	South Windham
		Windham	Willimantic	connection with New London Northern Railroad (Grand Trunk Railway) and NY&NE Boston line; also connects Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (NYNH&H)
	Andover, Connecticut	Andover
	Bolton, Connecticut	Bolton
	Vernon, Connecticut	Vernon	junction with Rockville Railroad (NY&NE)
	rowspan=2 Manchester, Connecticut	Manchester	connection with South Manchester Railroad (NY&NE)
	Buckland
	rowspan=2 East Hartford, Connecticut	Burnside
	East Hartford	junction with Connecticut Central Railroad (NY&NE)
	Hartford, Connecticut	Hartford (NY&NE station)	interchange with multiple NYNH&H lines including Hartford and New Haven Railroad
	West Hartford, Connecticut	Elmwood (NY&NE station)
	rowspan=2 Newington, Connecticut	Newington Junction	junction with Hartford and New Haven Railroad (NYNH&H), not a passenger station
	Newington
	New Britain, Connecticut	New Britain	interchange with New Britain and Middletown Railroad (NYNH&H)
	Plainville, Connecticut	Plainville	connection with New Haven and Northampton Company (NYNH&H)
	rowspan=2 Bristol, Connecticut	Forestville (NY&NE station)
	Bristol
	Plymouth, Connecticut	Terryville
	Waterbury, Connecticut	Waterbury (NY&NE station)	junction with Naugatuck Railroad and Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad (both NYNH&H)
	rowspan=2 Oxford, Connecticut	Towantic
	Oxford
	rowspan=2 Southbury, Connecticut	Southbury
	South Britain
	rowspan=2 Newtown, Connecticut	Sandy Hook
	Hawleyville	junction with Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad and Housatonic Railroad (both NYNH&H)
	Brookfield	Berkshire Junction	not a station; connection point for New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad (NYNH&H)
	rowspan=2 Danbury, Connecticut	Danbury station	interchange with New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad and Danbury and Norwalk Railroad (both NYNH&H)
	Mill Plain station
rowspan=3 New York (state)	Brewster, New York	Brewster	junction with NYC railroads: New York and Putnam Railroad, New York and Harlem Railroad
Towner's	Towners	bridge crossing NYC's New York and Harlem Railroad
Hopewell Junction, New York	Hopewell Junction	connection point for NYNH&H's Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut & Dutchess County Railroads

Boston line

For information on stations situated between Boston and , refer to Fairmount Line. Stations located between Dedham and can be found under Norfolk County Railroad.

State	City	Station	Connections and notes
Mass.	Douglas	East Douglas
		Douglas
		Douglas Junction	not an active station junction point with Providence and Springfield Railroad (NY&NE)
Conn.	Thompson	East Thompson	connection to Southbridge Branch
		Thompson
		Mechanicsville	no station here original junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)
	Putnam	Putnam	junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)
	Pomfret	Pomfret
		Abington
		Elliott
	Hampton	Hampton
	Hampton	Clarks Corner
	Windham	North Windham
	Windham	Willimantic	junction with New London Northern Railroad (GT), NY&NE route to Providence, and Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (NYNH&H)

Modern-day usage

Over the last ten years, financial support has facilitated the transformation of the rail corridor into a trail system. As of January 2014, the eastern sections extending from Garfield Avenue/Cranston Street near Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, through West Warwick (previously Riverpoint/Hope Railway spur), to Coventry are paved continuously, covering roughly 14.2 miles.

References

External links

Edward Appleton, Massachusetts Railway Commissioner, History of the Railways of Massachusetts (1871)
Philip C. Blakeslee, A Brief History Lines West Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. (1953)
Edited by Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island (1891)
Dorchester Atheneum: Midland Railroad
PRR Chronology
Turner, Gregg M. The New York and New England Railroad, (2021),