George Mansfield and the Billerica & Bedford Railroad
By Donald L. Ball -- Published in 2012

Hardcover:  Text, Maps, Illustrations and Photographs

This is the definitive reference book for anyone who is interested in the history of the first two-foot-gauge railway in the United States.

When the Massachusetts towns of Bedford and Billerica clamored for a railroad, George E. Mansfield appeared on the scene and sold them on a new, inexpensive way to build one. He finished the line and it was acclaimed around the world as a brilliant new departure in railroad building. The Billerica & Bedford Railroad delivered everything its promoter said it would but, yet, it failed financially in less than a year. What happened to cause this failure?

Using original railroad documents and letters along with newspaper and trade journal articles, the author delves into the behind-the-scenes machinations that plagued this 8½ mile line. The backgrounds of the people involved are explored to determine their goals and motivations. Numerous drawings of the railroad rolling stock and structures are included along with examinations of the technical aspects of line which made it so revolutionary. George Mansfield went on to build the Sandy River Railroad as well as the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad, both of which survived into the 1930s and beyond. After only six years of railroad building, though, Mansfield seemingly vanished from the railroad scene without building another railroad. George did continue in railroading and rare documents and family photos show his later life along with his earlier lives and activities.

The technical features of this remarkable new gauge and railroad are covered in detail including the changes made by the Sandy River Railroad and subsequent owners. Original B&B brochures, corporate records and preliminary information drawn by George E. Mansfield are featured. This is the story of the pioneer two-footer which paved the way for the more successful narrow-gauge lines built in Maine and other locations around the country. It is also the story of the promoter of the Mansfield System of two-foot gauge railroads, who he was, where he came from and what happened to him and his dreams.

Today, the Billerica & Bedford Railroad’s Engine House survives as the ex-Boston & Maine Railroad Freight House in Bedford, Massachusetts, at the terminus of the Minuteman Bikeway.

This book is printed on heavyweight, glossy paper. It weighs over 2½ pounds.

RDC: The Budd Rail Diesel Car
by Donald Duke and Edmund Keilty

Hardcover:  375 Photographs and Illustrations, 295 pages

This book chronicles, in word and picture, the history and development of the Budd Company's Rail Diesel Car, also known as the "RDC." The story evolves around a search for a self-contained, self-propelled railcar to reduce costs on suburban and branch rail lines. This book describes Budd's experiment with a stainless steel rubber-tired railcar, the first RDC prototype in the 1940s, the company's entry into the stainless steel railroad car business, and the birth and growth of the RDC. A vast appendix features every carrier that operated RDCs, a description of how the cars were used, route maps, and rosters of each railroad.

Anyone who is interested in the Boston & Maine RDC that is on display at Bedford Depot Park will appreciate this hefty book. The B&M once operated the largest fleet of RDCs in the world.

The Rail Lines of Southern New England:
Second Edition
by Ronald Dale Karr

Paperback, Text, Maps and Photographs, 452 Pages

Have you ever come across an active rail line or abandoned right-of-way and wondered where it goes, how it came to be, what kind if traffic it saw, or who owns or operates it today? Historian Ronald Dale Karr answers these questions for railfans and history buffs alike in this unique handbook. Each chapter comprises a lively, detailed chronicle of a rail line and its branches, a map showing the line's relationship to other lines, an all-time station list, and information about when the line was built, its operators, the number of passenger trains, and dates of abandonment.

With abundant photos and illustrations and a comprehensive index, this is a must for any New England "railfan."

Boston and Maine Memories
Featuring the Photography and Career of Preston Johnson
By George and Katherine Melvin

Hardcover, Black & White and Color Photographs, 112 pages

Take a trip down memory lane as we guide you through the 45-year career of former Boston & Maine Railroad dispatcher Preston Johnson and present many of the memories and photographs of this lifelong railroad aficionado. Learn about the various B&M main and branch lines that Preston came to know so well, including the Lexington Branch to Bedford, Massachusetts.

This high quality book contains 230 photos of steam locomotoves, brand new Diesels, stations, towers and yards that are richly captioned with details about the railroad's operation and history. Preston's love for the old Boston & Maine emanates from each page.

