Billerica and Bedford Railroad

Infobox rail
logo_filename=
railroad_name=Billerica and Bedford Railroad
logo_size=
old_gauge=
marks=
locale=Massachusetts
start_year=1877
end_year=1878
successor_line=abandoned
gauge=RailGauge|24
hq_city=

The Billerica and Bedford Railroad was an early narrow gauge railroad in Massachusetts, built to demonstrate the advantages of a RailGauge|24 gauge railroad.

George E. Mansfield, of Hazelhurst, Massachusetts, became an early promoter of the two foot gauge after seeing the Ffestiniog Railway in operation in Wales. He persuaded the citizens of Billerica of the economies of a two foot line, and became general manager of the Billerica & Bedford when it was chartered in 1876. Construction began in May 1877, and the line was completed between North Billerica and Bedford in August 1877, a distance of convert|8.63|mi|km.

The line was built very cheaply in accordance with narrow gauge doctrine, but rapidly found itself financially embarrassed. Turntables were built at each end of the railroad, and a wye and engine-house were built at Bedford, but no stations were ever constructed along the line. The company went bankrupt and was liquidated in June 1878.

Mansfield, undeterred, went on to promote the two foot gauge in Maine, where the largest network of these lines was ultimately built. The Boston and Lowell Railroad used most of the B&B roadbed to extend its Lexington Branch in May 1885.

Rolling Stock

ee also

*Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad for later history of the right-of-way

References

* [http://www.bedforddepot.org/BBHistory.html Billerica and Bedford history]
*cite journal
last = Adams
first = Robert
title = Born and Buried in Six Months
journal = TRAINS Magazine
issue = September, 1959
pages = 34
publisher = Kalmbach
*
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