Abandonment Notices

The following abandonment notices, petitions, sale documents and interchange contracts are digital files made from originals in the B&MRRHS Archives by David D. Ashenden and Rick Kfoury. These documents provide great insight into the railroad politics surrounding abandonment of these lines, the reactions of communities and customers, physical characteristics of the lines in question, and final dates of service. The list is given first in chronological order and then in alphabetical order. THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY A WORK IN PROGRESS.

1921 - Waumbek Branch

1924 - Suncook Valley

1925 - Acton Branch

1925 - Essex Lines

1925 - Lawrence Branch (Portland Div.)

1925 - Lowell-Salem Branches - in part

1925 - Nashua & Acton

1925 - Newburyport Branch-B

1925 - Newburyport Branch-C

1925 - South Reading Branch - Dist

1925 - South Reading Branch

1926 - Bethlehem Branch

1926 - Essex Branch - Exceptions

1926 - Kennebunkport Branch

1926 - Lawrence Branch (Portland Div.) - in part - Tariff Notice

1926 - Manchester & Milford Branch

1927 - Reformatory - North Billerica, Essex, and Ashburnham Branches

1934 - Dover Point Bridge

1934 - Lakeport Branch: Alton - Lily Pond

1934 - New Boston Branch

1935 - Hooksett

1935 - Worcester, Nashua & Portland: Hudson - Fremont

1935 - Lakeport Branch: Alton - Lily Pond (amended)

1935 - Suncook Loop-bridge

1936 - Ashburnham Branch

1936 - Bristol Branch

1936 - Concord & Claremont Branch (Proposed)

1936 - Lowell Branch: Lowell - Wamesit Station (Tewksbury)

1936 - Lowell Branch: Lowell - Wamesit

1936 - North Weare Branch: Goffstown - Henniker Junction

1938 - Fabyan Branch

1938 - Milford Branch: Pepperell - South Milford

1938 - Central Massachusetts Branch: Oakdale - Wheelwright

1938 - Salem Branch

1938 - Salem Branch A

1938 - Keene Branch: Keene - Coolridge Crossing (Hancock)

1939 - Keene Branch: Elmwood - Coolridge Crossing (Hancock)

1940 - Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Interchange Contract

1940 - Newburyport Branch

1941 - Central Massachusetts Branch: Forest Lake - Creamery

1941 - Central Massachusetts Branch: Norwottuck - Canal Junction

1941 - Conway Branch: Somersworth

1941 - Dover Branch

1941 - Franklin Junction - Franklin Falls

1941 - Worcester, Nashua & Portland: Hollis Depot - Nashua

1941 - Lancaster

1941 - Milford Branch: Squannacook Jct. - Pepperell

1941 - Newburyport Branch-A

1941 - Newburyport Branch-B

1941 - Newburyport Branch-B-1

1942 - Reformatory Branch: Bedford - Concord

1942 - Lakeport Branch: Dover - Gonic

1942 - Essex Branch-A

1942 - Essex Branch-B

1942 - Essex Branch-C

1942 - Lakeport Branch: Farmington - Alton

1942 - Lakeport Branch: Dover - Gonic

1942 - Milford Branch: Milford - End of Line

1942 - Milford Branch: Portion

1942 - Worcester, Nashua & Portland: Nashua - Hudson

1942 - Worcester & Contoocook Branch: Peterborough - Elmwood

1942 - Reformatory Branch

1942 - Suncook Loop

1943 - Hudson - Maynard

1943 - Eastern Route: Saco - Rigby

1944 - Eastern Route: North Berwick - Biddeford

1946 - Finance Docket 14430

1947 - Saratoga & Schuylerville Interchange Contract

1952 - Eastern Route: Kittery - North Berwick

1954 - Claremont Branch (Passenger Discontinuance)

1954 - Claremont Branch (Sale of Branch to Claremont & Concord Railway)

1954 - Portsmouth Branch (Passenger Service Discontinuance)

1955 - Saratoga Branch: Saratoga & Schuylerville Railroad

1959 - Central Mass Branch: Berlin - Clinton Junction

Central Mass Branch: Berlin - Clinton Junction Bridge Removals

1959 - Central Mass Branch: Berlin - Hudson (Abandonment Proposal)

1959 - Peterboro Branch: Heywood - Winchendon

1959 - Watertown Branch: Middle Segment

1960 - Claremont & Concord: Garrison - Contoocook (Abandonment by Claremont & Concord Rwy.)

1961 - Swampscott Branch

1962 - Bedford & Billerica: Bedford - Billerica Center

1962 - Reformatory Branch: Bedford, Mass. to Reformatory, Mass.

1962 - Salem Branch: Peabody - West Peabody

1971 - Wolfeboro Branch (Hearing for proposed abandonment, questioning of Don Hallock on future Wolfeboro Railroad)

1972 - Cheshire Branch

1972 - Peterboro Branch: Jaffrey - Peterborough

1973 - Branch Line Dispositions (Involving Potential State Purchases, Federal Agencies)

1973 - White Mountain Branch (Abandonment Petition Hearing second day, March 5, 1973)

1976 - Portsmouth Branch: East Manchester - Newfields, Fremont Branch (Abandonment Petition Hearing, July 12, 1976 )

1977 - Portsmouth Branch: East Manchester - Newfields, Fremont Branch (Master’s Report on Petition Hearings)

1979 - Hillsboro Branch (Bennington - Hillsboro), Greenville Branch (Townsend - Greenville)

1979 - Portsmouth Branch: East Manchester - Newfields, Fremont Branch (Abandonment Petition Hearing)

1979 - South Ashburnham, MA to Jaffrey, NH (Removal from Planned Abandonments List)

1980 - System Map - A

1980 - System Map - B

1980 - Wheelwright Branch (Part 1)

1981 - Newburyport Branch (Danvers to Topsfield), Goffstown Branch, Blackmount Branch

1982 - Amesbury Branch

1982 - Cheshire Branch: Winchendon - Swanzey (Unauthorized Removal of Previously Abandoned Track)

1982 - Eastern Route Mainline: Newburyport - Seabrook

1982 - Hollis Branch

1982 - Lakeport Branch: Dover Stub

1982 - Lakeport Branch: Rochester Stub

1982 - Portsmouth Branch: East Manchester - Newfields, Fremont Branch (Final Abandonment Proceedings, 1980-1982)

1983 - Ashuelot and Fort Hill Branches

1983 - Greenville Branch (Groton - Townsend), Manchester & Lawrence Branch (North Salem - Derry)

1984 - Cheshire Branch: Cold River - VT Border

1984 - Monadnock Branch

1991 - Lexington Branch

2016 - Northern Main Line (Concord - Boscawen) Notice of Intent, Sept. 2, 2016

2017 - Northern Main Line (Concord - Boscawen)

2021 - Madison Branch (Former Maine Central Branch) Notice of Intent, June 24, 2021