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m Pi.1415926535 moved page Fall River Railroad (1874) to Watuppa Branch: move to legal name in prep for merge
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{{Infobox rail line
⚫
[[File:Fall River bike path.jpg|thumb|Bike path constructed over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way, near South Watuppa Pond, Fall River, Massachusetts]]
| box_width =
{{For|the original Fall River Railroad 1846–1854|Fall River Railroad (1846)}}
| name = Watuppa Branch
The '''Fall River Railroad''' was a railroad in [[Massachusetts]]. It was chartered in 1874, opened in 1875 from [[New Bedford]] to [[Fall River]] through the towns of [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]] and [[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]. The line was built to provide rail access to the mills in the eastern part of Fall River along the [[Quequechan River]] valley.
| other_name = North Dartmouth Industrial Track
| color =
| image =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| type = [[Freight rail]]
| system = [[Bay Colony Railroad]]
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Bristol County, Massachusetts]]
| start = [[New Bedford Secondary|Mount Pleasant Junction]]
| end = [[Westport, Massachusetts|North Westport]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baycolonyrailroad.com/map|title=Map - Dartmouth Line|publisher=Bay Colony Railroad|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref>
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| planopen =
| open = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| yearcommenced = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| yearcompleted = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| close = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| owner = [[Massachusetts Department of Transportation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/final-state-rail-plan-spring-2018/download|title=MassDOT State Rail Plan|publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation|date=May 2018|accessdate=March 9, 2021|page=33}}</ref>
| operator = [[Bay Colony Railroad]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|6|mi}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/final-state-rail-plan-spring-2018/download|title=MassDOT State Rail Plan|publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation|date=May 2018|accessdate=March 9, 2021|page=35}}</ref>
| tracklength =
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| racksystem =
| electrification =
| speed =
| signalling =
| elevation_ft =
| website =
| map = {{Routemap
|inline = <includeonly>yes</includeonly>
|style = white-space:nowrap;
|title = Watuppa Branch
|title-bg =
|navbar = Watuppa Branch
|navbar pos = 2
|map =
CONTgq\ABZq+lr\CONTfq~~ {{BSto|Mount Pleasant Junction|[[New Bedford Secondary]]}}
SKRZ-Au~~ ~~ ~~[[Massachusetts Route 140|MA Route 140]] crossing
eHST~~ ~~ ~~Mount Pleasant station ''(closed)''
eHST~~ ~~ ~~North Dartmouth station ''(closed)''
eHST~~ ~~ ~~Hicksville station ''(closed)''
eHST~~ ~~ ~~Westport Factory ''(closed)''
SKRZ-Au~~ ~~ ~~[[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]] crossing
eHST~~ ~~ ~~Hemlock station ''(closed)''
ENDExe~~ ~~ ~~ end of active railroad trackage
exSKRZ-Mu~~ ~~ ~~[[Massachusetts Route 88|MA Route 88]] crossing
exHST~~ ~~ ~~North Westport station ''(closed)''
exKSTRe!~gKMW~~ ~~ ~~ start of [[Watuppa Ponds|Quequechan River Rail Trail]]
gSTR!~exlHST~~ ~~ ~~[[Flint Mills|Flint Village station ]] ''(closed)''
gKSTRe!~exlHST~~ ~~ ~~Watuppa station ''(closed)''
}}
| map_name =
| map_state =
| embedded =
}}


The '''Watuppa Branch''' (alternatively referred to as the North Dartmouth Industrial Track or the Dartmouth Line) is a roughly six-mile freight railroad line in southeastern [[Massachusetts]]. The track originates at Mount Pleasant Junction, where it diverges from the [[New Bedford Secondary]], and runs through [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]] before terminating in north [[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]. The line is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and is operated by [[Bay Colony Railroad]], which interchanges with Massachusetts Coastal Railroad at the junction in New Bedford.
The western terminus of the line was located Watuppa Station at Plymouth Avenue near Front Street. In 1882 the line was leased to the [[Old Colony Railroad]] for 99 years, but sold outright to the Old Colony in 1896.<ref>Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, Feb 15, 1911</ref>


== Route ==
⚫
In 2008, a new $462,000 bike path opened over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way along the shore [[South Watuppa Pond]] between Brayton Avenue and the [[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]] town line. It was later extended to connect Britland Park and Front St.<ref>[http://www.wickedlocal.com/fall-river/fun/entertainment/x518451264/Bike-path-project-is-on-track#axzz1INLBPsiG Herald News article August 1, 2008]</ref>
The Watuppa Branch originates in New Bedford, where it diverges from the New Bedford Secondary and passes beneath MA Route 140. After traveling through the western portion of downtown New Bedford, the railroad crosses into Dartmouth and travels just north of downtown, passing through the "Dartmouth Business Park II"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/special/20180123/daycare-office-space-proposed-for-dartmouth-business-park-off-reed-road|title=Daycare, office space proposed for Dartmouth Business Park off Reed Road|website=South Coast Today|author=Robert Barboza|date=January 23, 2018|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ccrebuild2020.collinscommercialre.com/?p=460|title=958 Old Reed Road Dartmouth MA - Business Park II – 6 Lots Remaining|website=Collins Commercial Real Estate|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref> before crossing into Westport. After crossing the border, the track passes beneath Interstate 195 and continues for just over a mile, until passing beneath MA Route 88, at which point active trackage ends and only abandoned, disused track remains. The disused track continues for another short distance until it terminates near Watuppa Ponds, at which point the Quequechan River Rail Trail eventually takes over where the track formerly lied.


