by HSSRAIL
Doing a little Research on this Subdivision. The Eastern Route Sub is named after the Eastern Railroad Company. This route basically ran from Boston, MA to Portland, ME via Portsmouth, NH. The first segment to be abandoned was between North Berwick, NH MP 74.68 to Biddeford, ME
MP 93.63. I Show this segment abandoned in 1944. I show approximately 12 passenger trains a day traversed this route as of May 23, 1943.
I am curious if anyone knows what happened to this line and why it was abandoned.
I am zeroing in on this line for a number of reasons. I am interested in the prospect that many people believe that active railroads decrease property values. This argument doesn't seem valid as I have looked at situations where reactivating commuter train service on rail lines or establishing them on existing lines has actually increased property values. I am wondering if the perception that rail lines decrease property values may be a hold over from the steam era? To test this theory I would like to compare the impact on property values for say a 2,000 square foot house located within 1/2 mile of a steam railroad and look at what happened to the property values while the railroad was active and 1 year after it was abandoned. I believe in order to have a real impact on property values the railroad would have to substantially degrade the quality of life near the tracks. Heavy use of Steam Locomotives with their soot, gas and ashes most certainly could do that. However; I don't think 2 trains a day would. This Eastern Sub looks like a rare situation where a line that has substantial traffic ceased operating during the steam era.
I have another line that is an excellent study and that one would be the Northern Pacific Stampede Pass Line. Diesel Operations ceased between Cle Elum and Auburn in 1983 and resumed in Dec 1996 by 1997 at least 10 trains a day were operating over this line. Town for study here would be East Auburn, WA. What happened to property values 1 year after operations ceased and 1 year after operations resumed?
Comparisons between The Eastern Line abandonments and Stampede might be insightful.
With the situation of intercity transportation seriously degrading airlines are cutting back and gas prices are going thru the roof the importance of intercity rail passenger service is increasing. I would like to put the arguement that restorations of rail service have a negative impact on property values to bed.
Best Wishes
Howard
MP 93.63. I Show this segment abandoned in 1944. I show approximately 12 passenger trains a day traversed this route as of May 23, 1943.
I am curious if anyone knows what happened to this line and why it was abandoned.
I am zeroing in on this line for a number of reasons. I am interested in the prospect that many people believe that active railroads decrease property values. This argument doesn't seem valid as I have looked at situations where reactivating commuter train service on rail lines or establishing them on existing lines has actually increased property values. I am wondering if the perception that rail lines decrease property values may be a hold over from the steam era? To test this theory I would like to compare the impact on property values for say a 2,000 square foot house located within 1/2 mile of a steam railroad and look at what happened to the property values while the railroad was active and 1 year after it was abandoned. I believe in order to have a real impact on property values the railroad would have to substantially degrade the quality of life near the tracks. Heavy use of Steam Locomotives with their soot, gas and ashes most certainly could do that. However; I don't think 2 trains a day would. This Eastern Sub looks like a rare situation where a line that has substantial traffic ceased operating during the steam era.
I have another line that is an excellent study and that one would be the Northern Pacific Stampede Pass Line. Diesel Operations ceased between Cle Elum and Auburn in 1983 and resumed in Dec 1996 by 1997 at least 10 trains a day were operating over this line. Town for study here would be East Auburn, WA. What happened to property values 1 year after operations ceased and 1 year after operations resumed?
Comparisons between The Eastern Line abandonments and Stampede might be insightful.
With the situation of intercity transportation seriously degrading airlines are cutting back and gas prices are going thru the roof the importance of intercity rail passenger service is increasing. I would like to put the arguement that restorations of rail service have a negative impact on property values to bed.
Best Wishes
Howard
HSS