Windsor Gardens station
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | March 29, 1971 |
| Headquarters | Norwood, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | MBTA Franklin/Foxboro Line service |
Windsor Gardens station is part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Franklin/Foxboro Line and is situated in the southern region of Norwood, Massachusetts. The station consists of a single side platform adjacent to one track and does not offer accessible facilities. Entry is exclusively through the neighboring apartment complex; although there is no designated public parking, the station remains open for use by non-residents.
Initially, the South Norwood vicinity was served by a station on the Norfolk County Railroad beginning in 1849, with two further stations introduced on the Wrentham Branch in 1892. These three stations ceased operations in 1938 amid the 88 stations case. The rail line was incorporated into the MBTA Commuter Rail network during the 1960s and 1970s. Windsor Gardens station commenced service on March 29, 1971, primarily to accommodate the apartment complex established in 1962.
Station design
Positioned within Norwood’s South Norwood neighborhood near the boundary with Walpole, Windsor Gardens station lies off Engsmore Lane inside the Windsor Gardens apartment complex but remains accessible to all commuters. The facility does not provide public parking or bicycle amenities yet allows pedestrian entry from Walpole Street. It features a single low-level side platform roughly long on the western side of the Franklin Branch’s sole track. The platform lacks accessible accommodations. Two modest passenger shelters are available, but there is no dedicated station building.
Former stations
The Norfolk County Railroad opened its line through South Dedham (currently Norfolk) on April 23, 1849. Winslow(s) station—also known as Durfees and South Dedham–East Walpole—was established that year at Washington Street. Over time, operations changed hands multiple times until the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE) assumed control in 1875. In 1897, a railroad bridge and road underpass replaced the Washington Street grade crossing near this station.
In February 1892, the Old Colony Railroad extended its Wrentham Branch northward to . This expansion included stations such as Morrills, located near George H. Morill Printing Ink Works in Norwood, and East Walpole (also referred to as Bird Mills) situated at Washington Street in Walpole. The Old Colony Railroad was absorbed into the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (NYNH&H) in 1893; subsequently, NY&NE became part of NYNH&H as its Midland Division in 1898.
On July 17, 1938, Winslows, Morrills, and East Walpole stations were closed as a result of the 88 stations case, terminating all passenger service on the Wrentham Branch and leaving no stops on the Midland Division between Norwood Central and . While the original station buildings have been demolished, an 1890s freight house at East Walpole persists today repurposed for commercial activities.
Windsor Gardens
Formed in 1964 to enhance suburban commuter rail services, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) began subsidizing Midland Division operations in 1966. Following NYNH&H's merger into Penn Central in 1968, the MBTA acquired Penn Central’s commuter rail lines in 1973, designating service on the Midland Division as part of the Franklin Line within its Commuter Rail system.
The Windsor Gardens apartment complex, comprising 676 units, opened its initial phase in 1962. After prolonged discussions, Windsor Gardens station was inaugurated on March 29, 1971, offering two daily round trips primarily for complex residents. Local authorities expected this addition to substantially ease traffic congestion on the Southeast Expressway. The station featured prominently in promotional efforts for Windsor Gardens apartments, including incentives such as complimentary transit tickets to attract tenants.
By 1983, daily ridership at Windsor Gardens approached nearly 400 passengers. Unlike Gloucester’s Harbor station—which operated from 1977 until its closure in 1985 due to low patronage—Windsor Gardens sustained consistent usage levels. Although several Franklin Line stations received accessible mini-high platforms during upgrades in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Windsor Gardens did not undergo accessibility improvements. On October 11, 2021, it was designated a flag stop for all trains.
Future plans for double-tracking along the Franklin Line include installing a second track and potentially adding another platform at Windsor Gardens. As of November 2024, design completion for this segment is anticipated by 2025. In May 2024, the MBTA identified Windsor Gardens among seven stations requiring "complex solutions" to meet accessibility upgrade standards.