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Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad

The Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad (also known as the Bristol Secondary) was a railroad in the state of Rhode Island that connected the city of Providence with Bristol, Rhode Island. The company was formed in 1854 by merging the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Companies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The 14.1-mile line itself was completed on July 12, 1855.[1]

Overview

21

Boston & Providence Railroad, Old Colony Railroad

PW&B

Bristol County, Rhode Island,

Providence County, Rhode Island,

East Bay (Rhode Island)

1855–1888 (Independent operations), 1888-1893 (Old Colony Railroad), 1893-1969 (New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad), 1969-1976 (Penn Central), 1976-2006 (Providence & Worcester Railroad)

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Overhead line, 600 V DC (electrified 1900-1934)

14.1 miles (22.7 kilometers)

Most of the line south of East Providence was abandoned in 1976; all rail operations ceased on the remainder of the line in 2006. The former right-of-way has since been converted into the East Bay Bike Path.

Remains of the boiler foundations from Warren powerhouse in 2020

Remains of the boiler foundations from Warren powerhouse in 2020

Fox Point railroad curve; this is where the PW&B crossed over the East Junction Branch

Fox Point railroad curve; this is where the PW&B crossed over the East Junction Branch

Abandoned rails still extant on a bridge adjacent to the bike path over Watchemoket Cove

Abandoned rails still extant on a bridge adjacent to the bike path over Watchemoket Cove

Former PW&B right-of-way near former Squantum station

Former PW&B right-of-way near former Squantum station

East Bay Bike Path

Railroads in Rhode Island

Railroad electrification in the US

List of Old Colony Railroad stations

. TrailLink. Rails to Trails Conservancy. Retrieved 4 July 2016.

"East Bay Bike Path History"

Media related to Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad at Wikimedia Commons