The Cape Cod Railroad (also currently referred to as the Cape Main Line) is a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts, running from Pilgrim Junction in Middleborough across the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge, where it splits towards Hyannis in one direction and Falmouth in the other. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from the Fall River Railroad line in Middleborough to Cape Cod.
History
Cape Cod Branch Railroad, 1846–1853
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 not shown.)
Among the proponents of the Cape Cod Branch Railroad were Col. Richard Borden of Fall River, 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 formed the noted "Fall River Line". He was later elected president of the Cape Cod Railroad.[1]
On January 26, 1848, the first 14.7-mile (23.7 km) segment of the railroad was opened between Middleborough and Wareham. By May 1848 an additional 12.9 miles (20.8 km) was opened to Sandwich, enabling unimpeded transit between Boston and Sandwich, thus serving the needs of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company. In 1853, the extension of the line to Hyannis was started, reaching West Barnstable 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.[2] In the spring of 1854, construction continued, with the railroad reaching Barnstable village May 8, Yarmouth Port May 19, and finally Hyannis on July 8, 1854.[3] Connecting steamboat service to Nantucket commenced from Hyannis in late September and would continue until 1872.
In 1871, the Cape Cod Railroad bought the 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 to Woods Hole. However, the road to Woods Hole was not completed until July 17, 1872, after the merger with the Cape Cod Railroad.[5] Upon completion of that road, the steamboat service to Nantucket moved to Woods Hole.[4]
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.[6] The merger was completed on September 30, 1872.The Woods Hole Branch opened on July 17, 1872.[7]
With much fanfare, the Old Colony Railroad completed the line to Provincetown in July 1873.[8] Old Colony Railroad maintained all rail operations on the Cape until their closure in 1893.
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, 1893–1964
After Old Colony Railroad closed in 1893, the entire network was leased by New York, 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, the Night Cape Codder, the Neptune, the Islander, and the Flying Dude.[9]
Amtrak, Bay Colony, and Cape Cod & Hyannis, 1980s–1990s
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 began providing seasonal service between Braintree and Hyannis, until their closure in 1988. In 1986, Amtrak began operating the Cape Codder during summer weekends from 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 operated seasonal heritage railroad excursions from Hyannis to Sagamore under the Cape Cod Railroad brand,[10] 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
One of the Cape Cod Central Railroad's excursion trains in 2009A CapeFLYER train crosses the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge on the Cape Main Line in 2013A 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, 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 continues to operate seasonal tourist excursions, departing from Hyannis and Buzzards Bay and occasionally including stops at West Barnstable and Sandwich.[11] A limited number of trains also depart from North Falmouth,[12] which marks the only passenger service along the Falmouth spur of track.
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. This would eliminate rail service to the transfer station within Camp Edwards. The railroad is advocating for a rails with trails instead.[16]
