# Cape Cod Railroad > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cape_Cod_Railroad > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cape_Cod_Railroad.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Railroad > Source revision: 1282518426 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Railroad in southeastern Massachusetts, US}} {{Infobox rail line |name = Cape Cod Railroad |color = |logo = |logo_width = |image = Railroad station, Sandwich, Massachusetts.jpg |image_width = |caption = [Sandwich Station](/source/Sandwich_station_(Massachusetts)) on the Cape Main Line |type = |system = |status = Operating |locale = [Cape Cod](/source/Cape_Cod) |start = [Middleborough](/source/Middleborough%2C_Massachusetts) |end = [Hyannis](/source/Hyannis%2C_Massachusetts) and [Camp Edwards](/source/Camp_Edwards); formerly [Woods Hole](/source/Woods_Hole%2C_Massachusetts), [Chatham](/source/Chatham%2C_Massachusetts), and [Provincetown](/source/Provincetown%2C_Massachusetts) |stations = |routes = |open = |close = |owner = Massachusetts Department of Transportation |operator = [Cape Cod Central Railroad](/source/Cape_Cod_Central_Railroad) (1999–present); [Massachusetts Coastal Railroad](/source/Massachusetts_Coastal_Railroad) (2007–present), [Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority](/source/Massachusetts_Bay_Transportation_Authority) (2013–present) |character = |stock = |linelength = |tracklength = |gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}} |speed = |elevation = |map = {{Cape Cod Central Railroad Line}} |map_state = show }} The '''Cape Cod Railroad''' (also currently referred to as the '''Cape Main Line''') is a railroad in southeastern [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), running from Pilgrim Junction in [Middleborough](/source/Middleborough%2C_Massachusetts) across the [Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge](/source/Cape_Cod_Canal_Railroad_Bridge), where it splits towards [Hyannis](/source/Hyannis%2C_Massachusetts) in one direction and [Falmouth](/source/Falmouth%2C_Massachusetts) in the other. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from the [Fall River Railroad](/source/Fall_River_Railroad_(1846)) line in Middleborough to [Cape Cod](/source/Cape_Cod). == History == === Cape Cod Branch Railroad, 1846–1853 === {{maplink-road|frame-align=left|plain=no|from=Cape Cod Railroad.map|text=Route of all railroads, both current and past, along Cape Cod. In the present day, all tracks east of Yarmouth or south of northern Falmouth have been removed. (Tracks to waste transfer station on [Joint Base Cape Cod](/source/Joint_Base_Cape_Cod) not shown.)}} Among the proponents of the Cape Cod Branch Railroad were Col. [Richard Borden](/source/Richard_Borden) of [Fall River](/source/Fall_River%2C_Massachusetts), who saw the new line as an opportunity to bring more traffic and business through his hometown. He was at one time president of the Bay State Steamboat Company, which together with the [Old Colony Railroad](/source/Old_Colony_Railroad) formed the noted "[Fall River Line](/source/Fall_River_Line)". He was later elected president of the Cape Cod Railroad.{{cite book |last=Fisher |first=Charles Eben |title=The story of the Old Colony railroad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oL8pAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA35 |access-date=12 January 2013 |year=1919 |publisher=C.A. Hack & son, inc., printers |page=35 }} On January 26, 1848, the first {{convert|14.7|mi|km|adj=on}} segment of the railroad was opened between [Middleborough](/source/Middleborough%2C_Massachusetts) and [Wareham](/source/Wareham%2C_Massachusetts). By May 1848 an additional {{convert|12.9|mi|km|abbr=out}} was opened to [Sandwich](/source/Sandwich%2C_Massachusetts), enabling unimpeded transit between Boston and Sandwich, thus serving the needs of the [Boston & Sandwich Glass Company](/source/Boston_%26_Sandwich_Glass_Company). In 1853, the extension of the line to [Hyannis](/source/Hyannis%2C_Massachusetts) was started, reaching [West Barnstable](/source/West_Barnstable%2C_Massachusetts) on December 22, 1853. === Cape Cod Railroad, 1854–1872 === On February 22, 1854, the Cape Cod Branch Railroad was renamed the '''Cape Cod Railroad Company'''.Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, Feb 15, 1911, page 415 In the spring of 1854, construction continued, with the railroad reaching [Barnstable village](/source/Barnstable_(village)%2C_Massachusetts) May 8, [Yarmouth Port](/source/Yarmouth_Port%2C_Massachusetts) May 19, and finally Hyannis on July 8, 1854.{{cite journal|last=Homans|first=Isaac Smith|title=Operations of the railways of Massachusetts, 1854 |journal=Hunt's Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YaQRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA506|access-date=13 January 2013|volume=1855|year=1855|publisher=Freeman Hunt|page=506}} Connecting [steamboat](/source/steamboat) service to [Nantucket](/source/Nantucket%2C_Massachusetts) commenced from Hyannis in late September and would continue until 1872. ==== Acquisitions ==== In 1868, the Cape Cod Railroad acquired the [Cape Cod Central Railroad (1861–1868)](/source/Cape_Cod_Central_Railroad_(1861%E2%80%931868)), which had opened a line from [Yarmouth](/source/Yarmouth%2C_Massachusetts) to [Orleans](/source/Orleans%2C_Massachusetts) in 1865.{{sfnp|Fisher|1919|p=34}} In 1871, the Cape Cod Railroad bought the [Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad](/source/Plymouth_and_Vineyard_Sound_Railroad) – which had been incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company intending to build a line from [Buzzards Bay](/source/Buzzards_Bay%2C_Massachusetts) to [Woods Hole](/source/Woods_Hole). However, the road to Woods Hole was not completed until July 17, 1872, after the merger with the Cape Cod Railroad.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2GI9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA8-PA11 |page=11 |date=November 1872 |title=Ninth Annual Report of the Old Colony Railroad Co. to the Stockholders |publisher=Old Colony Railroad Company}} Upon completion of that road, the steamboat service to Nantucket moved to Woods Hole.{{sfnp|Fisher|1919|p=34}} === Old Colony Railroad, 1872–1893 === {{main|Old Colony Railroad}} [[File:Terminal and Dock, Woods Hole, Mass. - No. 10915.jpg|thumb|left|Postcard depicting Cape Cod Railroad's terminus in [Woods Hole, Massachusetts](/source/Woods_Hole%2C_Massachusetts), circa 1890s]] By this time, the Cape Cod Railroad had merged with the Old Colony and Newport Railway to form a new company, renamed the Old Colony Railroad. The Cape Cod routes became known as the "Cape Cod Division" of the Old Colony Railroad, with its headquarters in Hyannis.{{sfnp|Fisher|1919|pp=36, 69}} The merger was completed on September 30, 1872.The Woods Hole Branch opened on July 17, 1872.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2GI9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA9-PA7 |page=7 |date=November 1873 |title=Tenth Annual Report of the Old Colony Railroad Co. to the Stockholders |publisher=Old Colony Railroad Company}} With much fanfare, the Old Colony Railroad completed the line to [Provincetown](/source/Provincetown%2C_Massachusetts) in July 1873.{{sfnp|Fisher|1919|p=44}} Old Colony Railroad maintained all rail operations on the Cape until their closure in 1893. === New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, 1893–1964 === {{main|New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad}} After Old Colony Railroad closed in 1893, the entire network was leased by [New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad](/source/New_York%2C_New_Haven_and_Hartford_Railroad), which took over operations on the Cape Cod Railroad. The NYNH&H ended daily passenger service to southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape in 1959. The railroad did, however, restore the popular seasonal rail service from New York City to Hyannis, with connections from Boston, during the 1960 through 1964 summer seasons. The New Haven's passenger service to Cape Cod was operated under a number of different names, including and ''[Day Cape Codder](/source/Day_Cape_Codder)'', the ''Night Cape Codder'', the ''Neptune'', the ''Islander'', and the ''Flying Dude''.