| The History Project |
Trains of Vermont |
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I'm talking about trains because trains interest me. There is a lot information about the trains of Vermont. The completion of railways in Vermont is a big part of our history. Railroads were what brought immigrants to Vermont. Trains were also a means of modern transportation. Trains could carry heavy loads over long distances. Trains were over long distances switching onto different rails to get to farther places. The Vermont Central ran from the southwest part of the state north to Burlington. The Montpelier and Barre did not join theVermont Central until the 1880's. The Rutland and Burlington line ran from Bellows Falls connection to Boston then off to Rutland and to Burlington. The Vermont and Canadian line ran from Essex Junction to the border and into a connection to Montreal. The Rutland also ran southwest to Albany and beyond to New York City. The rail lines of northwestern Vermont are the Connecticut and Passumic, The Grand Trunk, and the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain which connected those places with Portland, Maine as well as the lines to Boston, New York, and Montreal. Vermont's railroad system demonstrated its importance moving people both in and out of Vermont through the 1850's. Trains carried things like granite, marble, and other such stone to be shaped and milled for sale. They also carried people and other freight such as clothing, hardware, food, mail, tractor parts, lumber, and steel. Trains were also very classy for touring and relaxation to watch the scenery. Trains brought a lot of tourists to Vermont. The more classy trains were used to carry rich people around the state.
What do trains do to cross rivers? That's easy they go on bridges built of steel. There are a lot of streams and rivers so there are a lot of bridges. The first train went across Lake Champlain in the early 1900's. The bridge floated and opened in the middle to allow passage for boats and barges. In the winter the trains were used just as much as when there was no snow on the ground, so they had to have a way to get rid of the snow on the tracks. They made snowplows that quickly removed the snow so the trains wouldn't derail. For the snow that wasn't picked up railroads used scrapers to get rid of snow in between the rails and the tracks.
There were robberies on the trains back in the late 1800's and the early 1900's. People robbed passengers of their valuables. The introduction of trains into Vermont is very important as you can see. Trains are still around and used for most of the same reasons, but they are more modern because of technology. I hope you find trains as interesting as I do. |
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by Sean Laflam |
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