Vermont Railway
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | October 25, 1963 |
| Founder | Jay Wulfson |
| Headquarters | Vermont , United States |
Area served | Vermont, eastern New York |
Key people | Jay Wulfson (inaugural president) |
| Products | Freight rail transport, passenger rail service (Amtrak Ethan Allen Express), dinner train service |
Number of employees | 150 |
| Parent | Vermont Rail System |
The Vermont Railway is a shortline railroad operating primarily in Vermont and the eastern region of New York, utilizing much of the former Rutland Railway network. It serves as the central component of the Vermont Rail System, which also encompasses the Green Mountain Railroad, a branch line from the Rutland extending to Bellows Falls. Ownership of the rail lines mostly lies with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, except for the portion in New York where VTR runs a route owned by the Boston and Maine Corporation. The company employs around 150 individuals within Vermont.
History
The Rutland Railway historically functioned as the principal north-south corridor through western Vermont. Following labor strikes in 1953 and 1961 that halted both passenger and freight services, the government of Vermont acquired 128.6 miles of track extending southward from Burlington to Bennington. The Vermont Railway was established on October 25, 1963, commencing operations on January 6, 1964. Jay Wulfson, previously associated with the Middletown and New Jersey Railroad, was appointed as its inaugural president.
Initial capital was directed toward replacing inherited locomotives and rolling stock, purchasing both new and secondhand engines, and leasing freight cars. In 1965, VTR expanded into intermodal freight transport and further grew by acquiring the Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad in 1972, gaining access to a limestone facility near Florence, Vermont. This segment was maintained as a distinct legal entity under Clarendon and Pittsford. By the late 1970s, despite setbacks including the loss of leadership such as Wulfson, annual revenues exceeded $2 million, with profits reinvested into upgrading infrastructure.
In 1982, VTR reimbursed Vermont for its original track acquisition. The following year, it purchased 23.7 miles of degraded track between Rutland and Whitehall, NY from the Delaware and Hudson Railway, assigning this line to Clarendon and Pittsford. Rehabilitation efforts improved infrastructure and operating speeds, establishing Whitehall as a significant interchange with D&H (currently part of Canadian Pacific). Since 1996, Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express has utilized this corridor.
The purchase of the Green Mountain Railroad in 1997, which operates a 52.2-mile stretch from Rutland to Bellows Falls, resulted in the creation of the Vermont Rail System holding company that oversees several shortlines across Vermont and New York.
For more than ten years as of 2021, VTR has managed the New York & Ogdensburg Railway—a 26-mile route connecting Ogdensburg to a CSX interchange at Norwood, NY—formerly part of the Rutland Railway's Ogdensburg Division.
In early 2011, VTR launched Otter Creek Railroad as a subsidiary aimed at constructing a new 3.3-mile spur near Middlebury, Vermont to serve quarry operations; however, this project was terminated in August 2012 due to concerns over economic feasibility.
Routes
The VRS oversees operations on the Connecticut River Line running from Newport to White River Junction. Speed restrictions are governed by the lowest track classification under FRA standards: freight trains operate at , while passenger trains run at .
Traffic
Vermont Railway handles a variety of freight shipments and supports Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express. Principal commodities include stone products—primarily limestone slurry sourced from OMYA mines near Rutland—and petroleum products transported via unit trains from Albany, New York to Burlington. Additionally, VTR operates the Champlain Valley Dinner Train between Burlington and Middlebury.
Active roster
| Model | Unit numbers | Builder | Year built | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP38-2 | 201, 202 | EMD | 1972-1974 | Originally constructed for VTR |
| GP38 | 204, 205 | EMD | 1969 | |
| GP38-3 | 206, 207 | EMD | 1969 | |
| GP38-2 | 208 - 212 | EMD | 1971-1972 | |
| GP40-2 | 307, 313 | EMD | 1972-1984 | |
| SD70M-2 | 431, 432 | EMD | 2006 | Acquired from FEC |
| GP18 | 801 | EMD | 1951 | |
| GP16 | 802 | EMD | 1950 | |
| GP9R | 804 | EMD | 1950 |
Retired roster
| Model | Unit numbers | Builder | Year constructed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | 97 | ALCO (Cooke Works) | 1923 |
| EMD GP38 | 203 | EMD | 1964 |