North Brookfield Railroad
The North Brookfield Railroad in central Massachusetts in the United States was a 4.16 mile railroad opened in 1876. It connected North Brookfield to the Boston and Albany main line at East Brookfield. The B&A leased the line from opening until they were in turn leased by the New York Central Railroad in 1900. The NYC merged to form the Penn Central Railroad in 1968. The line was abandoned by Conrail in the 1970s. In the early 2010s, an attempt was made to rebuild the line to service companies in the area.
The railroad when formed was 90% owned by the town of North Brookfield. Today the right-of-way is 100% owned by the town of North Brookfield.
Passenger service was discontinued on December 31, 1935.
Station list
- East Brookfield
- North Brookfield
History
Constructed starting July 20, 1875, and ready for January 1, 1876.
First Lease - Ten Years - A great success
In the first ten years, 107,296 tons of freight was received, 40,040 tons of freight was shipped. There were 451,099 passengers carried with no injuries or deaths. The Boston & Albany Railroad paid a percentage of gross receipts, for a total payment of $24,443.74.
Before the railroad, the stagecoach fare was $0.30. By rail passengers saved 63%. Freight by ox or horse team cost $0.07/100lb. By train the cost was about $1/ton, saving 29%.
Second Lease - Fifty Years at a flat rate
The lease was renewed for $3,000 per year. From this income, they paid a tax of $652.89 in 1915.[2]
Third Lease - 1936
On December 31, 1935 an annual renewable lease was signed, effective the next day. This lease was for freight only.
Proposed Rail Trail
Some brush was cleared, but the right of way is presently closed to the public. [3]
Proposed Revival
Daniel M Bigda proposed in 2010 to rebuild the railroad for freight service.[4] Mr Bigda planned to utilize two former passenger locomotives and to install a fuel storage tank. Although track would be brand new the trains would operate at Class I speeds - 10 MPH or less due to multiple unsignalized grade crossings.
The initiative proceeded as far as the appointment of a constable to serve papers on encroaching neighbors. As of 2016 construction has not started.
The portion of the right-of-way that is in East Brookfield is now taxed.