Florence – Florentine Quarry railway line

Florence VT – Florentine Quarry VT
Society:	VTR
Route length:	3 km
Gauge :	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Legend from Burlington 0 Florence VT to Bellows Falls Connecting curves 1½ Hollister Quarry – Albertson (Florence Junction) route 3 Florentine Quarry VT

The railway line Florence-Florentine Quarry is a railway line in Vermont ( United States ). It is three kilometers long and connects a former marble quarry with the Florence train station . The quarry is no longer in operation, but the Vermont Railway still runs about a mile and a half of the route from Florence to Florence Junction as part of the connection to an industrial area.

history

In 1893 the Brandon and West Rutland Railroad received a concession to build and operate a public railroad from Florence to the Florentine Quarry quarry west of the city. It was not until May 1901 that the company was set up and the line finally opened in 1909. Two years later, on May 13, 1911, the line was taken over by the Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad and connecting curves to their main line, which crossed in Florence Junction, were installed. From 1912 to 1925, quarry workers were transported on the route, but officially no public transport took place. Unofficially, passengers were allowed to ride on the freight trains for a small fee.

In 1972 the Vermont Railway , which also operated the main line through Florence, acquired the line to Florentine Quarry. With the closure of the quarry around 1977, the section from Florence Junction to Florentine Quarry was also closed. The remainder of the route is still used today for freight by the Vermont Railway.

Route description

The route begins at Florence Station on the Bellows Falls – Burlington railway line . It initially leads south, but makes a tight curve shortly after the train station and turns west. Through the village of Florence, the former Florence Junction junction is soon reached, where the track now turns. From here to the former quarry west of Florence, the route has been dismantled. Behind the track crossing, the route turns to the northwest. The terminus was east of Blue Quarry Road .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Mike Walker: Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America. New England & Maritime Canada. SPV-Verlag, Dunkirk (GB), 2010.
2. ^ Lindsell 2000, page 241.

literature

• Robert C. Jones: Railroads of Vermont, Volume I. New England Press Inc., 1993. ISBN 1-881535-01-0 .
• Robert M. Lindsell: The Rail Lines of Northern New England. Branch Line Press, Pepperell, MA 2000, ISBN 0-942147-06-5 .