6 Charming Old Railroad Towns In Massachusetts

Next year, Massachusetts celebrates the 200th anniversary of its first railroad. The line, which opened in 1826, was known as the Granite Railway and was the first commercial railway in the country. Horses pulled huge blocks of granite along the wooden rails from Quincy to the Neponset River, where they were shipped to Charleston for the building of the Bunker Hill Monument.

The first passenger line quickly followed, with the opening of the Boston and Lowell line in 1835. Overnight, transport was transformed and the railways quickly expanded, creating a network that opened up New England for locals and visitors alike. This legacy of adventure and hospitality remains alive in Massachusetts’ historic railway towns. These inviting communities blend old-world charm with modern amenities to offer a unique New England vacation experience.

Lenox

A historic community in western Massachusetts, Lenox welcomed its first railway line in 1850 when the Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad came to town. There were three stations in town, one of which has now been converted into a museum. The Lenox Station Museum is open on Saturdays during the summer when visitors can tour the 1903 depot, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and take a ride in a jitney from one end of the grounds to the other.

Lenox is famous as the home of novelist Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In 1902, Wharton purchased property in the area with her husband, Teddy, and began designing a grand mansion and ornate gardens on the site. Named ‘The Mount, ’ the estate is now a National Historic Landmark open to the public for tours, workshops, and events. There’s also a cafe and bookshop on site.

Art lovers and historians will also enjoy a visit to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since the 1930s. In addition to the Orchestra’s summer performances, the estate hosts a year-round musical academy, workshops, festivals, and events, attracting over 350,000 visitors annually.

Chester

Located in the Berkshire Foothills, Chester is known as ‘the gem of the valley’. Don’t be fooled by its sleepy, rustic atmosphere; this is a town that was home to a significant milestone in Massachusetts history. Chester formed part of the world’s first mountain railroad, the Western Railroad, built in 1841. You can see the remnants of this groundbreaking achievement at the Keystone Arches and Chester Station, which together are listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Begin at the Chester Railway Station Museum, which recounts the story of the men who constructed the railway under harsh conditions and challenging terrain, before hiking to the Keystone Arches to view the first cluster of stone arch railroad bridges built in America. See more of the beautiful landscapes around Chester at the Chester-Blandford State Forest, which is open for picnicking, hiking, and biking. For stunning views, hike the 4.4-mile Sanderson Brook Falls Loop to see a cascading 60-foot waterfall in the forest.

Concord

Concord was settled by colonists in the 1600s, making it one of Massachusetts’s oldest towns. The Fitchburg Railroad came to Concord in 1844, and new lines were added in the 1870s. At its peak, the Concord Junction welcomed 120 trains a day. A year after the railway opened, naturalist Henry David Thoreau built the cabin he would later immortalise in his writings at Walden Pond. You can see the author’s writing desk, bed, and chair at the Concord Museum, a short mile-long walk from the Concord Station. Other exhibits include the lantern Paul Revere used to signal the militia in 1775, kickstarting the Revolutionary War, and a 1873 bust of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Meet more literary figures from throughout the ages at the Wayside Home of Authors. Built in the late 1600s, Wayside’s residents throughout the years included Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne. It’s also a site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Wayside is part of the Minute Man National Historic Park, a preserve that commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolution in 1775. Structures on the site include an 18th-century tavern, a family home where weapons were stockpiled before the 1775 battles, and the North Bridge where the American War of Independence began.

Hyannis

A charming village on the Cape Cod Peninsula, Hyannis is known as an upmarket summer resort made famous by its connection to the Kennedy family. Before it was the playground of America’s elite, however, this small coastal town was a booming hub on the Cape Cod Central Railroad, which operated from 1861 to 1868. That line is now defunct, but you can recreate the experience of being a passenger on a vintage railcar with the Cape Cod Central Railroad, which runs excursions from its depot in Hyannis. Tours include a 2-hour round-trip with guided narration on local wildlife and history.

To see more of the stunning Cape Cod landscapes, visit Kalmus Beach, a large public beach on the shores of Lewis Bay. Veterans Memorial Park is another pretty spot for a leisurely stroll. The park contains beach access, play areas, and a JFK memorial.

The Cape Cod Maritime Museum, located downtown, is also well worth a visit. This unique museum covers generations of maritime history, as well as Cape Cod ecology and marine biology. Highlights include an exhibit on Cape Cod’s lighthouses, a historic boat barn, and a woodworking and boat-building workshop.

Amesbury

A quaint town on the Merrimack River, Amesbury was settled in 1642. The town’s first rail depot was built in 1844 to serve its thriving textile industry via the Salisbury Branch Railroad. This line was later taken over by the Boston and Maine Railroad, which ran passenger trains into Amesbury until the mid-1930s. You can’t board a train at Amesbury’s original station, but you can eat there. The building has been converted into a locally owned restaurant, Crave Bistro, which serves a freshly made menu of American favorites in the newly refurbished antique train depot.

Aside from railroads, Amesbury is known for another form of transportation. One of the most prominent industries in town in the 1800s was carriage-making. You’ll find examples of the earliest carriages built in Amesbury at the Amesbury Carriage Museum along with exhibits on steam engines, buggies, vintage automobiles, and other markers of the town’s long industrial history. Take a wander around the Amesbury and Salisbury Mills Village Historic District to see some beautiful examples of 17th-century architecture, such as the Stephen Flanders House, built in 1665, and the Morrill House, built in 1720.

Palmer

Known as ‘the Town of Seven Railroads’, Palmer was created in 1752 when several villages came together to form a township. One of those communities, Depot Village, was a transportation hub that served five railroads and two stagecoach lines.

Check the schedule at The Palmer Historical & Cultural Center to catch some local entertainment. This community event space, housed in a 1830s church, serves as a performance center, hosting live music, guest lectures, movie screenings, and other cultural events. There are more local events and tasty craft beer at the Seven Railroads Brewery. The taproom serves locally brewed lagers and ales while hosting regular open mic nights, live music, and community gatherings.

If you’re in the mood to shop, browse the aisles at the Palmer Antiques Co-Op for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Featuring over 100 dealers, this antiques emporium offers a diverse selection of collectibles, furniture, tools, glassware, and more.

Riding The Rails In Massachusetts

One of the original thirteen colonies, Massachusetts has always been a draw for history-lovers and explorers. This fascinating state tells the story of the United States from the Colonial era through to modern-day industrialisation. Along the way, its history is entwined with its railroads that helped fuel the state’s growth and prosperity. A visit to Massachusetts’ historic railroad towns is a visit that looks at both the state’s past and ahead to its vibrant future.