Vermont Central Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1843-10-31 |
| Defunct | 1995-02-03 |
| Fate | Acquired by Grand Trunk Railway in 1899; later part of Canadian National Railway; mainline sold to RailTex in 1995 |
| Headquarters | United States, Canada (Quebec) |
Area served | Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Quebec |
| Products | Freight transportation (general goods, furniture, dairy products, agricultural commodities) |
The Central Vermont Railway served regions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Quebec. Its route connected Montreal, Quebec, to New London, Connecticut, tracing a path along Lake Champlain, crossing the Green Mountains, and following the Connecticut River valley. Additionally, it provided a connection from Montreal to Boston through a junction with the Boston and Maine Railroad at White River Junction, Vermont.
History
Chartered on October 31, 1843, the Vermont Central Railroad aimed to construct a rail line traversing Vermont from Burlington on Lake Champlain eastward to Montpelier, then turning southeast toward Windsor on the Connecticut River. Due to construction obstacles and property considerations, the primary route bypassed Montpelier, which was instead served by a branch line. Work commenced in 1845, with segments opening between 1848 and 1849, ultimately completing the Burlington connection.
The Vermont and Canada Railroad, established in 1845 as a northwestern extension from Essex Junction through St. Albans and Swanton to Rouses Point, was leased by Vermont Central in 1849. Although briefly reverted to its original owners, it was soon re-leased. During the 1860s, the Montreal and Vermont Junction Railway extended this line further north into Quebec.
The Sullivan County Railroad linked Windsor southward to Bellows Falls, connecting with the Cheshire Railroad en route to Boston. Initially managed by Central Vermont, control later passed to the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M), which subsequently granted trackage rights back to Central Vermont. The Vermont Valley Railroad connected Bellows Falls south to Brattleboro and was owned first by Rutland Railroad and later by B&M.
In 1867, Vermont Central leased the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly Railroad in Quebec. The Waterloo and Magog Railway stretched south from Waterloo to Magog. Between 1870 and 1871, Vermont Central expanded its network by leasing the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad (extending westward from Rouses Point), the Rutland Railroad system (covering routes from Burlington to Bellows Falls and Chatham), and the New London Northern Railroad. The company adopted the name Central Vermont Railroad in 1872.
Control of the Missisquoi Railroad came under Central Vermont from 1867, with a formal lease agreement signed in 1873; this line provided a northeast branch from St. Albans. It was reorganized as the Missisquoi Valley Railway in 1886 before being leased again by Central Vermont. The Montpelier and White River Railroad commenced operations in 1876 under lease to Central Vermont, extending service southward from the Montpelier Branch beyond Barre.
To settle ongoing legal disputes, the Consolidated Railway was established in 1884, merging Central Vermont with Vermont and Canada Railroads; operations were thereafter conducted by a newly formed Central Vermont Railroad.
In 1889, following reorganization as the Burlington and Lamoille Valley Railroad, the Burlington and Lamoille Railroad was leased by Central Vermont. This line connected Essex Junction with the Lamoille Valley Railroad at Cambridge Junction. A parallel route running west from Essex Junction to Burlington was promptly abandoned due to redundancy.
The Montreal and Province Line Railway underwent reorganization in 1896 under Central Vermont’s control. It operated from Saint-Lambert across the St. Lawrence River southeastward to Farnham and included branches extending further into Quebec.
After encountering financial instability, Central Vermont entered receivership in 1896; during this period, Rutland Railroad separated from its holdings. In 1899, following foreclosure proceedings, Grand Trunk Railway acquired Central Vermont and reorganized it as the Central Vermont Railway. This acquisition included outright purchase of the Missisquoi Valley Railroad.
By 1920, ongoing financial challenges led Canadian federal authorities to assume control over Grand Trunk Railway; after extensive legal proceedings, it was nationalized in 1923 and integrated into Canadian National Railway. This marked a significant restructuring that influenced Central Vermont's operations within CN’s broader corporate framework.
CN and NECR: 1923 to Present
After the Great Vermont Flood on December 12, 1927, the Central Vermont Railway entered receivership and was subsequently reorganized on January 31, 1930. It maintained its corporate identity but operated as a component of the Canadian National (CN) network. Although it lost its autonomy, it continued to function as a separate railroad within CN, transporting a variety of freight such as general goods, furniture, dairy products, and agricultural commodities.
The shift from steam to diesel locomotives commenced during the 1950s, with steam engines being fully retired by 1957. The following decade introduced difficulties including reduced traffic volumes and escalating operational expenses. Under ownership by Grand Trunk and later CN, numerous unprofitable branch lines were discontinued. As CN readied itself for privatization in 1995, it divested several secondary routes, among them the Central Vermont mainline.
On February 3, 1995, CN transferred ownership of the Central Vermont mainline stretching from New London, Connecticut to East Alburg, Vermont to RailTex. RailTex subsequently rebranded this line as the New England Central Railroad (NECR). RailTex merged into RailAmerica in 2000, which was later acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in 2012. NECR continues its operations under this corporate structure.
Richford Branch
Initially constructed as the Missisquoi Railroad, later renamed the Missisquoi Valley Railroad and eventually known as the Missisquoi Valley Division, this branch extended for 27.48 miles and operated continuously until 1984. That year, a derailment caused damage to a bridge spanning the Missisquoi River near Sheldon, Vermont. The compromised bridge section was removed, restricting service to the eastern portion of the line. After 1989, the Lamoille Valley Railroad occasionally ran trains on the isolated western segment. By 1990, tracks between St. Albans and the bridge had been dismantled.
Prominent stops along this branch included:
- Saint Albans, Vermont (connection with Central Vermont Railway)
- Green's Corners, Vermont
- Sheldon Springs, Vermont
- Sheldon (interchange with Missisquoi Pulp and Paper Company)
- North Sheldon, Vermont
- Sheldon Junction (connection with Saint Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad)
- East Franklin, Vermont
- Enosburg Falls, Vermont
- North Enosburg, Vermont
- East Berkshire, Vermont
- Richford, Vermont (interchange with Canadian Pacific Railway)