Railroads
Research and stewardship of New Hampshire’s historic railroad corridors.
Today’s active railroad lines in New Hampshire are just a very small fraction of the lines that crisscrossed the state from the mid-19th century through the late 20th century. In its heyday, the extensive system of railroads and electric railways of more than 1000 miles of track supported everything from commercial freight transport, the North Country’s logging industry, White Mountains and Lakes Region tourism, and local and regional passenger travel.
The scope of the railroad lines and influence of the railroad companies in New Hampshire decreased after WWI, and eventually much of the infrastructure was lost to time and deterioration. However, railroad resources including depots, signals, trestles, maintenance and repair buildings, mileposts, retaining walls, and the grade/bed themselves are still left on the landscape. Many historic rail corridors have been converted into trails, opening access to these lines once again.