View source for Medway Branch

{{short description|Former railway line in Massachusetts}}
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{{distinguish|West Medway Branch|Medway Valley line}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name             = Medway Branch
| image            = Medway Branch abutments on the Charles River, October 2020.jpg
| image_alt        = Stone bridge abutments on both sides of a small river with trees with autumn colors mostly hiding a wooden house
| caption          = Remaining abutments of one of the line's bridges over the Charles River
| type             = 
| system           = 
| status           = Abandoned
| locale           = 
| start            = 
| end              = 
| stations         = 3
| routes           = 
| daily_ridership  = 
| ridership2       = 
| planopen         = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| open             = December 29, 1852
| yearcommenced    = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| yearcompleted    = <!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-->
| close            = 1864
| event1label      = 
| event1           = 
| event2label      = 
| event2           = 
| event3label      = 
| event3           = 
| owner            = Medway Branch Railroad
| operator         = 
| character        = 
| depot            = 
| stock            = 
| linelength_mi    = 3.6
| tracks           = 
| gauge            = <!-- {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} {{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} {{Track gauge|42in|lk=on}} etc. -->
| old_gauge        = 
| speed_mph        = 
| speed            = 
| map              = {{Medway Branch}}
| map_name         = 
| map_state        = uncollapsed
| embedded         = 
}}

The '''Medway Branch''' was a railway line in [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]. It was built by the '''Medway Branch Railroad''' in 1852. It ran from North Wrentham, Massachusetts (now [[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]), where it connected with the main line of the [[Norfolk County Railroad]], to [[Medway, Massachusetts]]. The {{convert|3.6|mile|adj=on}} Medway Branch was abandoned in 1864, following the 1861 completion of the [[New York and Boston Railroad (1846-1865)|New York and Boston Railroad]]'s [[West Medway Branch|separate line]] through Medway.

==Route==
{{maplink|from=Medway Branch.map|frame=yes|text=Map of the Medway Branch|frame-align=left|frame-width=240|frame-height=130}}
The Medway Branch was about {{convert|3.6|miles}} long and had a single track.<ref name=abandoned /><ref name=1852report /> From [[Norfolk station (MBTA)|North Wrentham station]], the branch ran northwest through North Wrentham (now [[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]) to the Rockville village of Medway (now part of [[Millis, Massachusetts|Millis]]), where it crossed the [[Charles River]]. It continued west through Medway, crossing the Charles a second time, to its Medway terminal at what is now Walker Street, southeast of Medway Village.<ref name=1858map /><ref name=sne />{{rp|355}} The only intermediate station was at Rockville.<ref name=1858map /><ref name=sne />{{rp|356}} The line gained {{convert|70|feet}} in elevation from Medway to North Wrentham, with a maximum grade of 54 feet per mile (1.0%).<ref name=1852report>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6tEEoLW3sHAC&pg=PA114 |chapter=Fourth Annual Report of the Medway Branch Railroad Corporation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6tEEoLW3sHAC |title=Annual Reports of the Railroad Corporations in the State of Massachusetts |year=1853 |publisher=Massachusetts General Court Committee on Railways and Canals |pages=114–115}}</ref> A [[wye (rail)|wye]] for turning equipment was located just east of Medway station.<ref name=1858map>{{cite map | url=https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:9s161933d | title=Map of the county of Norfolk, Massachusetts: based upon the trigonometrical survey of the state | last=Walling | first=Henry Francis | authorlink=Henry Francis Walling | scale=1:40,000 | date=1858 | location=New York | publisher=Smith & Bumstead}}</ref>
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== History ==
The [[Norfolk County Railroad]] opened its line between [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]] and [[Blackstone, Massachusetts]], in 1849. In Dedham, it connected with the [[Boston and Providence Railroad]] to reach Boston. This new railroad bypassed Factory Village (later called [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway Village]]) to the southeast.<ref name=sne />{{rp|356}} Local interests in Medway chartered the Medway Branch Railroad on May 1, 1849, to connect their town to the Norfolk County Railroad's line.<ref name=icc /><ref name=may1849>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/94901 |chapter=An Act to incorporate the Medway Branch Railroad Company |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |year=1849 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |pages=129–131|hdl=2452/94901 }}</ref> 

