The state owns an active railroad line, its not public property. The sole purpose of purchasing the rail line from the railroad, was to protect it and keep it open as a railroad corridor. In the 1970's, there was a series of washouts that occurred along the line and with the B&M in bankruptcy, couldn't afford to fix them, so the line was embargoed with active shippers still requiring the services of the railroad. So, the state stepped in and purchased it from the B&M, made the necessary repairs and leased it out to an operator, as required by federal law (the states purchase of this line had to be approve by then Interstate Commerce Commission). Fast-forward to the 1980's the state took bids for an operator to operate passenger service out of Lincoln, NH the Clark family (same family the owns Clarks Bears) submitted a bit and won, several years later they were invited to bid on the section along the lake and that where we are today. The freight operator is Vermont Rail System's, New England Southern Railroad and they are looking to grow the business and the passenger operator is Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad.
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