The Cocheco Railroad

[mcdude]

"The Cocheco Railroad (so named because it follows the Cocheco River) was chartered on July 2, 1847. It's original charter was to reach from Dover, NH to Meredith, NH where it would connect to the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad. On June of 1848 construction began. Tracks opened from Dover, NH to Farmington, NH on September 21, 1849 and then opened as far as Alton Bay, NH in September of 1851.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/altonbandm.jpg
Alton Village Station

The Cocheco Railroad never reached it's final destination of Meredith - with Alton Bay being the end of the line. In April of 1863 the Cocheco Railroad reorganized as the Dover and Winnipisogee Railroad and in November of that same year it was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad. In June of 1892 the Dover and Winnipisogee Railroad was absorbed into the Boston and Maine Railroad."

So began the Lakeshore Railroad thread (see link below)

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1405

Posted below is an article from the B&M Bulletin Volume VI - Number 4 - Summer 1977 - Written by Warren H. Hay. I've added a few extra photos. After uploading to photopost I've found that the print is too small to read in the smaller version but HUGE in the enlarged photopost version. I've uploaded the smaller version to this thread with a link beneath each page to load the larger version for ease in reading. In this way the thread won't take forever to upload for those on dial-up. McD

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco1.jpg

CLCIK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENLARGE TEXT
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8431&size=big&cat=

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/176The_Chocorua.jpg
From the Rattlesnake Gal Collection

CLICK on the LINK below to learn more about the HISTORY of the McDude River

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2224

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15018/medium/20IMG_5473.JPG
Railroad Car and Freight Station in Alton Village Today

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco2.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8434&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/altonvillagestation.JPG
Alton Village Station

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco3.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8433&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/604AB_04a.jpg
The Old Mount - From the JacksonB Collection

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco4.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8435&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/604AB_14.jpg
Alton Bay Tracks with Victoria Pier in Background - JacksonB Collection

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco5.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8436&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15018/medium/20scannancyscrossing.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco6.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8437&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco7.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco8.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scanaltonsteamboatlanding.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/20scanaltonbayhorsephoto1.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15025/medium/20scanvillagebridge.jpg
In Alton Village

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco9.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8441&size=big&cat=15065

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scanaltonwinter1920.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/cocheco10.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8442&size=big&cat=15065
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15025/20lsrrmerrymeetingbridge.JPG
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scangeneralview.jpg
View of Alton Bay Tracks
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/20scanfireataltonbaystation.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/20scan2locomotives.jpg
Two Locomotives at the old Alton Bay Station
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20lsrraltonvillagestation.jpg
Alton Village Station

To continue your journey change cars here for the Lakeshore Railroad. Follow the link below....
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1405

The Wolfeboro Railroad
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1663

The Suncook Valley Railroad
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3nm2c/thesuncookvalleyrailroad/

[Steve]

Awesome! Thanks for posting this.

[Pineedles]

McDude,

It is amazing to me the volume of information that you have. Particularly the photographs that you post. Looking at my family albums I know that life on the lake began at the Alton train station where my great great grandparents boarded the mount to be brought up to Centre Harbor. We have zero pictures of them at the Alton dock, but a couple of pictures that might be interesting to you. Such as the when the Mount ran aground on little one mile with my great grandmother aboard. These pictures are in albums "upthesaukee" but I would be glad to gather them for you next summer if your interested, for your collection. I have seen and enjoyed all the posted pictures on the forum of the "Centre Harbor" area but wonder if you have more? I would very much like to see them if you have any, or other posters please feel free? Thanks.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Nice work McDude! Our local historian.
I think this postcard might go with this thread.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/Rochester.jpg

Pineedles, you have photos from this incident? Excellent! We would love to see them!
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1194

Does anyone else have historic photos to share? :coolsm:

[Skip]

Thanks Mcdude,

This subject really caught my eye as I live on the beautiful Cocheco (some now call it the Cochecho) River here in Dover!

I am also within walking distance of the passenger train station here in town, but I have never given much thought to taking a ride. I guess when some things are so close by, you just take them for granted. Your post got me to thinking so much about trains, I have now promised my wife to take her on a trip via the Northeaster to either Boston or Portland right after the holidays!:)

Merry Christmas,

Skip

[mcdude]

Is this the one Skip?
http://www.lightlink.com/sglap3/newhampshire/dovergl.jpg

here's another interesting one from this web site....the new durham station...at the time of this photo it may have been called Mamarina's Restaurant now Johnson's Steak and Seafood.
http://www.lightlink.com/sglap3/newhampshire/newdurhamp.jpg

Link to site of New Hampshire Railroad Stations
http://www.lightlink.com/sglap3/newhampshire/index.html
:idea:

[Skip]

Yep,

That's it....all aboard!

As a kid, we would take trips up to the restaurant shown in your second photo, only it was called Dot's Lunch back in those days! :liplick:

[mcdude]

There is a dedicated group of volunteers working toward making the old railroad area in Alton Village into a Park. They are making significant progress! On October 14, 2005 a flatbed and a crane (and two blue herons:D )were brought in to move the blue caboose to its' place of exhibition in the park. These photos were passed along to me. The photographer is Marty Cornelissen. Here is the promotional brochure for the project and Marty's photos.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/20railroadpark.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose1.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose2.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose3.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose4.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose5.jpg

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15065/medium/caboose6.jpg

(added 2/13/06) Recent article from the Citizen on Railroad Park
(requires free registration to read)
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060212/CITIZEN0107/102120042