Here's the history of my fictional route that I've worked on since I got Trainz in 2004.
In 1640 the settlers founded the small village of North Amerhill, which is located on what is now known as the Enfield River. The great falls at this location supplied the Native Amercians with fish and the settlers found the falls to be perfect for their grist mills. The area was very prosperous, and during the 1750s, numerous grist mills were in operation. The river also became quite an important transportation route as the area was located quite a distance away from the more populous coastline.
In 1828, George Enfield built the first textile mill. He used the water as power for his mill, and his business became quite successful. By 1831, other mills had been built in the same area. The river supplied both power for the mills and transportation of the finished goods to the sea port at Eastport. As time went on, other business entrepreneurs built their own textile factories, and
due to the increase in mills, there were now problems with the transportation of goods. The skiff operators had to battle constantly with low water during the summer months as the mills drew off the water to power their equipment. Eventually fights broke out amongst the mill owners and the shippers, and nothing was being transported anywhere. The local economy started to suffer as the mills ran out of raw materials, and anything that was transported, had to go on a very long and difficult overland journey.
Late in 1831 and early 1832, the discussion started about buidling a railroad from Enfield to the seaport of Eastport, which is located about 65 miles way. Work started immediately on the surveying of the land for the route, and money was raised from the different towns, which became stock holders in the new railroad. The new rail company ran its first trains as far as Wrentham in mid 1834.
The Enfield Railroad, which it finally became known as, changed its name numerous times as it reached the different towns along the route, and even changed from Railway to finally Railroad at the end. By 1838 the new railroad" finally reached Eastport, which was the final destination of this line. The original Enfield line followed the former tow path that ran along the river in the valley. The rail line bypassed the major cities along the way, but none the less did quite wells as it suppled services to the smaller towns such as Factoryville, Brimley, and Franklin Mills on its short branch that ran up that way.
In 1845 the Boston & Maine built its line to Eastport. They ran their line up on bluff above the river, and connected the major cities such as Pembroke, Wrentham, Acton, Bowman, and Eastport. The original Enfield Railroad never built a main passenger terminal like the B&M did, but shared the terminal with the B&M. During this time, the two companies coxeisted nicely and interchanged traffic at different points along the way. The B&M even supplied passenger service to Factoryville and Brimley and the other towns along the old River Line. A long branch was also built to Willows Point, and a shorter one was built to Peaches Point. This line served the shoe mills at Devereaux and the residents out on the point with commuter serviice to Eastport. The venerable B&M also had the advantage too of connecting the more genteel towns of Parkdale, Cottage Hill, and Radford. These towns had commuters that travelled to both Eastport and Boston as commuters on the railroad. By 1885 the B&M had merged in the operations of the old Enfield RR as it swallowed up numerous other shortlines in New England. The ERR became the River Line, which it is still known as today, while the original B&M became the Eastport Branch.
Eastport is located out on a cape just above Cape Ann between Plum Island and Seabrook, New Hampshire. The Merrimack River is on one side with the Enfield River on the more southern end. This cape forms a curved point that creates a safe quiet harbor that is protected from the numerous storms that hit the are during the winter months. The service along these lines was quite successful as the B&M made quite a lot of money transporting commuters to and from Eastport and Boston, and goods from the different mill companies along the route to and from Eastport to other points west. They also built an interchange at Ipswich Junction where the line crossed the former Eastern Railroad, which by 1888 was now controlled 100% by the B&M.
----- Continued -----
In 1640 the settlers founded the small village of North Amerhill, which is located on what is now known as the Enfield River. The great falls at this location supplied the Native Amercians with fish and the settlers found the falls to be perfect for their grist mills. The area was very prosperous, and during the 1750s, numerous grist mills were in operation. The river also became quite an important transportation route as the area was located quite a distance away from the more populous coastline.
In 1828, George Enfield built the first textile mill. He used the water as power for his mill, and his business became quite successful. By 1831, other mills had been built in the same area. The river supplied both power for the mills and transportation of the finished goods to the sea port at Eastport. As time went on, other business entrepreneurs built their own textile factories, and
due to the increase in mills, there were now problems with the transportation of goods. The skiff operators had to battle constantly with low water during the summer months as the mills drew off the water to power their equipment. Eventually fights broke out amongst the mill owners and the shippers, and nothing was being transported anywhere. The local economy started to suffer as the mills ran out of raw materials, and anything that was transported, had to go on a very long and difficult overland journey.
Late in 1831 and early 1832, the discussion started about buidling a railroad from Enfield to the seaport of Eastport, which is located about 65 miles way. Work started immediately on the surveying of the land for the route, and money was raised from the different towns, which became stock holders in the new railroad. The new rail company ran its first trains as far as Wrentham in mid 1834.
The Enfield Railroad, which it finally became known as, changed its name numerous times as it reached the different towns along the route, and even changed from Railway to finally Railroad at the end. By 1838 the new railroad" finally reached Eastport, which was the final destination of this line. The original Enfield line followed the former tow path that ran along the river in the valley. The rail line bypassed the major cities along the way, but none the less did quite wells as it suppled services to the smaller towns such as Factoryville, Brimley, and Franklin Mills on its short branch that ran up that way.
In 1845 the Boston & Maine built its line to Eastport. They ran their line up on bluff above the river, and connected the major cities such as Pembroke, Wrentham, Acton, Bowman, and Eastport. The original Enfield Railroad never built a main passenger terminal like the B&M did, but shared the terminal with the B&M. During this time, the two companies coxeisted nicely and interchanged traffic at different points along the way. The B&M even supplied passenger service to Factoryville and Brimley and the other towns along the old River Line. A long branch was also built to Willows Point, and a shorter one was built to Peaches Point. This line served the shoe mills at Devereaux and the residents out on the point with commuter serviice to Eastport. The venerable B&M also had the advantage too of connecting the more genteel towns of Parkdale, Cottage Hill, and Radford. These towns had commuters that travelled to both Eastport and Boston as commuters on the railroad. By 1885 the B&M had merged in the operations of the old Enfield RR as it swallowed up numerous other shortlines in New England. The ERR became the River Line, which it is still known as today, while the original B&M became the Eastport Branch.
Eastport is located out on a cape just above Cape Ann between Plum Island and Seabrook, New Hampshire. The Merrimack River is on one side with the Enfield River on the more southern end. This cape forms a curved point that creates a safe quiet harbor that is protected from the numerous storms that hit the are during the winter months. The service along these lines was quite successful as the B&M made quite a lot of money transporting commuters to and from Eastport and Boston, and goods from the different mill companies along the route to and from Eastport to other points west. They also built an interchange at Ipswich Junction where the line crossed the former Eastern Railroad, which by 1888 was now controlled 100% by the B&M.
----- Continued -----
Last edited:
