Old Colony Lines

Old Colony Lines
Name	Old Colony Lines
Locale	Southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Type	Commuter rail, regional rail
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Opened	19th century (original network)
Reopened	1997–2007 (restored segments)
Lines	Multiple branches (e.g., Middleborough, Plymouth, Greenbush)
Stations	Dozens (historic and modern)
Operator	MBTA Commuter Rail, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (historical contractors)
Rolling stock	Diesel locomotives, bi-level coaches, preserved steam and diesel
Electrification	None (diesel)
Map state	collapsed

Old Colony Lines The Old Colony Lines are a network of historic and revived rail routes in southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island, originally built by the Old Colony Railroad and later absorbed into the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. The corridors connect towns such as Boston, Quincy, Plymouth (Massachusetts), New Bedford, Fall River, and Middleborough, and intersect with systems like the MBTA Commuter Rail and freight operators such as CSX Transportation. The lines have shaped regional development, influenced transportation policy debates involving agencies like the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and inspired preservation efforts by groups including the Old Colony Historical Society and multiple railroad museums.

History

The core network emerged in the 19th century from companies such as the Old Colony Railroad (1838), the Fall River Railroad, and the Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad, later consolidated during mergers that involved the Boston and Providence Railroad and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (the New Haven). The New Haven integrated the corridors into statewide intercity and commuter services before facing decline amid the rise of Interstate 93, Interstate 495, and automotive travel, triggering discontinuations after World War II. Federal and state transportation policy shifts during the 1970s United States railroad restructuring and the formation of the MBTA led to restoration campaigns culminating in phased reopenings in the 1990s and 2000s, including projects tied to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 upgrades and transit funding from the Federal Transit Administration. Notable events include the 1959-1960 abandonments, the 1997 reactivation to Middleborough/Lakeville, and later extensions to Greenbush and Plymouth.

Route and Infrastructure

Routes cover corridors radiating from South Station (Boston) and Back Bay Station through the South Shore and South Coast regions. Infrastructure elements include historic masonry bridges, timber trestles, and modern concrete viaducts, many of which crossed waterways like the Neponset River, the Taunton River, and the Pine Brook River. Right-of-way ownership involves entities such as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, private freight carriers like Bay Colony Railroad (historical) and CSX Transportation, and municipal easements from towns including Brockton and Hingham. Major projects included the reconstruction of the Neponset River Bridge, grade-crossing eliminations coordinated with the Massachusetts Highway Department, and the installation of Positive Train Control systems to meet Federal Railroad Administration mandates.

Services and Operations

Service patterns combine peak commuter runs, off-peak schedules, and seasonal excursions. Operators have included the MBTA for passenger service and contractors such as Keolis Commuter Services in recent decades. Freight operators have used remaining sidings for commodities linked to ports like New Bedford Harbor and industrial customers in Taunton. Timetable coordination connects to intermodal hubs like South Station for transfers to MBTA subway lines (e.g., Red Line (MBTA), Orange Line (MBTA)) and intercity trains operated by Amtrak on corridors such as the Northeast Corridor. Operational challenges have involved single-track bottlenecks, dispatching coordination with Federal Railroad Administration rules, and storm-related service interruptions tied to nor'easters and coastal flooding.

Rolling Stock and Equipment

Rolling stock historically ranged from wood-frame coaches and 4-4-0 steam locomotives built by firms like Baldwin Locomotive Works to later New Haven-era steam classes and early dieselization with General Motors Electro-Motive Division units. Contemporary commuter fleets include diesel locomotives such as the MBTA Commuter Rail FLIRT and cab cars with Bombardier-built bi-level coaches, supplemented by leased equipment during peak demand. Preservation groups maintain examples of historic equipment housed at institutions such as the Seashore Trolley Museum and the New England Museum of Transportation. Maintenance facilities tied to the lines include yards in Middleborough and servicing facilities at South Station.

Ridership and Economic Impact

Ridership has fluctuated with suburbanization, gas prices, and service restorations; reopening projects produced ridership boosts measured by MBTA reports and regional planning agencies like the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Economic effects include increased property values in station areas, transit-oriented development projects in towns like Quincy and Brockton, and freight-dependent employment in New Bedford and Fall River. Funding sources for projects have combined state bonds approved by the Massachusetts State Legislature, federal grants from the Federal Transit Administration, and local matching funds, affecting capital timelines and service frequencies. Environmental impact assessments referenced statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act during project approvals.

Preservation and Heritage Railways

Heritage operations and museum efforts preserve the network's legacy through organizations such as the Old Colony Railroad Museum, volunteer railfan groups, and seasonal excursion operators running between coastal communities and historic stations like Kingston (MBTA station) and Scituate. Preservation work involves restoration of station buildings, collaboration with the National Park Service for historic district designations, and adaptive reuse projects where depots became community centers or restaurants in towns including Dartmouth and Hingham. Excursion services sometimes use restored diesel or steam locomotives sourced from collections associated with the United Railroad Historical Society of New England.

Category:Rail transportation in Massachusetts Category:Commuter rail in the United States