Saugus Branch Railroad

Saugus Branch Railroad
1887 map with Saugus Branch highlighted in green
Overview
Status	Ceased operation
Locale	Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus, and Lynn
Termini	Everett Junction West Lynn
Stations	18
Operation
Opened	1853
Closed	1958
Owner	Saugus Branch Railroad Co. (1848–1855) Eastern Railroad (1855–1890) Boston & Maine Railroad (1890–1958)
Operator(s)	Eastern (1853–1884) Boston & Maine (1884–1958)
Technical
Line length	9.5 mi (15.3 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The Saugus Branch Railroad (often called the Saugus Branch) was an American rail line that operated passenger service from 1853 to 1958. It serviced the Massachusetts communities of Saugus, Malden, Everett, Revere, and Lynn.

The first proposal for a railroad through Saugus came from a group led by George Peabody, who pushed for a railroad from East Boston to Salem over the Saugus marshes. The plan was opposed by Saugonians, as the owners of mills located on the Saugus River feared that a proposed drawbridge over the river would interfere with ships that loaded and unloaded cargo at their wharves. In 1836, the Massachusetts General Court granted the Eastern Railroad a charter to build the Boston to Salem railroad.

In an effort to tap into its competitor's market, the Boston & Maine Railroad petitioned the Massachusetts General Court in 1845 for a charter to build a railroad from Malden to Salem through Saugus, Lynnfield, and South Danvers. The plan was not approved.

In 1846, Joshua Webster proposed a railroad line from Saugus to Malden that would connect with the Boston & Maine Railroad in Malden. Eastern countered by proposing a line from Lynn to Saugus Center. In 1848 the legislature approved Webster's plan and granted his group a charter for the Saugus Branch Railroad Co.

Before construction began, the route was extended to Lynn Common and altered to include the Saugus neighborhood of Sweetser's Corner (now known as Cliftondale) and the Malden neighborhood of East Malden (now known as Linden). Construction began in 1850, but dragged along due to a lack of funds.