Ex-Gonic Branch (Dover and Winnipesaukee/Cochecho)

I have a couple questions regarding the ex-Gonic branch out of Rochester, N.H. First, when was the last time a train crossed route 16 on its way to Gonic? How was that crossing protected (if any)? When was the wye trackage into Rochester accessing the branch removed? Lastly, before removal of the former WN&P trackage, was there double trackage going towards Gonic with the WN&P going towards Barrington and the Cochecho going into Gonic or was there just one line and just a switch branching the WN&P off? Also, does anyone know when the bridge (covered?) over the Cocheco River on the WN&P line was removed?

I believe the rail was removed in 1994 or 1995, including the track to Farmington.

That's what I thought. I can't imagine having to get out and try to stop cars on 16 in both directions, although I think there was flashing signals, so the train could make its way over to Gonic to drop cars off at Eastern, must have been quite the site!

A friend of mine (now deceased) was a B&M conductor
who worked this job. There was no run-around at Gonic,
so the train backed from Rochester to Gonic. He noted
to me on several occasions how "scary" that move was.
While there were crossing protection flashers, once they
were activated, the train would just creep out on to the
crossing at walking speed or less. He was most concerned
that some driver would be "teaming it" and not be able to
stop and run into the LPG cars. The turnpike was built
through there in the late 1950's and the crossing was installed.
Of course, if the highway was being built to today's standards,
an at grade crossing would never be allowed. As far as I know,
there never was a train vs vehicle mishap there.

Dick

Oh, wow I can't imagine the stress he must have been under trying to get the train safely across 16. It's too bad that Eastern moved their facilities to the other side of Rochester because I would have loved to have seen a train making its way across there, although at this point the state probably would have mandated a different crossing arrangement.

According to their facilities map, Eastern Propane still
maintains a storage facility in Gonic. They must truck
the product in and out. I do not know if the rail line
was gone or not when they wanted to expand storage
capacity in Rochester, but I doubt the City or the state
would have allowed expansion at Gonic, due to its
proximity to a residential area and an elementary school.
Hence, they built the large new facility in North Rochester,
known as Tri-City on the NH Northcoast line.

Further south in Newington, the rail line serving Pease Air
Force Base crossed the turnpike about 1/4 mile south of
the Little Bay Bridges and had only flashers for protection.
However, there was an extensive layout of trackage on the
base and the locomotive would be leading in both directions
crossing the turnpike. Interestingly, there is a $270 million
(that is not a typo) six year project getting underway to widen
the turnpike to six travel lanes and a breakdown lane in both
directions from Exit #2 to the Dover toll house, with a new
bridge, expansion of the existing bridge and even rehabilition
of the old General Sullivan Bridge for pedestrains, bicycles, etc.
As part of the expansion, they will be making provisions for an
overpass in the area of the former right of way for possible
future reinstatement of rail service to the Pease International
Tradeport. While I am not familiar with all the layout of the
former air base, I would have thought a new line off Portsmouth
branch would have been better. It could have began east of the
former Greenland station and paralleled Rt. 33 south of the
Portsmouth Country Club and the south end of the runway and
entered the tradeport in the area of the Bus Terminal. At any
rate, I know of no current plans to return freight service to
Pease or any commuter rail service to Portsmouth. The state
of NH can't even get its act together on returning commuter
rail service to Nashua, never mind Portsmouth.

Very true regarding Eastern's expansion. It seems unlikely to me as well that either would have allowed them to expand. I just wish I had gotten the chance to see a train crossing 16 in Gonic, or Newington for that matter

I found this picture on nerail photos and thought it might be of the branch, correct me if i'm mistaken: http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20060 ... 031381.jpg

ihdavis1 wrote:I found this picture on nerail photos and thought it might be of the branch, correct me if i'm mistaken: http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20060 ... 031381.jpg

You are a bit off with this Photo. It is of WA-2 in Waterbury,CT. If you look back this photo of double-u-ay too (1) all the info is there
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... y=BandAfan

Haha that's right I do remember seeing that first photo, my bad. Also, I do now remember a previous post mentioning that there wasn't a run-around in Gonic so I have no idea what I was thinking lol.

b&m 1566 wrote:I believe the rail was removed in 1994 or 1995, including the track to Farmington.

South of Gonic, I was told, the track was pulled up in the late '30's or early 40's. You can still see some rail and lots of ties in use as paddock fencing on a property on Blackwater Road near Tebbets.

After living in Rochester almost my entire life, I finally yesterday noticed what seemed to be a partially standing whistle post along the right side (going north ) of the former route of the WN&P/Gonic Branch (now Columbus Avenue/Route 125) just past its intersection with Upham Street in Rochester. I seem to recall reading that originally the WN&P and Dover Winnipesaukee railroads originally ran side-by-side down what is now Columbus Ave until the WN&P ceased to run past West Gonic, whereupon the second track was removed and a switch was installed in behind what is now the condo development that sits across from the Sherwin Williams' building on Old Dover Road.