Concord and Montreal Railroad
The Concord and Montreal Railroad is a former railroad company based in New Hampshire and Massachusetts ( United States ). It was founded on September 19, 1889 as the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad (BCM) and the Concord Railroad (CR). In addition, leasing contracts with the following railways were transferred to the new company:
- Tilton and Belmont Railroad (formerly BCM)
- Whitefield and Jefferson Railroad (formerly BCM)
- Pemigewasset Valley Railroad (formerly BCM)
- Nashua, Acton and Boston Railroad (formerly CR), including the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks between North Acton and Concord Junction in Massachusetts
- Manchester and North Weare Railroad (formerly CR)
- Concord and Portsmouth Railroad (formerly CR)
- Suncook Valley Railroad (formerly CR)
- Suncook Valley Extension Railroad (formerly CR)
In 1890 the Lake Shore Railroad was founded and leased directly from Concord & Montreal. They built a 27.5 kilometer branch line from Lakeport to Alton Bay , along the south shore of Lake Winnipesaukee . In Alton Bay, the new line followed the line of the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad, which opened in 1851 . The route was mainly used for tourist traffic. The only intermediate station that had a goods handling station was West Alton.
In 1893 Concord & Montreal took over the Profile and Franconia Notch Railroad . They operated 3 foot (914 mm) gauge railroads in northern New Hampshire. On June 21, 1893, Concord & Montreal leased the New Boston Railroad and on April 1, 1895, the Franklin and Tilton Railroad . On the same day, however, the Concord & Montreal was in turn taken over by the Boston and Maine Railroad . On June 29, 1895, Boston & Maine also took over management of the railways leased by Concord & Montreal. In 1919, with the reorganization of Boston & Maine, Concord & Montreal was finally taken over and incorporated. The Grasmere Junction – East Milford railway line opened in 1900 by Boston & Maine was formally leased to C&M.
Today only the main line Nashua - Concord - Lincoln and the Rockingham - Portsmouth section of the former Concord & Portsmouth are still in operation from the former Concord & Montreal network . Both railways are used today by Pan Am Railways . In addition, the New Hampshire and Vermont Railroad operates the Waumbec Junction– Littleton section . The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad operates a museum railway between Meredith and Weirs Beach on the main line, which is still in regular freight traffic . The right of joint use also applies to Laconia .
Sources and further information
- literature
- Edward Appleton (Massachusetts Railway Commissioner) History of the Railways of Massachusetts ( transcribed as HTML ). Bulletin No. 1 - The Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc., 1871.
- George H. Drury: The Historical Guide to North American Railroads 2nd Ed. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, WI 2000, ISBN 0-89024-356-5
- Robert M. Lindsell: The Rail Lines of Northern New England. Branch Line Press, Pepperell, MA 2000, ISBN 0-942147-06-5 .
- Web links
- Page of the current operating company (English)
- Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society (English)