Welcome to the Addison Railroad

One of the earliest memories in my life was walking the remaining tracks of the Addison Railroad in Whiting about 1955. Though only two years old, I remember the tracks near Austin Barrows Feed and Machinery Store where my father had bought a new John Deere Model 60 tractor. Periodically we made the journey from our farm in Bridport to Whiting for parts and repairs.

I also remember going under the Baldwin Dry Bridge on our way to visit relatives in Proctor. The road under the bridge was only one lane wide and on a blind curve which made some frightening moments when meeting another vehicle. Though the tracks had been removed from this section, the bridge stood for a few years more.

By 1961 Austin Barrows moved his business to Leicester Jct. and dropped the line of John Deere machinery. My visits to Leicester became less and less as we now got our parts from another John Deere dealer. The Rutland Railroad went on strike later that year and never recovered. It would be thirty years before I would research the history of the Addison Railroad but not by myself.

I had known Dana Myrick ever since I remembered life itself. We grew up in Bridport, the sons of dairy farmers, friends from the beginning. We attended school together along with catechism and church functions. After high school I joined the Navy and moved away from Bridport and Dana, though we did stay in touch over the years.

In 1991 I became involved with the Vermont Bicentennial and helped plan some of the celebration activities in Bridport. It gave me an opportunity to work with Dana. It was during this period that I learned how much Dana knew about 19th century architecture and building. He taught me to look at older buildings with a new appreciation and knowledge of the skills it required to build them.

Later that year we had a chance to work together again. I was starting to become interested in modeling trains and I wondered if model trains still fascinated young and old alike. I contacted the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury and proposed the idea of a model train exhibit for their Christmas Season. They were very receptive and I gathered four people to work on this project. Dana was one of them and he gave up some very long hours to make sure it was done properly. You see, Dana was a perfectionist and he wouldn't do something if it wasn't going to be done right. The display was a success and it began a Christmas tradition at the Museum for years to come.

After that first exhibit, we became interested in the history of area railroads. Being a Middle School History Teacher, I was curious and as a student of 19th century building, Dana was inquisitive. We joined the Champlain Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and later the Rutland Railroad Historical Society. At this point we decided to make the Addison Railroad our project.

It was during this time that I felt younger and greatly alive as we searched the old roadbed and the few remaining structures of the Addison. Dana always brought enthusiasm with him on all of our travels. We began to collect slides and photographs and eventually we developed a slide presentation about the Addison. In the fall of 1994, we conducted an auto/walking tour of the Addison for our NRHS club and it proved to be one of the greatest days of our lives.

At the end of January 1995, Dana called and said he'd really like to walk the roadbed through the swamp. This was one section we hadn't been on yet but the conditions were ideal with frigid temperatures and ice allowing us easy walking through the swamp. Dana brought his brother Stan with us and we made a day of traveling on the Addison. This would be the last time I would ever see Dana alive again.

Three days later Dana took his ice boat on Lake Champlain; something he hadn't done in twelve years. While crossing the lake, the ice shifted and he went through and drowned. When I was told the news I was devastated. I found it ironic that he died in a way that was somewhat common in the 19th Century but not so common in the 20th Century.


A picture of me on the left riding the brake and Dana to the right. This is as it was, when we "rode" the Addison Railroad.

For awhile I lost all interest in the Addison Railroad but after some time I realized Dana wouldn't want that to happen. I added more to the slide show and started this homepage and now the Addison Railroad lives on in Cyberspace.

So ALL ABOARD the Addison Railroad and enjoy the ride.......

back to the Addison Railroad homepage