Hidden history of cape cod paperback titcombs bookshop. Cape rail covers approximately 100 miles of track between the two railroads. Cape cod central railroad is part of cape rail, inc. Pegnato will present a talk on the history of railroads on cape cod and the west barnstable train station and museum. Includes a look at the cape cod branch railroad, the cape cod rr, the cape cod central, the take over of the lines by the old colony rr, the locomotives. Sightseeing trains offer a unique way to appreciate and explore cape cod. While on vacation in september of 1995 i managed a quick trip to the recently formed cape cod railroad.
The first cape cod style homes were built by puritan colonists who came to america in the late 17th century. Using hundreds of historic images, railroads of cape cod and the islands illustrates the rich heritage of passenger and freight rail transportation on cape cod, marthas vineyard, and nantucket. Perhaps daytime narrated tales of the history of the canal and how cranberries are harvested. The bay colony railroad the story of this freight short line company, which operates freight service on cape cod, to plymouth, watuppa, dean street in taunton, a short portion of the greenbush line, and newton highlands. Covers the construction and operation of the cape cod railroad, the old colony, marthas vineyard railroad, nantucket railroad and the fall river lines as well as the operation of the. Steamtown national historic site scranton pa railroad history museum book. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. By 1959, yearround cape cod passenger service had been discontinued. Cape cod central railroad hyannis 2020 all you need to. The line was originally built just after the civil war by a new haven predecessor and for many years hosted both freight and passenger trains. Cape cod canal and railroad bridge circa image via the bourne police. By 1887, fourteen of the fifteen towns on cape cod were connected by the railroad. New haven mechanical department facilities maps revised edition.
Cape cod railroads, including marthas vineyard and nantucket. By 1887, fourteen of the fifteen towns on cape cod were. The cape cod chapter of the national railway historical society is a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to the promotion of and preservation of railroad transportation history, with special emphasis on cape cod railroading. We use history to link us to the valuable railroad heritage of cape cod and encourage younger members to think critically about the history that we model and how they are able to play an active role in the keeping the history and future of rail transportation on cape cod alive. Over a few generations, a modest, one to oneandahalfstory house with wooden shutters emerged. Cape charles was created by the railroad and sustained by it for most of the towns history. It tells the story, in pictures, from the first track laid in 1848, the heyday and the changes wrought by bringing rails progressively down the cape in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s, and the eventual demise and gradual shrinkage of rail service until in the 1990s there was nothing left but a daily trash train that transferred trash. Proceeds from sales in this store go to the bsras general fund. The approximately sevenmilelong 11 km canal traverses the narrow neck of land joining cape cod to the states mainland. It is a paperback, 128page photohistory, containing 220 historic black and white. According to mike schafers book more classic american railroads, it comprised more than 200 predecessors. From provincetown to falmouth, the capes fifteen towns offer a plethora of hidden and enchanting tales.
Cape cod lines new haven railroad historical and technical. The cape cod canal is an artificial waterway in the u. They modeled their homes after the halftimbered houses of their english homeland, but adapted the style to the stormy new england weather. For a short time, even the islands of nantucket and marthas vineyard had r.
Perhaps a daytime narrated excursion with tales of the history of the canal and how cranberries are harvested. A history of cape cod, marthas vineyard, and nantucket by. Cape cod and the site of one of americas largest glass factories, an industry that flourished during the 19th century. Train conductor and director of the railroad historical society of cape cod, fred p. Railroads of cape cod and the islands, published by arcadia publishing as a part of the images of rail series, is in its fourth printing and available now. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. An avid rail photographer, he has designed, constructed, and maintained web sites celebrating railroad history. Kennedy, who summered in hyannis port, certainly added to the areas allure. It is a paperback, 128page photo history, containing 220 historic black and white photographs of the railroads which existed on cape cod and the islands of marthas vineyard and nantucket. Railroads of cape cod and the islands bsra bookstore. Gateway to cape cod buzzards bay bridge the history of the cape cod canal vertical lift railroad bridge.
It was built primarily to serve the boston and sandwich glass company. The book brought light to the history of the cape cod railroad that was eventually acquired by the new haven and hartford. Cape cod is a very special place with a rich and fascinating history and great natural beauty and it has inspired and attracted many amazing authors. North conway and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The railroad era came to cape cod in 1848 when a road was built from middleboro on the mainland to sandwich on the cape. It operates on a rail line known as the cape main line which is. But last fall, bay coast railroad, which had leased the railroad since 2006, formally ceased operations and ended more than 120 years of railroad service on the eastern shore. Or a relaxing weekday lunch or sunday brunch is more your style. It is a paperback, 128page photohistory, containing 220 historic black and white photographs of the railroads which existed on cape cod and the islands of marthas vineyard and nantucket. The following is a roster of all motive power of the cape cod central railroad. Many of chathams records, for instance, were lost in a fire, and yarmouths records of the revolutionary war period have been missing for years. Full time residents and summer visitors alike often ask us for books about the cape or by some of our local authors.