The original plan called for the Medway Branch to split from the Norfolk County Railroad northeast of North Wrentham station, cross the Charles River only once, and terminate on the north side of Factory Village.<ref>{{cite map |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/70846 |title=Plan of the location of the Norfolk County railroad between Blackstone and Dedham |date=January 1849 |scale=1:39,600 |publisher=J.H. Bufford's lithography}}</ref> In April 1850, the state approved a new alignment that split southwest of North Wrentham station, crossed the river twice, and terminated on the south side of Factory Village.<ref>{{cite map |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/70895 |title=Plan and Profile of Survey for Change of Location of Medway Branch Rail-road |date=January 1850 |scale=1:39,600 |first=Simeon |last=Borden}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/95212 |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |chapter=An Act Authorizing The Medway Branch Railroad Company To Change The Location Of Their Road |year=1850 |pages=442–443 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|hdl=2452/95212 }}</ref> The new route was intended to be shorter and less expensive to construct, and to provide better connection with North Wrentham station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/50772 |title=Engineers report on Medway Branch Railroad, 1850 |year=1850 |first=Simeon |last=Borden|hdl=2452/50772 |pages=1–3}}</ref>

The original charter for the railroad also required it to be in operation within one year.<ref name=may1849 /> The state legislature granted three extensions of this requirement.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/94959 |chapter=An Act Concerning The Medway Branch Railroad Company |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |year=1850 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |page=284|hdl=2452/94959 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/95572 |chapter=An Act To Incorporate The Charles River Railroad Company, And Concerning The Medway Branch Railroad Company |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |year=1851 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |pages=798–800|hdl=2452/95572 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/95741 |chapter=An Act Concerning The Medway Branch Railroad Company |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |year=1852 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |page=79|hdl=2452/95741 }}</ref> The Norfolk County Railroad leased the not-yet-complete Medway Branch Railroad in 1851.<ref>{{cite book |last=Poor |first=Henry Varnum |authorlink=Henry Varnum Poor |title=History of the Railroads and Canals of the United States |location=United States |publisher=J.H. Schultz & Company |date=1860 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M0YKAAAAIAAJ | volume=1 |page=131}}</ref> Service on the Medway Branch ultimately began on December 29, 1852. The Norfolk County operated a single daily round trip between Medway and Boston.<ref name=150years>{{cite book |title=Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years |last1=Humphrey |first1=Thomas J.|last2=Clark |first2=Norton D. |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |year=1985 |page= |oclc=13226433}}</ref>{{rp|43}} The total cost to build the line was $37,088 ({{inflation|US-GDP|37088|1852|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).<ref name=1852report />
[[File:Medway Branch south of Tucker Road, October 2020.jpg|thumb|left|Medway Branch Road built on the former railroad alignment|alt=An empty straight paved road with a solid yellow line along the center, between large broadleaved trees]]
The Norfolk County Railroad, [[Midland Railroad (Massachusetts)|Midland Railroad]], and [[Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad]] were consolidated in 1853 to form the [[Boston and New York Central Railroad]].<ref name=icc>{{cite book | author=Interstate Commerce Commission | title=Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States. Valuation reports. | location=United States | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | date=1931 | volume=30 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mX3-hj6YJo8C |pages=122, 123}}</ref> In 1854, the B&NYC advertised three daily Boston–Medway round trips.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=Warren |title=The Story of the New England |journal=[[The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin]] |issue=1 |date=1921 |pages=13–18 | jstor=43516720}}</ref>{{rp|15}} The financial failure of the B&NYC in 1855 led to the trustees of the bondholders of the Norfolk County Railroad taking back control of their line, which they leased to the Boston and Providence from 1855 to 1857.<ref name=sne>{{Cite book |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |year=2017 |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England: A Handbook of Railroad History |edition=2nd |location=Pepperell, Massachusetts |publisher=Branch Line Press|isbn=978-0-942147-12-4}}</ref>{{rp|357}} The Medway Branch operated an independent line during this period.<ref name=150years />{{rp|43}} Connections were made at North Wrentham with three daily Boston–Blackstone round trips.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-evening-transcript/123139676/ |title=Norfolk County Railroad [advertisement] |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=November 5, 1855 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Norfolk County Railroad and the Medway Branch were leased to the [[East Thompson Railroad]] from March 1857 to March 1858, after which the Norfolk County trustees operated both railroads themselves.<ref name=sne>{{Cite book |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |year=2017 |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England: A Handbook of Railroad History |edition=2nd |location=Pepperell, Massachusetts |publisher=Branch Line Press|isbn=978-0-942147-12-4}}</ref>{{rp|357}}<ref name=150years />{{rp|43}}

Service on the line was three daily trains until 1861.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-evening-transcript/123139486/ |title=Norfolk County Railroad [advertisement] |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=July 27, 1861 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
That November, the [[New York and Boston Railroad (1846-1865)|New York and Boston Railroad]] opened [[West Medway Branch|its line]] between [[Needham Center station|Needham]] and Medway.<ref name=sne />{{rp|352}} Its [[Medway station]] was located on the north side of the Charles River, closer to the village center, and it made the Medway Branch redundant.<ref name=sne />{{rp|359}} By mid-1862, the Norfolk County was no longer operating passenger service on the Medway Branch; a stagecoach was instead operated between North Wrentham and West Medway via Medway Village.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-evening-transcript/123139489/ |title=Norfolk County Railroad [advertisement] |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=July 23, 1862 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The moribund line was acquired by the [[Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad]], successor to the Boston and New York Central, on May 12, 1864.<ref name=icc /> It was officially abandoned that year.<ref name=sne />{{rp|358}} The Medway Branch was just the seventh rail line to be abandoned in New England.<ref name=abandoned>{{cite book |title=Lost Railroads of New England |last=Karr |first=Ronald Dale |edition=3rd|location=Pepperell, Massachusetts|publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-942147-11-7 |page=87}}</ref> 

When North Wrentham was incorporated as an independent town named Norfolk in 1870, one of the abandoned Medway Branch bridges was used to define a corner of the boundary.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2452/101438 |chapter=An Act To Incorporate The Town Of Norfolk |title=Acts and resolves passed by the General Court |year=1870 |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |pages=28–31|hdl=2452/101438 }}</ref> Part of the right of way in Norfolk was later reused for Medway Branch Road.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419030704/http://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/050818-SWAP-Meeting-Notes.docx |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |url=http://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/050818-SWAP-Meeting-Notes.docx |title=Meeting Summary |date=May 8, 2018 |publisher=Southwest Advisory Planning Committee |quote=David Loutzenheiser, MAPC Senior Transportation Planner, led a walk of the Norfolk Rail Trail right of way, which runs from the Millis town line, connects up with Medway Branch Road, and then continues down to the Norfolk Commuter Rail Station.}}</ref> In 1968, Norfolk's annual town meeting included an article to acquire a parcel "supposedly owned by the Medway Branch Railroad" for the town's dump – over a century after the line was abandoned.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/806452 |title=Ninety-Eighth Annual Statement of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Town of Norfolk, Massachusetts For The Year Ending December 31, 1967 With Reports of Town Officers, School Committee, and Vital Statistics of the Year |year=1968 |publisher=Town of Norfolk, Massachusetts |pages=135–136}}</ref> The acquisition was indefinitely postponed.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/806452 |title=Ninety-Ninth Annual Statement of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Town of Norfolk, Massachusetts For The Year Ending December 31, 1968 With Reports of Town Officers, School Committee, and Vital Statistics of the Year |year=1969 |publisher=Town of Norfolk, Massachusetts |page=23}}</ref>
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== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
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[[Category:Rail infrastructure in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1864 disestablishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the United States]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1852]]
[[Category:Railway lines closed in 1864]]