Billerica and Bedford Railroad
| Locale | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1877–1878 |
| Successor | abandoned |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Billerica and Bedford Railroad was an early narrow gauge railroad in Massachusetts, built to demonstrate the advantages of a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge railroad.
George E. Mansfield, of Hazelhurst, Massachusetts, became an early promoter of the two foot gauge after seeing the Ffestiniog Railway in operation in Wales. He persuaded the citizens of Billerica of the economies of a two foot line, and became general manager of the Billerica and Bedford when it was chartered in 1876. Construction began in May 1877, and the line was completed between North Billerica and Bedford in August 1877, a distance of 8.63 miles (13.89 km).
The line was built very cheaply in accordance with narrow gauge doctrine, but rapidly found itself financially embarrassed. Turntables were built at each end of the railroad, and a wye and engine-house were built at Bedford, but no stations were ever constructed along the line. The company went bankrupt and was liquidated in June 1878.
Mansfield, undeterred, went on to promote the two foot gauge in Maine, where the largest New World network of these lines was ultimately built. The Boston and Lowell Railroad used most of the B&B roadbed to extend its Lexington Branch in May 1885. The Boston and Maine Railroad took over the line in 1887.
Station stops on the line along were Bedford, Springs Road, Bedford Springs, South Billerica, Turnpike (Nuttings Lake), Billerica, Bennett Hall and North Billerica (Only the Bedford & North Billerica stations still stand). Passenger service stopped on the last day of 1931 and the line was used as a freight line until it was abandoned from Bedford Depot to Billerica Depot in 1962. The line was further abandoned from Billerica Depot to Bennett Hall about 1980.
...
Wikipedia