{{cite book | last=Farson | first=Robert | title=Cape Cod Railroads | publisher=Cape Cod Historical Publications | year=1990 | pages= 258–262 | isbn =0-9616740-1-6}} === Amtrak, Bay Colony, and Cape Cod & Hyannis, 1980s–1990s === thumb|right|A Cape Cod Railroad excursion train and the ''Cape Codder'' at West Barnstable in 1995 Following New York, New Haven and Hartford permanently terminating Cape operations in 1964, the Cape lacked any regular passenger rail service for almost twenty years. In 1984, the [Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad](/source/Cape_Cod_and_Hyannis_Railroad) began providing seasonal service between Braintree and Hyannis, until their closure in 1988. In 1986, [Amtrak](/source/Amtrak) began operating the ''[Cape Codder](/source/Cape_Codder_(train))'' during summer weekends from [New York City](/source/New_York_City) to Hyannis, until it was terminated in 1996. The cancellation of the ''Cape Codder'' marked the end of non-heritage passenger rail between the Cape and the mainland for almost twenty more years. From 1989 to 1999, [Bay Colony Railroad](/source/Bay_Colony_Railroad) operated seasonal [heritage railroad](/source/heritage_railroad) excursions from Hyannis to Sagamore under the Cape Cod Railroad brand,{{cite book |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=1995 |isbn=0942147022 |pages=341}} until these services were taken over by Cape Cod Central Railroad in 1999. Bay Colony was also the sole operator of freight rail on the Cape from 1987 to 2007, until their contract expired and service was taken over by Massachusetts Coastal Railroad. == Present era == thumb|left|One of the Cape Cod Central Railroad's excursion trains in 2009 [[File:CapeFLYER trial run entering Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge.JPG|thumb|right|A CapeFLYER train crosses the [Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge](/source/Cape_Cod_Canal_Railroad_Bridge) on the Cape Main Line in 2013]] thumb|left|A Massachusetts Coastal Railroad freight train operating in 2014 Throughout the 20th century, most of the railroad tracks on the outer Cape were removed, with many being replaced with rail trails. Today, the only railroad tracks on the Cape exist on the upper Cape. Shortly after crossing the [Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge](/source/Cape_Cod_Canal_Railroad_Bridge), the track splits in two directions, with one direction heading towards Falmouth and the other heading towards Hyannis. The Falmouth line is currently used for freight and heritage passenger service, while the Hyannis line is used for regular freight and passenger services. === Passenger service === The [Cape Cod Central Railroad](/source/Cape_Cod_Central_Railroad) continues to operate seasonal tourist excursions, departing from [Hyannis](/source/Hyannis_Transportation_Center) and [Buzzards Bay](/source/Buzzards_Bay_station) and occasionally including stops at [West Barnstable](/source/West_Barnstable_station) and [Sandwich](/source/Sandwich_station).{{cite web|url=https://www.capetrain.com/|title=Cape Cod Central Railroad: Scenic Excursions & Dining Trains|website=Cape Cod Central Railroad|access-date=January 4, 2020}} A limited number of trains also depart from North Falmouth,{{cite web|url=https://www.capetrain.com/rides/cape-cod-dinner-train/|title=Cape Cod Dinner Train|website=Cape Cod Central Railroad|accessdate=May 31, 2021}} which marks the only passenger service along the Falmouth spur of track. Ever since the [Middleborough/Lakeville Line](/source/Middleborough%2FLakeville_Line) was restored for public service in the late 1990s, there have been several efforts made to extend [MBTA Commuter Rail](/source/MBTA_Commuter_Rail) service from Middleborough to [Buzzards Bay](/source/Buzzards_Bay_station). In 2020–2021, the MBTA conducted a feasibility study of service in conjunction with the then-under-construction [South Coast Rail](/source/South_Coast_Rail) project.