Taunton Branch Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Founder | Thomas B. Wales (president) |
| Fate | Consolidated into New Bedford Railroad in 1874 |
| Headquarters | Taunton, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Bristol County, Massachusetts; Boston and Providence area |
| Products | Rail transport |
The Taunton Branch Railroad, established by charter in 1835, was among the pioneering railroads in Massachusetts, linking Mansfield to Taunton. Functioning as a subsidiary line of the Boston and Providence Railroad, it provided an essential terrestrial connection between Bristol County and the prominent commercial hubs of Boston and Providence.
Origins
Commencing operations in 1836, the railroad covered a distance close to 11.5 miles, with Thomas B. Wales serving as its inaugural president.
By 1840, the route was extended through the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad to reach New Bedford, Massachusetts, thereby granting Taunton direct access to the important whaling port. This development significantly broadened market opportunities for Taunton’s iron industry, stimulating economic expansion over the following years.
The Fall River Branch Railroad was built in 1845, linking Myricks with the burgeoning textile city of Fall River. Nevertheless, by 1846, trains destined for Fall River circumvented both Taunton and the Boston & Providence main line by utilizing a separate path via Middleborough and Bridgewater to connect with the Old Colony Railroad at South Braintree, indicating evolving regional rail planning.
Expansion
The Middleboro and Taunton Railroad began service in 1856, connecting Weir Village to the Cape Cod Railroad at Middleborough. Subsequently, in 1870, the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad extended the original Taunton Branch line from Mansfield to Framingham; this extension was leased by the adjacent Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad (BC&F).
A new link to Attleboro was created by the Taunton Railroad in 1871, providing a more direct route to Providence. On February 2, 1874, the Taunton Branch Railroad was consolidated into the New Bedford Railroad. The BC&F took on lease operations of New Bedford’s lines in 1875, leading to a merger between these entities in 1876 under the name Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad.
By 1879, this merged company came under lease by the Old Colony Railroad, which completed full integration in 1883.
Today
The southern portion of the initial Taunton Branch Railroad northeast of downtown Taunton still operates within CSX Transportation’s freight system, including its extensions towards New Bedford and Fall River. CSX also manages the 1871 extension to Attleboro, maintaining a vital freight passage connecting Taunton with Providence.
Much of the northern segment has been discontinued; notably, the stretch between Mansfield Center and Mansfield Municipal Airport has been repurposed as a recreational bike trail. In 2019, Massachusetts allocated $265,000 for further expansion of this rail trail.