The Cocheco Railroad revisited

[Manalishi]

On to Alton Bay - the last stop on the Cocheco Railroad. Two shots of the original Alton Bay station which burned to the ground 11/4/1906.

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The remains of the Alton Bay station after the fire.

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[Manalishi]

The Mt. Washington steamboat docked at the Alton Bay station circa 1905. Owned by the Boston and Maine, it was sold to a new owner in the 1920s and lasted until 1939 when a fire at Weirs Beach destroyed it, along with the dock, the railroad depot, and the boardwalk.

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Heading north past the station and approaching Back Bay Trestle.

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Same view today. From what I've read, instead of going around Back Bay, the Cocheco built the causeway seen in both photos right through Back Bay to reach the other side.

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[Manalishi]

Vintage postcard of the 2nd Alton Bay depot circa 1907.

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Alton Bay depot in 1948.

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Alton Bay depot in 1962.

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[wally]

enjoying your narrative and photos, thank you.

one point: in the photo of the Mount, it lists a date of circa 1910. if the station burned 11-4-1906, the photo has to be earlier, since the station is still there.

[Manalishi]

Ah, you are correct! Most of my real photo postcards were sent from 1906 to 1912 so 1910 was just an educated guess. But obviously it's not 1910 when the station was destroyed by fire in 1906. I'll have to amend the date.

[Manalishi]

Well rail fans, that's about it for the Cocheco. If you want to continue on there's an excellent thread on the winnipesaukee.com forum started by member McDude. He's basically doing what I've done here but covering the Lakeshore Railroad.

[NHRRNerd]

Who owns the ROW through Dover to Tibbetts road? Does the state? Looks like after the Tibbets road crossing, development has interrupted the ROW.

[Cochecho]

The proper spelling of this line is "The Cochecho Railroad." Below is an 1855 freight slip. Cocheco is a typographical error which should be retired.