b&m 1566 wrote:This line was supposed to be part of the P&O correct back in the 1870's correct?
That was the plan but the usual money problems got in the way. The Vermont section of the P&O got built by three
shortlines- Essex County RR from the Connecticut River to St. Johnsbury, the Montpelier & St. Johnsbury RR from StJ
to Danville and the Lamoille Valley RR from Danville to Swanton. These were all controlled by the same interests who
combined them into the Portland & Ogdensburg- Vermont Division. Plans to combine this with P&O RR fell thru and it
came under the control of the Boston & Lowell in 1885, which in turn came under the control of the B&M. The western
portion of the P&O scheme in New York was built by the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain, which became part of the
Rutland RR. Under B&L/B&M control the name was changed to St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain RR until B&M sold it.
The Maine Central RR leased the Lunenburg to St. Johnsbury section in 1912 and purchased it in 1955. Hope this helps.