Providence
and Worcester Railroad - (en)
The Providence and Worcester Railroad (AAR reporting marks PW) is a
Class II railroad in the United States. The railroad connects from
Gardner in central Massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of
Worcester and Providence, Rhode Island, and west from Rhode Island
through Connecticut and into New York City. The railroad's connection
between New Haven, Connecticut and New York City and onto Long Island
is via trackage rights.
Current lines
In addition to the original main line between Providence and Worcester.
and the East Providence Branch, the P&W owns or provides freight
service on the following lines, identified by their original companies:
Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad, Worcester to Gardner
Woonsocket and Pascoag Railroad, Woonsocket to Slatersville
Old Colony Railroad Newport line, Massachusetts/Rhode Island state
line to Newport (bridge out at the Sakonnet River)
trackage rights over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Central Falls to New
Haven
East Junction Branch - branch of Boston and Providence Railroad, East
Providence to Rhode Island/Massachusetts state line
Norwich and Worcester Railroad, Worcester to Groton
Southbridge Running Track - Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad,
Webster to Southbridge
Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, Plainfield to Willimantic
New York and Boston Air Line Railroad, Middletown to New Haven
Connecticut Valley Railroad, Hartford to Middletown
Naugatuck Railroad, Devon to Derby (trackage rights over Metro-North
Railroad)
Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, Norwalk to Danbury
P&W operates over the following lines with overhead trackage
rights, meaning it cannot serve on-line customers:
Metro-North's New Haven Line, New Haven (CT) to New Rochelle (NY),
Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, New Rochelle (NY) to Pelham Bay (NY), and
CSX running tracks, Pelham Bay to Fresh Pond Jct., NY (CSX has
trackage rights to serve customers on Metro-North and Amtrak, if any)
Housatonic Railroad and branches, Danbury to Derby
MBTA and CSX - Boston and Providence Railroad (East Providence Branch
and main line), Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
and Old Colony Railroad Newport line, Rhode Island/Massachusetts state
line to Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line
History
The P&W was incorporated in Massachusetts on March 12, 1844, and
in Rhode Island in May 1844, the two companies being merged November
25, 1845. The company bought the Blackstone Canal, also running
between Providence and Worcester, and began construction, partly on
its banks, in 1845. The line opened in two sections, the part south of
Millville on September 27, 1847, and the rest on October 20. The line
from Providence to Central Falls was shared with the Boston and
Providence Railroad, which at the same time built a connection from
its old line (ending in East Providence) over to the P&W.
On July 1, 1892, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased
the P&W for 99 years. The New Haven merged into Penn Central on
January 1, 1969. On April 6, 1970 the P&W announced its intention
to separate from the merger. After a legal battle, the Interstate
Commerce Commission approved the request on August 25, 1972, and on
November 2, Penn Central signed the agreement effective December 30.
The P&W cancelled the lease on February 3, 1973. Since then, the
P&W has taken over many other lines from the former Penn Central
and Boston and Maine Railroad.
Branches
The East Providence Branch Railroad was the only branch built by the
P&W. Chartered in 1874 and opened in 1875, it split from the main
line at Valley Falls and ran southeast and south, clipping the corner
of Attleboro, Massachusetts and running through Pawtucket, ending in
East Providence at the Boston and Providence Railroad and the
Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad.
The East Providence Branch was also the P&W's only branch when it
was leased to the NYNH&H, but previously it had leased several
other railroads.
The Milford and Woonsocket Railroad was incorporated in 1855 and
opened in 1868 from Milford to Bellingham. Soon after, the P&W
leased it, despite it not being connected directly to the P&W. The
Hopkinton Railway was leased in 1870 and opened in 1872, continuing
the M&W north from Milford to Ashland. It too was leased to the
P&W, on completion. Both leases expired in 1883 and were not
renewed. The M&W bought the Hopkinton in 1884, and in 1897 the New
England Railroad leased them, with a direct connection at Milford.
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