West River Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Vermont Central Railroad |
| Founded | 1899 (reorganized) |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Fate | Sold to RailTex, became New England Central Railroad |
| Headquarters | Vermont , United States |
Area served | Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Quebec |
| Parent | Grand Trunk Railway (1899–1923), Canadian National Railway (1923–1995) |
The Central Vermont Railway operated throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Quebec. Its network linked significant commercial centers from Montreal, Quebec, down to New London, Connecticut, tracing vital corridors along Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, and the Connecticut River valley. Additionally, it connected Montreal to Boston through a junction with the Boston and Maine Railroad located at White River Junction, Vermont.
History
Incorporated on October 31, 1843, as the Vermont Central Railroad, the enterprise set out to construct a principal rail line spanning Vermont from Burlington on Lake Champlain eastward through Montpelier to Windsor on the Connecticut River. Construction commenced in 1845, with segments opening incrementally until reaching Burlington by December 1849. The route was strategically planned to serve economic hubs, including a branch line to Montpelier, which was necessitated by challenging terrain.
Expansion occurred through leases and acquisitions: in 1849, the company leased the Vermont and Canada Railroad, extending service northward to Rouses Point, New York, and further into Quebec. During the 1860s, the Montreal and Vermont Junction Railway extended lines into Quebec, enhancing cross-border connectivity. Southern links toward Boston and Brattleboro were established via the Sullivan County Railroad and Vermont Valley Railroad.
Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, Central Vermont consolidated several subsidiaries—such as the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly Railroad (1867), Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad (1870), Rutland Railroad system (1871), and New London Northern Railroad (1871)—thereby reinforcing its presence across key Northeastern markets. The company adopted the name Central Vermont Railroad in 1872.
Further growth included control of the Missisquoi Railroad (leased in 1873), inauguration of the Montpelier and White River Railroad (1876), leasing of the Burlington and Lamoille Valley Railroad (1889), and acquisition of the Montreal and Province Line Railway (1896), expanding its reach within both American and Canadian regions.
Financial difficulties led to receivership in 1896; subsequently, the Grand Trunk Railway purchased the company in 1899 and reorganized it as the Central Vermont Railway. During this restructuring, the Rutland Railroad was separated. The company also secured full ownership of key subsidiaries like the Missisquoi Valley Railroad through outright purchase.
By 1920, persistent financial strain prompted Canadian federal intervention. The Grand Trunk system was placed under a Board of Management and eventually nationalized on January 20, 1923, becoming part of the Crown corporation Canadian National Railway. This marked a pivotal change in corporate governance for Central Vermont’s operations within North America’s rail industry.
CN and NECR: 1923-present
Following the Great Vermont Flood on December 12, 1927, Central Vermont Railway entered receivership and was reorganized by January 31, 1930. It preserved its corporate identity while functioning as an integral component of the Canadian National (CN) network. Although it lost independent status, it continued operating as a distinct railroad within CN’s system, handling freight such as general merchandise, furniture, dairy products, and agricultural goods.
The transition from steam to diesel locomotives occurred during the 1950s as CN introduced diesel power on Central Vermont lines; steam operations ceased entirely by 1957. The following decade brought challenges due to declining traffic volumes and rising operational expenses. Under CN’s management, numerous unprofitable branch lines were abandoned. Prior to CN’s privatization in 1995, several routes considered non-essential—including Central Vermont’s mainline—were divested.
On February 3, 1995, CN sold its mainline stretching from New London, Connecticut to East Alburg, Vermont to RailTex, a shortline operator that rebranded it as the New England Central Railroad (NECR). RailTex merged with RailAmerica in 2000; subsequently, Genesee & Wyoming acquired RailAmerica in 2012. NECR continues its operations under this ownership structure.
Richford Branch
Initially established as the Missisquoi Railroad, this line was subsequently renamed the Missisquoi Valley Railroad and later designated as a Division. It spanned roughly 27.5 miles until a bridge near Sheldon, Vermont, was compromised by a derailment in 1984. This incident resulted in partial track removal; operations persisted on the eastern segment, while the Lamoille Valley Railroad occasionally serviced the isolated western portion after 1989. By 1990, the rails between St. Albans and the damaged bridge had been dismantled.
Important stations along this branch included Saint Albans, which connected with the Central Vermont Railway; Sheldon, offering interchange with the Missisquoi Pulp and Paper Company; Sheldon Junction, linking to the Saint Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad; Enosburg Falls; and Richford, where there was an interchange with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
External links
- Central Vermont Railway
- Railway companies established in 1899
- Railway companies disestablished in 1995
- American companies established in 1899
- American companies disestablished in 1995
- Grand Trunk Railway subsidiaries
- Canadian National Railway subsidiaries
- Defunct Connecticut railroads
- Defunct Massachusetts railroads
- Defunct New Hampshire railroads
- Defunct Vermont railroads
- Defunct Quebec railways
- Former Class I railroads in the United States
- Standard-gauge railways in the United States
- Predecessors of the Grand Trunk Railway
- Defunct New York (state) railroads
- Historic American Engineering Record in Vermont
- 1899 establishments in Vermont
- American companies established in 1867
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment