New Bedford Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | July 1, 1873 |
| Defunct | June 1, 1876 |
| Fate | Merged with Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad to form Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Massachusetts |
The New Bedford Railroad of Massachusetts was established on July 1, 1873, following the consolidation of the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad, Taunton Branch Railroad, and Middleborough and Taunton Railroad. Its primary route linked a connection with the Boston and Providence Railroad at Mansfield to the harbor city of New Bedford, traversing through Norton, Taunton, Berkley, Lakeville, and Freetown. Among its branches were the former Middleborough and Taunton Railroad line stretching from Weir Village to Middleborough via Raynham, as well as a direct route to Providence via Attleborough.
Less than a year after its creation, on February 2, 1874, the New Bedford Railroad entered into a fifty-year lease agreement with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad. Shortly thereafter, the Massachusetts Legislature approved the transfer of the Middleborough and Taunton line to the Old Colony Railroad, while other routes remained under New Bedford’s ownership. Subsequently, on June 1, 1876, the New Bedford Railroad merged with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad, forming the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad.
In 1879, this merged entity leased its operations to the Old Colony Railroad for 99 years but simultaneously extended its lease of the Framingham and Lowell Railroad to 98 years. By September 10, 1881, it had fully acquired the Framingham and Lowell Railroad, thereby increasing its network to 126.2 miles.
The Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad was completely integrated into the Old Colony system on March 5, 1883. In 1893, Old Colony itself was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Confronted with financial difficulties during the 1960s due to growing competition from alternative transportation modes, New York, New Haven and Hartford sought inclusion in the newly created Penn Central Transportation Company, which took ownership of its assets on December 31, 1968.
After Penn Central declared bankruptcy, operations were assumed by Conrail starting April 1, 1976. When Conrail was divided in 1998 between CSX and Norfolk Southern, CSX took control of former New Bedford Railroad lines including those divested in 1874.
Today, most of what was once the New Bedford Railroad is operated by both the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad and CSX. The northern portion between Mansfield junction and Taunton has been abandoned and converted for use as roadways, parks, airport expansions, and recreational trails.
See also
- Fall River Branch Railroad
- Fall River Railroad
- Mansfield and Framingham Railroad
- Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad
- Boston and Albany Railroad
- New York and New England Railroad