Boston and Albany

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Does anyone have info as to the construction of the Boston and Albany line? Am familiar with the Berkshire history of this route (Whistler’s RR). By that I mean articles and/or books. I live in central Mass not far from the tracks.

Thanks,

cas537

2

A good starting point is “The Rail Lines of Southern New England” by Ronald Dale Carr, ISBN: 0-942147-02-2.

According to Carr, the B&A route was built between 1836 and 1841 from Worcester to the Massachusetts/NY line. Various branch lines were built in subsequent years.

I am not aware of other references on the subject.

I hope this helps.

Anthony

3

I don’t know much about the history, but it sure is fun to railfan![8D] I’m also in Central MA, although the B&A tracks are a 9 mile bike ride away…

4

Thanks!

Shortly I will visit local town libraries–Leicester thru Wilbraham–to research newspapers from just before & during the construction period.

cas537

5

Thanks for the reference, familiar with it! As I responded to another kind person, will check out local libraries for newspaper info from that early period. I suppose you know Bob Buck of Warren, a local hero & expert on the B&A?

cas537

6

Keep in mind B&A for much of it’s history was a subsidiary of the New York Central, so searching under NYC might turn up a lot of information. For example, the recent MBI book on the New York Central has a number of pics of B&A trains / locomotives in it.

Maybe check out the NYC Historical Society too:

http://www.nycshs.org/

7

You should try to get a copy of the two volume set Boston & Albany - The New York Central in New England by Robert Willoughby Jones. It was originally published by Pine Tree Press in 1997. It has plenty of history as well as lots of pictures.