{{cite web|url=https://www.capecod.com/newscenter/study-launched-to-investigate-cape-commuter-rail-service/|title=Study Investigates Possible Cape Cod Commuter Rail Service|website=CapeCod.com|date=3 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020|author=Grady Culhane}}{{cite web|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2020/12/01/state-explore-options-passenger-trains-between-middleboro-lakeville-and-cape/3780913001/|title=New study renews hope for Cape commuter rail service|author=Ethan Genter|website=Cape Cod Times|date=1 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020}} While regular commuter service has not yet been implemented, the seasonal passenger train [CapeFLYER](/source/CapeFLYER) began operating from Boston to Hyannis in 2013, as a collaborative effort between [Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority](/source/Cape_Cod_Regional_Transit_Authority) and [Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority](/source/Massachusetts_Bay_Transportation_Authority). In addition to serving select stops along the regular commuter rail lines, the CapeFLYER also makes stops in [Wareham](/source/Wareham_Village_station), Buzzards Bay, [Bourne](/source/Bourne_station), and [Hyannis](/source/Hyannis_Transportation_Center) === Freight === In 2007, the contract for Cape freight rail was awarded to [Massachusetts Coastal Railroad](/source/Massachusetts_Coastal_Railroad), which currently continues to manage all freight rail on the line today.{{cite web|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20070929/NEWS/709290329|title=Rail manager switches after 25 years |website=Cape Cod Times|date=29 September 2007|access-date=15 December 2020|author=Patrick Cassidy}} The most common operation is the "energy train", which hauls refuse from the [Upper Cape Regional Transfer Station](/source/Upper_Cape_Regional_Transfer_Station) in [Falmouth](/source/Falmouth%2C_Massachusetts) and the Yarmouth-Barnstable Regional Transfer Station in [Yarmouth](/source/Yarmouth%2C_Massachusetts), to the [Southeastern Massachusetts Resource Recovery Facility](/source/Southeastern_Massachusetts_Resource_Recovery_Facility), a [waste-to-energy](/source/waste-to-energy) plant in [Rochester](/source/Rochester%2C_Massachusetts). Other regular operations include interchanging with CSX in Middleborough and transporting material for the ongoing [South Coast Rail](/source/South_Coast_Rail) project. Massachusetts Coastal Railroad is owned by the same parent company as Cape Cod Central Railroad. Mass Coastal has been in conflict with proponents of a new rail trail that wish to replace the line between Bourne and Camp Edwards with a new branch of the [Shining Sea Bikeway](/source/Shining_Sea_Bikeway). This would eliminate rail service to the transfer station within Camp Edwards. The railroad is advocating for a [rails with trails](/source/rails_with_trails) instead.{{Cite web |last=Rausch |first=Michael J. |date=2023-08-02 |title=Railroad Owner Initiates Campaign To Save Rail Line |url=https://www.capenews.net/bourne/news/railroad-owner-initiates-campaign-to-save-rail-line/article_044667c4-8f98-5d74-9735-7db8d1bf95e9.html |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=CapeNews.net |language=en}} {{clear}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * {{cite report |author=Massachusetts General Court Legislative Research Council |date=March 27, 1974 |title=Report Relative to Railroad Service from Boston to Brockton and Cape Cod |url=https://archive.org/details/reportrelativeto1974mass |publisher=The Commonwealth of Massachusetts}} * {{Cite report |author=Transportation Planning and Resource Group |title=Phase I Project Report: Cape Cod Seasonal Passenger Rail Service |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/116840547/PHASE-I-Project-Report-Cape-Cod-Seasonal-Passenger-Rail-Service |date=March 2012 }} ==External links== *[https://www.scribd.com/collections/4126633/Cape-Cod-Timetables Cape Cod passenger railroad timetables from the past] {{DEFAULTSORT:Cape Cod Railroad}} Category:Old Colony Railroad lines Category:Predecessors of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1872 Category:Defunct Massachusetts railroads Category:1846 establishments in Massachusetts --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cape Cod Railroad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Railroad) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Railroad?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.