Portland and Ogdensburg Railway

The Portland and Ogdensburg Railway ( P & O, officially also ' The Portland and Ogdensburg Railway " ) is a former railway company in the northeastern United States. It was founded on 11 February 1867 as " Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad " in Maine and New Hampshire, and should the cities Portland ( Maine) and Ogdensburg (New York) connect. In Vermont already passed three railway companies, the P & O took over on August 7, 1875.

The Essex County Railroad was founded in 1864 and opened in 1871 Johnsbury West Concord St. the route. The section to the border of New Hampshire at Lunenburg was opened in the mid-1870s. In total, the track has a length of about 34 kilometers.

The Montpelier and St. Johnsbury Railroad was founded in 1866 and was originally St. Johnsbury connect with the city of Montpelier. 1872 was the 24 -kilometer section to West Danville. The rest of the planned route was never built.

In West Danville, founded in 1867 Lamoille Valley Railroad joined who wanted to build a track to Swanton. Until 1872, the company opened the route to South Hardwich. The remaining portion of the 135 -kilometer route was taken until 1877 by the Portland & Ogdensburg in operation.

The railway Portland Lunenburg was partially opened. The White Mountains were at 594 m high Crawford Notch to cross with a maximum gradient of up to 3.5 percent. With the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, it was concluded a contract for the joint use right of the route Wing Road Fabyan, which she had opened in July 1874. Closing the gap until the end of 1875 Lunenburg was taken into operation. Thus, the total nearly 370 km long stretch Portland ME Swanton VT was navigable in 1877. As a gauge you chose the standard gauge ( 1435 mm).

Following financial difficulties, on January 31, 1880, the " Vermont Division " (section Lunenburg NH Swanton VT) as " St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad " ( STJ & LC) outsourced. The rest was renamed from 8 June 1886 as " Portland and Ogdensburg Railway". The Maine Central Railroad leased on August 20, 1888 first such company, from July 1912, however, the St. Johnsbury section - Lunenburg the STJ & LC. On August 1, 1927 this lease was canceled and the Canadian Pacific Railway now leased this section of road. 1943 acquired the Maine Central Railroad leased lines and finally incorporated it into their network.

As of June 1984, the Twin State Railroad operated the Whitefield NH St section. Johnsbury VT, from October 1999 onwards only occasionally lying in Vermont section. The track is now largely shut down, only the sections Portland ME Cumberland Mills ME ( Pan Am Railways ) and Whitefield NH Lunenburg NH ( New Hampshire Central Railroad ) are still operated regularly. On the section Intervale Junction NH- NH Fabyan over the White Mountains and the Crawford Notch travel tourism trains the Conway Scenic Railroad.