==See also==
== History ==
⚫
[[File:Fall River bike path.jpg|thumb|left|Bike path constructed over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way, near South Watuppa Pond, Fall River, Massachusetts]]
*[[New Bedford Railroad]]
The Fall River Railroad was was chartered in 1874 and opened in 1875 from the [[New Bedford Railroad]] at [[New Bedford]] to [[Fall River]] through the towns of [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]] and [[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]]. The line was built to provide rail access to the mills in the eastern part of Fall River along the [[Quequechan River]] valley. The western terminus of the line was located Watuppa Station at Plymouth Avenue near Front Street. In 1882 the line was leased to the [[Old Colony Railroad]] for 99 years, but sold outright to the Old Colony in 1896.<ref>Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, Feb 15, 1911</ref> At some point following the closure of Old Colony Railroad, the track between Westport and Fall River was removed and partially replaced with rail trail; the current track ends shortly after the Massachusetts Route 88 crossing in the town of Westport.

⚫
Beginning in 1982, Bay Colony Railroad took over all freight operations on the line. While most of Bay Colony's operations were subsequently taken over by [[Massachusetts Coastal Railroad]] in 2007, the Watuppa branch remains under the operation of Bay Colony. In 2008, a new $462,000 bike path opened over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way along the shore [[South Watuppa Pond]] between Brayton Avenue and the [[Westport, Massachusetts|Westport]] town line. It was later extended to connect Britland Park and Front St.<ref>[http://www.wickedlocal.com/fall-river/fun/entertainment/x518451264/Bike-path-project-is-on-track#axzz1INLBPsiG Herald News article August 1, 2008]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fall River Railroad}}
{{commons category inline}}

[[Category:Defunct Massachusetts railroads]]
[[Category:Defunct Massachusetts railroads]]
[[Category:Companies affiliated with the Old Colony Railroad]]
[[Category:Companies affiliated with the Old Colony Railroad]]
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[[Category:American companies established in 1874]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1874]]
{{FallRiverMA}}
{{FallRiverMA}}

{{US-rail-company-stub}}

Revision as of 23:05, 14 March 2021

Watuppa Branch
Overview
Other name(s)North Dartmouth Industrial Track
StatusOperational
OwnerMassachusetts Department of Transportation[1]
LocaleBristol County, Massachusetts
Termini
Service
TypeFreight rail
SystemBay Colony Railroad
Operator(s)Bay Colony Railroad
Technical
Line length6 miles (9.7 km)[3]
Number of tracks1
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map
Watuppa Branch
Legend
Mount Pleasant Junction
New Bedford Secondary
MA Route 140 crossing
Mount Pleasant station (closed)
North Dartmouth station (closed)
Hicksville station (closed)
Westport Factory (closed)
Interstate 195 crossing
Hemlock station (closed)
end of active railroad trackage
MA Route 88 crossing
North Westport station (closed)
start of Quequechan River Rail Trail
Flint Village station (closed)
Watuppa station (closed)
This diagram:

The Watuppa Branch (alternatively referred to as the North Dartmouth Industrial Track or the Dartmouth Line) is a roughly six-mile freight railroad line in southeastern Massachusetts. The track originates at Mount Pleasant Junction, where it diverges from the New Bedford Secondary, and runs through Dartmouth before terminating in north Westport. The line is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and is operated by Bay Colony Railroad, which interchanges with Massachusetts Coastal Railroad at the junction in New Bedford.

Route

The Watuppa Branch originates in New Bedford, where it diverges from the New Bedford Secondary and passes beneath MA Route 140. After traveling through the western portion of downtown New Bedford, the railroad crosses into Dartmouth and travels just north of downtown, passing through the "Dartmouth Business Park II"[4][5] before crossing into Westport. After crossing the border, the track passes beneath Interstate 195 and continues for just over a mile, until passing beneath MA Route 88, at which point active trackage ends and only abandoned, disused track remains. The disused track continues for another short distance until it terminates near Watuppa Ponds, at which point the Quequechan River Rail Trail eventually takes over where the track formerly lied.

History

Bike path constructed over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way, near South Watuppa Pond, Fall River, Massachusetts

The Fall River Railroad was was chartered in 1874 and opened in 1875 from the New Bedford Railroad at New Bedford to Fall River through the towns of Dartmouth and Westport. The line was built to provide rail access to the mills in the eastern part of Fall River along the Quequechan River valley. The western terminus of the line was located Watuppa Station at Plymouth Avenue near Front Street. In 1882 the line was leased to the Old Colony Railroad for 99 years, but sold outright to the Old Colony in 1896.[6] At some point following the closure of Old Colony Railroad, the track between Westport and Fall River was removed and partially replaced with rail trail; the current track ends shortly after the Massachusetts Route 88 crossing in the town of Westport.

Beginning in 1982, Bay Colony Railroad took over all freight operations on the line. While most of Bay Colony's operations were subsequently taken over by Massachusetts Coastal Railroad in 2007, the Watuppa branch remains under the operation of Bay Colony. In 2008, a new $462,000 bike path opened over a portion of the former Fall River Railroad right-of-way along the shore South Watuppa Pond between Brayton Avenue and the Westport town line. It was later extended to connect Britland Park and Front St.[7]

References

  1. ^ "MassDOT State Rail Plan". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. May 2018. p. 33. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  2. ^ "Map - Dartmouth Line". Bay Colony Railroad. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "MassDOT State Rail Plan". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. May 2018. p. 35. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  4. ^ Robert Barboza (January 23, 2018). "Daycare, office space proposed for Dartmouth Business Park off Reed Road". South Coast Today. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "958 Old Reed Road Dartmouth MA - Business Park II – 6 Lots Remaining". Collins Commercial Real Estate. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners, Feb 15, 1911
  7. ^ Herald News article August 1, 2008

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