Brattleboro and Bellows Falls Train Stations

On a trip up to northern Vermont (to mountain bike), I stopped by at Brattleboro and Bellows Falls to check out the train stations...

Brattleboro

Its kinda sad that the actual Amtrak Station is a puny section down in the basement but at least the station itself is preserved (it's an art museum).  Looking north, the tracks were pretty grown over.

According to shadyjay (railroad.net), "the track on the right has been out of service for many years, though it's still connected at both ends and, in theory, could be put into service, but would have to have brush cleaned up. The mainline (to the left) is continuous welded rail that was installed in 2011. The line is still very much in use with daily freight trains and the Amtrak Vermonter."

(details on the track usage in text above)

Bellows Falls

The view north up the river was entrancing. It must have been a picturesque train ride back in the day...

... but the actual station area looked pretty desolate although it's still a stop on the Amtrak Vermotner (see map).

Map Source

An interesting tourist-oriented addition in the vicinity is the "Waypoint Visitor Center" (adjacent to the Bellows Falls Canal). Architecturally modeled as a train station with a symbolic arch bridge melded in as well, it had a bit about the railroad history of the town--it was a major hub--but not a mention of Steamtown's origins here - STRANGE!?

Waypoint Visitor Center

Large sign detailing Bellows Falls railroad heritage:

Nice photos of yesteryear

Further Info

-Brattleboro-

• Brattleboro Station Facts
• Railroad History Photos Brattleboro
• Brattleboro Station (Wikipedia)

-Bellows Falls-

• Steamtown National Historic Site (Wikipedia- Great info on its somewhat tragic history)
• Steamtown (U.S. National Park Service)
• Bellows Falls Station Facts
• First Railroads Built Into Bellows Falls
• Green Mountain Railroad Map

Bristol Railroad (Vermont)

I was traveling thru the area and decided to do a little online and in-the-field research on this short-line. Only six miles in length, the railroad ran from 1892 until 1930. Both the Bristol and New Haven Junction stations still survive as well as remaining traces of the ROW.

There were only three stops on the line and being farm country, freight traffic was mostly agricultural. Imports were mainly coal for winter heating and manufactured goods for farmers. 

Acme Mapper shows abandoned ROW in topo view...

click to enlarge

New Haven Junction Station

Historic Photo
New Haven Junction Station

New Haven Junction Station

Looking Northward
New Haven Junction Station

Google Maps - Aerial and Street Views

It’s amazing how much you can discern just by using Google Maps. The links listed below open up Google Maps to provide a street view (or aerial close up). The "trip" goes west to east...

Google Street View Locations

1 - Station > | Station - Street View >

2 - NH Junction Curve >

3- Town Hill Road Crossing >

4- Iron Horse Road Crossing >

5 - Rt 17 Crossing >

Photo 5a
Rt 17 Crossing (looking south)

Photo 5b - Railroad Embankment Noted
Rt 17 Crossing (looking north)

Sawyer Road Crossing

Sawyer Road Crossing (A) | Sawyer Road Crossing (B)

Aerial - Sawyer Road  >

Photo 6a
Sawyer Road Crossing (looking west)

Photo 6b
Sawyer Road Crossing (looking east)

Little Otter Creek Crossings?

This is clearly labeled private property but one can't help but  wonder if there are any abutments at either of these locations...

44.130187, -73.116111  |  44.130826, -73.111401

Photo 7
Burpee Road - Looking eastward

Burpee Road Crossing >

Bristol Train Station

Bristol Train Station >

44.140150, -73.080371

Historical Photo
Bristol Train Station

Bristol Train Station

Further Info

The Bristol Railroad

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bristol Railroad by Greg Paiil (PDF)

This is a great article!

The Bristol Railroad: The Little Train That Could

By Larry Johnson (From the Valley Voice)

New Haven Junction Station Photos

http://www.marklin-users.net/forum/yaf_postsm26614_New-Haven-Jct---Vermont--Station.aspx
http://www.flickriver.com/places/United+States/Vermont/New+Haven+Junction/search/
http://www.pierregillard.com/trains/newhavenvt/indexen.html

Bristol Station Photos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeinvermont/164427723/
https://www.cardcow.com/417393/railroad-station-bristol-vermont/

West River Trail - Brattleboro

Built in 1879, the West River Railroad was originally a narrow gauge that ran 36 miles linking the industrial communities of Brattleboro and Londonderry. It was later rebuilt to standard gauge but abandoned in 1936.

16 miles are now rail trails. I rode the short but scenic first 3 1/2 mile section out of Brattleboro.

Trail Head runs through a corn field

There is a slight detour up the riverbank hill to avoid construction on  the I-91 Bridge...

...but most of the rest of the trail is quite scenic

Peak upriver

Sections run a little further away from the riverbank
over slight embankments through marshy areas 

The first section ends at this road (ALL TOO SHORT!)

Apparently you could continue of this road for a few miles
to connect with the other section of the rail trail

Super Short One-Handed Riding Video

More Info

Did You Know?
New York’s Plaza Hotel was built from quarry brought from Dummerston on this rail line.

"Forgotten Rails" - The West River Railroad >
Great Video - Lots of History!

West River (Trail Link Info)

Abandoned Rails - The West River Railroad >

Island Line Rail Trail (Colchester Causeway)

Also referred to as the Burlington Bikepath, this Rail Trail features 14 miles of super scenic lakeside riding including a spectacular white marble causeway....

What A Great Ride!

This is an amazing rail trail! Skirting the shore of Lake Champlain, it finishes on a spectacular causeway that goes right across the lake. The views across the lake of the Adirondacks are wonderful.

I started at Oakledge Park trailhead in South Burlington and rode the full 14 miles (one way). The weather was perfect as a severe thunderstorm during the night before cleared away much of the oppressive humidity.

Oakledge Park

An informative kiosk 

Reaching the causeway was fantastic.  It was beautiful with the sporadic trees and the mammoth white marble chunks it was built from...

The causeway was amazing!

There is a ferry here that operates on the weekends to allow bikers to continue on to the islands. The map was on the wall that led to the ferry.

End of the Line

Map of the entire trail

Heading back

White Marble and a Train Relic

Short Video Summary

 

More Trail Info

http://colchestervt.gov/Recreation/Causeway.html

http://www.traillink.com/trail/island-line-rail-trail.aspx

History of the Line

Built in 1899, Rutland Railroad’s Island Line finally provided a direct connection from southern New England to Lake Ontario.  Two breaks in the causeway were spanned by a fixed iron trestle and a swing bridge that could be opened to allow boats to pass.

It was a very expensive stretch of track to build. The three and a quarter mile marble-block causeway from Colchester Point to Allen's Point at South Hero alone cost the Rutland in the vicinity of $1 million. 

Railroad Related Links

http://colchestervt.gov/historical/railroads.htm

http://www.localmotion.org/programs/islandline/history

http://www.lavigneworld.com/rutland/story.html

Stowe Bike Path

It was a hot humid day but by late afternoon it cooled down a bit and this ride was quite pleasant. It's about a 5 mile trail that--much of the way--skirts a gravel-strewn river. There are quite a few bridges as well as the trail hops from one side of the river to the other quite a few times.

It's a super easy ride but a great addition to Stowe, a fun ride for sure...

check out the short video

------

Further Info >