Nostalgia & History > Lamoille Valley Railroad - !978 - Vermont

The 96-miles of track across northern Vermont had been operated by a number of railroads throughout its history. Up until 1925 it was part of the Boston & Maine. Then it operated as the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain. Bankruptcy in 1944 led to a reorganization and a name change to the St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County. Orange and cream GE 70 tonners plied the rails until 1967, when Samuel Pinsley purchased the line on the verge of abandonment. Pinsley family red GP9s and RS3s operated the deteriorating railroad until 1972.

The State of Vermont purchased the line to save the rail service for local businesses. The Lamoille County RR operated from 1973 until 1976 using D&H RS3s and then ex-Reading GP7s in an interesting scheme developed by president Bruno Loati. The need for repairing and upgrading the trackage was reaching a critical point with the State and the railroad in a standoff about fixing the right of way.

After much political battling, the state awarded a contract to Morrison-Knudsen to operate the railroad as the state looked for a company to rehabilitate the track. The M-K's Vermont Northern operated the railroad but was mainly interested in the rebuilding contract. Three ex-Long Island Alco C420s were the motive power and yellow 50' IPD boxcars were leased to increase revenue. When the state awarded the contract to rebuild the line to another firm, M-K pulled out.

Lamoille Valley Railroad came into existence January 1, 1978 operating State of Vermont owned trackage between Swanton and St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The LVRC was given a 10 year lease from the State of Vermont and the money to rebuild the entire 96 mile rail line. In addition, operating subsidies were provided in an effort get the line up and running.

A derailment in 1984 by a diverted CP/B&M train damaged the CV Richford Branch bridge over Missisquoi River, resulting in removal of the span and shutting down CV operations to Richford, VT. (info from Mike McNamara)

All images from April 22, 1978 Lamoille Valley RS-3 7801 and 7802 made westward trip over Fisher's Bridge near Wolcott, Vermont - last covered railroad bridge in use at the time in USA.

LVRC 7801 crossed another bridge near East Fairfield, Vermont.

LVRC left 7802 at Morrisville, VT.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/10 05:21 by cozephyr.

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Great stuff cozephyr-- if you dont mind here are 3 of my images from the Lamoille Valley..

First image passing talc mill at Johnston VT, second crossing Lamoille river in Morrisville and third in some farmer's field (did not mark location on the slide)..

bob

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Map shows Lamoille Valley Railroad as originally operated in 1978 - later years LVRC used Central Vermont Railway's Richford Branch to St. Albans, VT, interchanging at CV's Italy Yard. Swanton portion of line virtually unused.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/10 05:30 by cozephyr.

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Thanks for sharing your shots, gentlemen. Mike Schafer took a shot of the LV with his "inflatable" cows in the foreground (that was the running joke) and it appeared as a TRAINS center spread years ago--was a very cool, memorable photo.

Nice pictures - thanks cozephyr and sooman1! With little or no on-line industry and bridge traffic having evaporated with the abandonment of Maine Central's Mountain Subdivision, it was only a matter of time before this little line closed. The ROW is being redeveloped as a rail-trail, with track having been lifted a couple of years ago.

Dave

Excellent coverage guys!!

Thanks for some neat photos, guys. The Northeast Kingdom was (and is) a place I would like to spend a week railfanning. That still wouldn't be enough time to take it all in, I suppose!

In case anyone isn't aware of it, the covered bridge was shored up with steel to keep it in operation as a covered bridge. (I think) state funds were used.

I remember swimming in a river (stream?) like that in Vermont as a child on a camping trip. It was in the summer and the water was nice and cool and clear. It was also just nice sitting on the sand bar. We didn't have anything refreshing or safe like that in northern Indiana.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/10 19:30 by wabash2800.