Jan 23, 2017 explore prettypickys board cape cod books, followed by 441. Cape cod books books about cape cod and by cape cod authors. Rsj books 142 followers robssecondjob 12804 robssecondjobs feedback score is 12804 99. Or perhaps a relaxing weekday lunch or sunday brunch is more your style.
Also purchase the new railroads of cape cod and the islands book here. Cape cod families are difficult to trace because only the probate records survived the burning of the barnstable county courthouse in 1827, and similar disasters have taken their toll on the capes town records. There will be free time for shopping along the cape cod canal. In 1999, the cape cod central railroad began operating the service. And getting to cape cod is now easier with the capeflyer seasonal passenger train service from boston. Cape cod library of local history and genealogy books. Railroads to cape cod penney vanderbilt and kc jones. Cape cod railroads, including marthas vineyard and nantucket by robert h. The cape cod railroad extended itself to hyannis in 1854 and after the civil war the cape cod central railroad went on to orleans and wellfleet. We look to augment our small budget with donations, both of money and used model railroad equipment, from the public as well as stipends we receive from appearing at different events over the holiday season.
All railroad enthusiasts and people who just love trains welcome. History of woods hole woods hole, a village on cape cod. As the highways expanded in the years following world war ii, the automobile became the primary. He will offer a slide show and have memorabilia from days of the locomotive.
Plenty of local information, carefully collected from many sources. The cape cod central railroad takes guests past marshes, cranberry bogs, dunes and other places only accessible by rail, but which ride to choose. It was incorporated in 1846 as the cape cod branch railroad to provide a rail link from. A week on the concord and merrimack rivers walden the maine woods. The yard had some good locomotives in there but the only train i managed to catch had a gp9. The salty waves and sandy beaches of cape cod disguise its fascinating and nearly forgotten history. The boston street railway association is a 501c3 nonprofit historical organization, dedicated to preserving the history of public transit in boston and new england. Special thanks to dave santos for compiling and organizing this information. Beginning in 1989, the bay colony railroad operated seasonal heritage railroad excursions from hyannis to sagamore under the cape cod railroad brand.
Elegant dinner trains, family dinner trains and themed trips like the polar express are also available aboard the cape cod central railroad. The greatest small boat rescue in coast guard history. Cape cod chapter nrhs west barnstable station home. The lift bridge at the west end of the canal is a big draw especially when it lowers for a train and then raises for boat traffic. A tour is part of your journey on the cape cod railroad. Cape cod railroads, including marthas vineyard and. Cape cod rails cape cod central railroad locomotive roster. Tourists guide to down the harbor, hull and nantasket, downer landing, hingham, cohasset, marshfield, scituate, duxbury, the famous jerusalem road. In the 1930s three bridges two traffic and one railroad went up, and the rest is the latterday history of tourism on cape cod.
For centuries fishermen in search of a livelihood, explorers in search of new worlds, and pilgrims of one sort or another in search of a new life down to the beachbound tourists of today all have turned to the waters around this narrow peninsula arcing into the atlantic to fulfill their needs and ambitions. Units which are still in service are highlighted in yellow. Our layout is interactive, welcomes people of all ages and recalls a cape cod history from a railroading perspective. Mass coastal is a freight line, and the cape cod central is a heritage, passenger railroad that operates primarily on 27 miles of former new. The book is a wellresearched history of trains on cape cod. We found 124 books set in cape cod and 16 others set nearby.
He is currently employed as a brakefireman for the cape cod central railroad. The fortunes of cape cod have always been linked to the sea. Get the best deals on collectible railroad books 1900 now when you shop the largest online selection at. This quaint and quiet seaside community is the hometown of thornton burgess, naturalist and author of 170 childrens books. Purchase your copy of the new railroads of cape cod and the islands book here. The cape cod railroad was a railroad in southeastern massachusetts. The cape cod central railroad is a heritage railroad located on cape cod, massachusetts. Here are a few of our favorite books to recommend fiction, mystery, nonfiction, childrens. He is a member of the national railway historical society, the massachusetts bay railroad enthusiasts, and the national association of railroad passengers. Railroad service may be gone from cape charles, but it is. Railroads of cape cod and the islands history books. Old colony main line new haven railroad historical and.
The art deco railroad bridge that straddles the cape cod canal looked great with its giant cruise ship accessory. For a short time, even the islands of nantucket and marthas vineyard had railroad lines. Today, many miles of track have been removed to accommodate recreational bike paths. The chapter was chartered in 1986, although the cape cod group can trace its history back to the early 1960s.
1148 988 1184 118 1054 1503 1462 1160 702 1215 1147 1141 965 803 884 339 294 948 1071 1609 165 1057 850 992 829 721 1503 851 131 478 561 720 293 1471 1322 749 1049