The Cocheco Railroad revisited

[jaymac]

Manalishi-
Thanks, and I hope these posts are the preview of a coming book.

[Manalishi]

Hey Jaymac, never thought of myself as an author. There would seem to be only slight interest in something so niche as local railroads that it doesn't seem worth the effort to write a book. Then again "Iron Roads of the Monadnock" was just published so perhaps I'm wrong.

I get a lot of joy in creating these photo essays as it gives me a chance to travel and also to share my railroad postcard and photo collection with my fellow railroad aficionados. That's my outlet. Plus it doesn't cost nuthin'.

[Manalishi]

From the Alton traffic circle the ROW once again emerges although it's a little tough to follow through the congestion of Alton. The Alton station is gone but was located at what is now known as B&M Railroad Park off of Depot St.

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Alton station and Depot St. from a postcard sent November 1910 and Depot St. today. The town hall and the building to the right of it are visible in both photos. The freight house is also visible in both photos.

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[Manalishi]

Postcard of Alton station sent in July 1906.

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Vintage postcard of Alton in the future. And yes, Alton looks exactly like that today, including the subway to Laconia.

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[Manalishi]

Some shots of the B&M Railroad Park today.

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[Manalishi]

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Alton station in 1948, several years after the Cocheco was abandoned and the rails removed.

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[jaymac]

Manalishi » Wed Aug 12, 2020 6:22 pm
...I get a lot of joy in creating these photo essays as it gives me a chance to travel and also to share my railroad postcard and photo collection with my fellow railroad aficionados. That's my outlet. Plus it doesn't cost nuthin'.

So the rest of us do get a book -- in e-book and serial form.
TNX!

[Manalishi]

Merrymeeting River crossing. Although the bridge itself has been removed, the abutments and pier are still in place and have been added to the NH State Register of Historic Places.

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[Manalishi]

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[Manalishi]

I was amazed how many Cocheco 'relics' were still extant after all these years. These were found on the ROW behind the abutments of the bridge crossing the Merrymeeting river. The pictures were taken in 1986 while on vacation.

Mile marker. I doubt the '27' has survived to 2020.

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Telegraph pole still standing! But that was in 1986 and I believe it's since been cut down.

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[Manalishi]

Picture is blurry but many ties remain in this section of the ROW.

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Bridge marker? Not sure what the numbers indicate. I thought the top one would be '27' as it was near mile post 27.

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These 2 posts were lying in the leaves. Anyone know what the 'A4' and 'SO' mean?

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[edbear]

Bridge 94.08 is probably measured from Boston. When the B & M Valuation Survey was being made as of June 30, 1914, bridges were numbered starting with 1. As to what got a number is probably lost to history, but assume there was a Bridge 41. The previous one would have been 40 and the next 42. Then between 40 and 41 would be culverts, 41A, 41B, 41C, etc. What if a new culvert had to be dug between Bridge 41 and Culvert 41A. It would probably be A41. The numbering began in Boston and worked its way out the mainlines, like the Western Route first, then the Eastern. If the highest number on the Western up around Scarboro Beach was say 35, then starting on the Eastern, Bridge 36 would be somewhere around Everett. The numbers just kept going up. Each main or branch did not start with Bridge 1. There was only one bridge with each number. However, this was quite confusing and a numbering system relating to mileposts was adopted, probably in the 1920s. However, since the Valuation Survey had bridges listed by their original numbers, any time an alteration was made to one of the Valuation bridges, the records would indicate "Bridge #94.08, Old xxx). Overhead highway bridges were included in the numbering.

[Manalishi]

Bridge 94.08 is probably measured from Boston.

I first thought that that didn't make any sense as the Cocheco started in Dover. Just for the hell of it, I looked up Dover's position, mile-wise, on the B&M from Boston. It's 67 roughly. Add in 27 from the mile marker which is right around that bridge marker and, you guessed it, you get 94.

Actually, the Dover passenger station is listed as 67.08 from Boston. Add 27 and you get 94.08. But that has to be a coincidence.

[edbear]

With the later numbering system there could be more than one Bridge 94.08. But the route designation and/or town or nearest station name would pinpoint the location.

[edbear]

Some of those bridges that the Valuation Survey called culverts were probably big enough to drive a Model T Ford through if they had been over roads.