Arlington's Little Local Railroad:
An Illustrated History of the Lexington & West Cambridge Railroad and Its Successors
by John L. Worden III

8-1/2" by 11" Paperback, Text, Maps and Photographs, 26 Pages

This is an excellent overview of the history of the Lexington Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad in Arlington, Lexington and Bedford. Today, this line between West Cambridge and Bedford, Massachusetts, is "rail banked" and used by the popular Minuteman Bikeway. The author has thoughtfully included route maps that show original track alignments and station locations. This is one of those reference books you'll keep as a permanent part of your rail history library. Model railroaders will appreciate this book for its track schematics, too.

A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses
By John H. Roy, Jr.

Softcover, 346 pages with photos

The author spent the last 15 years tracking down every station and freight house still in existence in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to all 467 such structures that survive as of2007.

Each entry includes a photograph of the building, the date when it was built, its current use, and brief historical and architectural notes. "Railfans," modelers, architecture enthusiasts, local history buffs, and historical preservationists will find a wealth of information to help them explore New England's architectural and railroad heritage. Bedford Depot and Freight House are included in this book.

The Central Mass. - Expanded Second Edition
By Marker Press

Hardcover, Text and B&W Photographs, 177 pages

The Central Mass., first published by the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society in 1975, set forth the colorful history of the line from its beginnings as the Central Massachusetts Railroad until the publication date. This expanded second edition includes a reprint of the original plus 39 new pages about the subsequent fate of the branch line, its final days under B&M operation, and ongoing rebirth as a rail-trail. The supplement features 30 new illustrations and maps.

This book is a must-have for anyone who is interested in the history of the fabled B&M Central Massachusetts Branch!

Boston & Maine in the 19th Century
by Bruce D. Heald, Ph.D.

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

All the romance of early railroading in northern New England pervades Boston & Maine in the 19th Century. This fascinating journey begins in the 1830s with an eight-mile line that just kept growing. By the end of the century, the Boston & Maine was traveling over 2,324 miles of track.

This first pictorial history of the Boston & Maine explores the heyday of an enterprising railroad. Using spectacular images, most of which have never before been published, the book takes us along scenic stretches of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Through the generosity of the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, the author was able to assemble this tribute to a transportation dynasty. Working with rare photographs and original documents from the Society's extensive archives, he has produced a work that is destined to please not only railroad enthusiasts but also residents of northeastern regions crossed by rail.

Boston & Maine in the 20th Century
by Bruce D. Heald, Ph.D.

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

As the 20th century dawned, the Boston & Maine Railroad Company controlled virtually all of the rail lines in New Hampshire, as well as much of the service in Maine and Massachusetts. Ultimately, the company operated more than 2,000 stations in northern New England. The train was the most important mode of travel, and the stations were the center of the community.

Boston & Maine in the 20th Century continues the first pictorial history of the company, Boston & Maine in the 19th Century. With more than 200 rare images and historical narrative, the book details the trains and their destinations:  the terminals, stations, depots, and whistle stops to which they sped. Times changed, and the railroad was passed by; however, its legacy lives on.

To preserve and document the history of the region's transportation giant, the author worked extensively with the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society.

Boston & Maine Trains and Services
by Bruce D. Heald, Ph.D.

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

The Boston & Maine Railroad serviced most of New England as a primary mode of transportation during the 19th and 20th centuries. The birth of this railroad spurred the growth and development of industry in New England. This heritage is captured in Boston & Maine Trains and Services, the fourth volume in a series to focus on the history of this enterprising railroad.

The trains and services included in this book are the Pullman passenger cars, work trains with flatcars, boxcars, circus trains, plows, stock, cabooses, as well as the Boston & Maine bus service, trucks, and air service.

For this documentation of the American railroad, the author has assembled 200 rare images that celebrate the romance of the Boston & Maine's legacy. Special thanks are given to the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society for its generous assistance and support in preserving the history of New England railroading.

