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Map of Cape Cod railroads Circa 1880

(Click for larger verion.)

Cape Cod Railroad History

"Railroad Fever"

Railroading on Cape Cod has a rich and colorful history, spanning over 150 years. Join us as we journey through time with this brief history of the railroads of Cape Cod, leading up to the Cape Cod Central as it exists today.

(History provided by railroad historian Bud Baldwin.)

1848	Cape Cod Branch Railroad reaches Sandwich from Middleboro.
1854	Becomes Cape Cod Railroad reaching Yarmouthport and Hyannis.
1861	Cape Cod Central Railroad formed to build to Orleans reaching there in 1865. (Delayed by Civil War.) (As Railroad advanced Sailing Packets disappeared and Stage Coaches retreated.)
1868	Cape Cod Central Railroad absorbed by Cape Cod Railroad.
	Cape Cod Central Steam Locomotive "The Highland Light", Circa 1867
1870	Cape Cod Railroad reaches Wellfleet.
1872	Cape Cod Railroad reaches Woods Hole and Provincetown.
1872	Cape Cod Railroad merged with Old Colony and Newport to become Old Colony Railroad.
1887	Spur built from Harwich to Chatham.
1894	Old Colony Railroad leased to New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
1938	Regular passenger service to Provincetown suspended.
1959	All passenger service ended on Cape Cod.
1969	New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad absorbed by Penn Central (Penn Central went bankrupt in 871 days.)
1976	CONRAIL formed. State purchases tracks from Middleboro to Hyannis and Falmouth (CONRAIL provides freight service.)
1982	Bay Colony Railroad takes over freight service.
1982	Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad begins passenger service (Seasonal and Scenic.)
1988	Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad dissolved.
1989	Cape Cod Railroad formed to provide tourist passenger service.
1997	Cape Cod Railroad goes out of business.
1998	No passenger service on Cape Cod.
1999	Cape Cod Central Railroad formed and becomes one of the leading Dinner and Scenic trains in the country.
2001	Proposal for "Feeder" passenger service between Cape Cod and Middleboro gains momentum.
2006	Cape Cod Central Railroad purchased by original 1999 co-founder John Kennedy and partners Chris Podgurski, Andrew Reardon, and Ted Michon.