Newburyport Railroad
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Newburyport and Bradford Railroad, Danvers and Georgetown Railroad |
| Founded | February 22, 1855 |
| Defunct | 1860 |
| Fate | Leased and later acquired by Boston and Maine Railroad |
| Successor | Boston and Maine Railroad (Newburyport Branch) |
| Headquarters | United States |
The Newburyport Railroad, which later became known as the Newburyport Branch under the Boston and Maine Railroad, was formed through the consolidation of three smaller railroads. This merger aimed to provide a competitive alternative to the Eastern Railroad for travel between Newburyport and Boston. The route extended from Newburyport to Wakefield, Massachusetts, where it linked with the Boston and Maine (B&M) line for service to Boston.
History
The initial segment was the Newburyport and Bradford Railroad, established on March 11, 1846. It commenced operations between Newburyport and Georgetown in 1849, subsequently reaching Bradford (currently part of Haverhill) by 1851.
Next came the Danvers and Georgetown Railroad, formed on May 7, 1851. Construction began in April 1853 on a track running south from Georgetown to Danvers, connecting with the Essex Railroad.
The third segment, the Danvers Railroad, was incorporated on March 15, 1852. Its construction started in August 1853, extending southwest from Danvers to join the South Reading Branch Railroad and B&M at Wakefield.
By October 23, 1854, the entire stretch from Newburyport to Wakefield was completed. On February 22, 1855, the first two railroads merged to form the Newburyport Railroad, managing service between Newburyport and Danvers. The B&M operated the Danvers to Wakefield section and leased the Newburyport Railroad in 1860, integrating it as its Newburyport Branch. Eventually, B&M acquired full ownership of the line on October 30, 1906.
Following World War I, passenger numbers declined sharply. In 1924, B&M attempted to discontinue service but public opposition prevented this. Service reductions and station closures commenced in 1925. By 1940, B&M terminated operations on the segment between Newburyport and Topsfield, with service ceasing there by December 1941. In 1942, the portion between Georgetown and Bradford serving a paper mill was abandoned; mill shipments were rerouted via B&M’s main line. Passenger service between Topsfield and Danvers ended in 1950, with all remaining passenger operations concluding in 1959.
In 1976, B&M sold the track from Wakefield Junction to Topsfield to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The stretch from Topsfield to Danvers was abandoned in 1981. Freight trains continued running between Wakefield and Danvers until approximately 2001 when a fire damaged the Waters River Bridge, halting freight access to Salem.
The former rail corridor from Peabody to Newburyport is undergoing transformation into recreational trails as part of the Border to Boston Trail project. In 2022, state funding amounting to $122,000 was allocated for designing the Boxford segment. Additionally, plans are underway for a Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail.
References
- Karr, Ronald D. The Rail Lines of Southern New England - A Handbook of Railroad History. Branch Line Press, 1995. ISBN 0-942147-02-2
- Karr, Ronald D. Lost Railroads New England. Branch Line Press, 1994. ISBN 0-942147-04-9
- Walker, Mike. Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America. New England and Maritime Canada. SPV, Dunkirk, UK, 2010. ISBN 978-1-874745-12-9
- Articles with short description
- Defunct Massachusetts railroads
- Newburyport, Massachusetts
- Railway companies established in 1855
- Railway companies disestablished in 1860
- American companies disestablished in 1860
- 1855 establishments in Massachusetts
- American companies established in 1855
- 1860 disestablishments in Massachusetts