Boston's MTA: Through Riverside and Beyond
By Bradley H. Clarke, Boston Street Railway Association

234 pages, color photos and maps, hardcover

This second volume in the BSRA's "Streetcar Lines of the Hub" series continues the story of Boston street railways from 1950 to the end of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1964. When the MTA succeeded the Boston Elevated Railway in 1947, high hopes were riding on its success. By the end of its last full year, however, the MTA's annual deficit had skyrocketed, and service had only expanded in two places: the Riverside Line to Newton and the East Boston Tunnel Extension to Revere. Where the MTA really succeeded—in terms of its goals—was the dismantling of most of Boston's remaining surface streetcar network. In 1940, there were 52 active streetcar lines, and by 1960, only 8.

In this new book, we take a nostalgic journey along the varied routes that the MTA's streetcar traversed. Witness changing equipment, memorable streetscapes and, for many lines, the final days of operaion with over 425 photos—most of which are in color—36 color maps and diagrams, and more color memorabilia! This is the only comprehensive book ever written about the streetcar lines of Boston's MTA. Included is an interesting chapter about streetcar service to Arlington Heights, Massachusetts.

Streetcar Lines of the Hub
By Bradley H. Clarke

Hardcover, 216 pages

"The Heyday of Electric Transit in Boston"

Enjoy what may be the most detailed book ever written about Boston's streetcar lines! This definitive book contains nearly 500 photographs -- many in color -- plus maps and track diagrams.

During World War II, the Boston area's streetcar ridership hit record levels. The trolley's viability was reaffirmed one last time. This book covers all 52 routes, every car house and station, plus Eastern Massachusetts lines to Stoneham and Quincy. It's a must-have for anyone interested in the golden years of Boston's network of trolley lines.

Trolleys Under the Hub
By Frank Cheney and Anthony Sammarco

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

Recently republished, this book is chock-full of vintage photographs of streetcars in Boston and Cambridge from the early 1900s through the 1960s.

Boston in Motion
By Frank Cheney and Anthony M. Sammarco

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

Boston in Motion, the sequel to Trolleys Under the Hub, is an intriguing collection of photographs that captures the history of transportation in and around Boston. The authors trace the stories from the earliest days of public transport with the Winnissimmet Ferry to the MBTA of today. A city known for its comprehensive public transportation, Boston has hosted every type of transit known to urban America. From the ferry, the horse railway, and the omnibus to the steam railroad and, eventually, the subway and bus systems, Boston has always been at the forefront of transportation advancements. The former “El” (the Boston Elevated Railway), the Old Colony Railroad, the Red Line, and the East Boston Line dramatically changed the face of Boston in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Boston in Motion, these advancements are presented and explored in a riveting collection of original photographs.

The Boston Elevated Railway broke ground in 1899 for a new transit service that opened in 1901, providing a seven-mile elevated railway that connected Dudley Street Station in Roxbury and Sullivan Square Station in Charlestown, two huge multilevel terminals. When the EL, as it was popularly known, opened for service, it provided an unencumbered route high above the surging traffic of Boston, until it went underground through the city. The new trains of the EL were elegant coaches of African mahogany, bronze hardware, plush upholstered seats, plate glass windows, and exteriors of aurora red with silver gilt striping and slate grey roofs. They stopped at ten equally distinguished train stations, designed by the noted architect Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow. All of this elegance, let alone convenience, could be had for the price of a five-cent ticket. The popularity of the EL was instantaneous. The railway continued to provide transportation service high above Boston’s streets until 1987, when it was unfortunately ended after 86 years of elevated operation. Today, the squealing wheels of the Elevated trains, the rocking coaches, the fascinating views, and the fanciful copper-roofed stations of the line are a missing part of the character of Boston, when one could ride high above the city for a nickel.

Boston's Red Line:
Bridging the Charles from Alewife to Braintree
by Frank Cheney

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

When the Boston Elevated Railway Company broke ground for the Cambridge Subway in May 1909, its intention was to provide the cities of Boston and Cambridge with the finest and most efficient rapid-transit system of the time. Other cities, such as New York and Philadelphia, paid close attention, adopting many of the Cambridge Subway's revolutionary design features. The subway became known as the Red Line and eventually extended from Cambridge across the Charles River through Boston, serving Dorchester, Braintree, and Mattapan.

