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Milk, Granite, and Small-Town Railroading:

Welcome to mwrrr.org


       This site has been created to promote the exchange of historical data, photographs, and memories related to the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad and the Barre & Chelsea Railroad. Discussion forums are already open, and in coming weeks we may add photos, maps, and other resources, and perhaps some information specifically for scale modelers.

       These two Vermont short lines operated interesting equipment through beautiful scenery, but they are most memorable for their central role in the social and economic life of the small towns they served. The M&WR ran eastward from the capital city of Montpelier through the towns of East Montpelier, Plainfield, Marshfield, Groton, South Ryegate, and Boltonville to Wells River, where it connected to the Canadian Pacific and the Boston & Maine. In all, the line was about 38 miles long. Major shippers and receivers along the M&WR included at least fifteen granite-finishing plants of various sizes, two creameries, and several local feed and grain businesses. From the mid 1930's until 1952, the regular schedule listed two eastbound and two westbound mixed trains (two round trips) daily, except one round trip on Sunday. Passengers rode in Car #14, a coach/ baggage/ mail combine.

       The much shorter Barre & Chelsea climbed a 5% grade from Barre yard to the granite quarries on Barre's Millstone Hill. It therefore carried heavier and more industrial ladings than the more rural M&WR. From 1911 through 1944, the Boston & Maine RR owned both roads, but instead of being merged into the B&M system as branch lines, in 1925 the M&WR and the B&C were reorganized as separate corporations, operating under local management and boards of directors.

       In the 1930's and early 40's, as trucks began capturing more and more freight business, the B&C's quarry business helped keep it slightly healthier than the M&WR. At the start of 1945, the more solvent B&C bought all of the M&WR's physical property. All M&WR equipment was relettered for the B&C, and operations over the former M&WR main line continued for another ten or eleven years. The M&WR rails were finally taken up in the winter of 1956-57.

       For more detailed information than fits on this introductory page, please visit our Discussion Forums and other pages of this site.

Last updated 3-15-2004