Boston's Red Line: Bridging the Charles from Alewife to Braintree details one of Boston's oldest and busiest subway lines. This nostalgic collection of vintage photographs documents the line's construction and its engineers and leaders, such as Major/General William A. Bancroft, mayor of Cambridge and president of the Boston Elevated Railway Company. In these pages, watch as crews break ground in Harvard and Andrew Squares and see the 1929 trolleys that replaced Mattapan's commuter train service.

Through exciting, historic photographs, Boston's Red Line: Bridging the Charles from Alewife to Braintree tells the fascinating story of how the Crimson City's subway became the modern Red Line, taking passengers beneath the streets of Boston to landmarks such as Harvard Square, Massachusetts General Hospital, Park Street, and the Longfellew Bridge.

Boston's Blue Line
By Frank Cheney

Paperback, Text and Photographs, 128 Pages

Boston's rapid-transit Blue Line covers a distance of 5.94 miles. It is a 23-minute commute that begins at Bowdoin Station in downtown Boston, travels beneath the harbor, passes alongside Revere Beach, and ends at Wonderland. Today's commuters might be surprised to learn that the line they are riding was once operated by trolley cars and narrow-gauge steam-powered commuter trains, for it was not until 1904 that the East Boston Tunnel under the harbor was completed.

By 1917, the number of people riding the Blue Line had climbed to 25,000 a day. Although significant advances had been made to accommodate high-volume commuter traffic, rush-hour congestion at downtown stations remained a problem. In the 1920s, with ridership exceeding 42,000 people a day, the Boston Elevated Railway and the Boston Transit Commission agreed to convert the tunnel to a rapid-transit operation with a transfer station at Maverick Square. Further expansion occurred in the 1950s when the Blue Line was extended to Orient Heights, Suffolk Downs, and Revere Beach.

The narrow gauge railroad arrived in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Based on the Welsh two-foot gauge, the American narrow gauge was expanded by railroad engineers to a three-foot gauge that became the standard track width for narrow gauge railroads in the United States. Maine, however, adopted the two-foot gauge that was developed by George E. Mansfield in Massachusetts. The narrow track width was ideally suited to the mountainous terrain, and the maneuverability of the trains proved highly beneficial to companies and passengers traveling to remote locations. The narrow gauge railroad served Maine for over fifty years until the early 1940s. Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads is a comprehensive pictorial record of the history of the narrow gauge railroad in Maine. From the one-hundred-twelve-mile Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad to the five-mile Kennebec Central, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads features the toylike miniature trains of Maine as they appeared at different stages in their history. The Bridgton and Harrison Railroad, the Monson Railroad, and the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway lines are documented within, as well as the current restoration projects that are under way.

Bedford Depot News
By Friends of Bedford Depot Park

Newsletter Back Issues

FBDP's informative newsletter about our local railroad history, the Lexington and Reformatory Branches, the Billerica & Bedford Railroad, and the Depot Park project was first published in March 1995. Is your collection missing any issues? A limited supply of most issues is available for purchase at only $2.00 each plus postage. A list of newsletter articles may be viewed and searched at the below web page.

www.BedfordDepot.org/newsletter

When ordering one or more back issues through the online store, you will be asked to identify them by month/year or volume/issue numbers.

This book traces the long and colorful history of the B&M’s Lexington Branch. Operating northwest of Boston from 1846 to 1981, it began as a country short line, evolved into a double-track railroad with dozens of daily passenger trains, and reverted eventually to a quiet existence in which the train crews knew the remaining passengers by name and made sure none missed their stop. Explored are its creation, growth, and decline, how it was operated, and what it meant to the "Minuteman towns" of Arlington, Lexington, Bedford, Concord, and Billerica. What was needed to implement its once-intensive passenger schedules is described in detail. Covered also are its freight operations. Hardbound, 212 pages with dust jacket, 191 photos, 27 maps, and 37 other graphics Published in 2023 by Friends of Bedford Depot Park