NARRAGANSETT
NARRAGANSETT PIER RAILROAD COMPANY
The Narragansett Pier Railroad opened in July 1876. The 8 1/2 mile line was built mainly to attract visitors to the resort at Narragansett Pier. It also served the Peace Dale mills of its founders, the Hazard family. It connected with the New York, Providence & Boston at Kingston. It was independent except from 1910 to 1920 when it was controlled by the New Haven's Rhode Island Company. When passenger revenue evaporated, it survived by serving a handful of freight customers and for a time even operated tourist excursions.
NPRR Number 1 "Narragansett" was built by Mason in 1876 and served until about 1891.
From September 1974 Model Railroader
NARRAGANSETT PIER DEPOT
Photo c.1876. The first of two stations at the pier; replaced in 1896. The locomotive is No.1 "Narragansett".
The First Station At Narragansett Pier
Note the locomotive and one car ready to depart for Kingston.
OCEAN DRIVE AT NARRAGANSETT PIER WAS THE LOCATION OF SEVERAL LARGE HOTELS
The Narragansett Pier's first station was to the left and the engine and car houses were at the bottom.
Small steamers to Newport docked at South Pier on the right.
NPRR NUMBER 2, "NAMCOOK" WAS PURCHASED USED IN 1877
The small 4-4-0 was built by Rhode Island in 1872 as Cincinnati & Martinsburg "Antelope".
It was used as a partial payment for No. 3 and eventually sold to a contractor in 1883.
THE SECOND NARRAGANSETT PIER STATION WHEN NEW IN 1896
THE REAR OF THE NEW NARRAGANSETT PIER STATION
FROM SEPTEMBER 1974 MODEL RAILROADER
WAKEFIELD DEPOT WAS 3 MILES NORTH OF THE "PIER" AND 5.5 MILES FROM KINGSTON
In 1953 track south of Wakefield was abandoned.
WAKEFIELD STATION AS EXTENDED AND WITH A SECOND STORY
Drawn for the September 1974 Model Railroader Magazine by Robert A. Wegner
(side and rear drawings are in the issue)
NUMBER 3 "Wakefield" built by Brooks in 1883
NUMBER 3 after sale to Lebanon Springs RR which became Chatham & Lebanon Valley and Rutland. Ran to Bennington, Vt.
NPRR No. 4 crossing the Saugatucket River west of Wakefield. The unusual truss bridge was replaced by an ordinary plate girder bridge, probably in 1916.
NPRR NUMBER 4 WAS BUILT BY RHODE ISLAND IN 1891
Photographed close to retirement in 1926.
NUMBER 5 WAS PURCHASED IN 1894
The 4-6-0 was built by Rhode Island in 1889 for the Empire Lumber Co. and was retired in 1917.
NUMBER 5 WAS THE SECOND NPRR "WAKEFIELD" - AT KINGSTON
Number 5 by Charles E. Fisher. Note new headlight, cab and pilot.
NUMBER 6 WAS ACQUIRED FROM THE NEW HAVEN IN 1914
The 4-4-0 was built by Manchester as NYP&B 25 and became New Haven Number 1937, Class D-12.
Photographed in New Haven while the NPRR was under NH control.
Number 6 was out of service in 1920 and scrapped in 1923
NUMBER 20 WAS PURCHASED FROM THE NEW HAVEN IN 1930 AND RETIRED IN 1937
THE 4-4-0 TYPE WAS BUILT BY THE ROXBURY SHOPS IN 1903 AS NUMBER 783
AND WAS RENUMBERED 1577 CLASS C-3-b
PHOTO BY SCOTT THOMAS
PEACE DALE WAS 4.8 MILES FROM KINGSTON
Drawn for the September 1974 Model Railroader Magazine by Robert A. Wegner
The second story is an addition. The rear and other side drawigs are in the issue.
PEACE DALE
PEACE DALE - NOVEMBER 16, 1953
PEACE DALE - SEPTEMBER 1977
FROM SEPT. 1974 MODEL RAILROADER
NOTE: Textile Mill and Engine House Area Are Approximations
ENGINEHOUSE AT PEACE DALE - 1936. NUMBER 20 IS INSIDE.
THE ENGINEHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1891. THERE WAS ONCE A TURNTABLE AT PEACEDALE.
ENGINEHOUSE AT PEACE DALE - THE FLAT CAR HAD BEEN A NH BOX CAR
PEACE DALE FREIGHT HOUSE - STATION TO THE RIGHT
The Peacedale Trestle Bridge Crossing Kingston Road
THE BRIDGE AT PEACEDALE
Sign reads: "Dangerous Crossing - All Persons Are Warned Against Walking Over This Bridge".
Rail Bus 36 built by International and acquired in 1949 concluded passenger service when an axle broke June 21, 1952.
The trestle bridge at Peacedale crosses Kingston Road. Rail bus is heading to Kingston.
ACQUIRED FROM THE NEW HAVEN IN 1943 - PAINTED BLUE - SHOWN IN 1947
NUMBER 11 WAS BUILT BY COOKE IN 1922 FOR CUBA BUT NOT DELIVERED
ALCO's Cooke Works in Patterson, NJ built over fifty small engines 1920-1925 expecting to sell them to Cuban railroads but the builder was not successful in selling all of them. Number 11 apparently arrived on the NPRR in 1923 but was built in 1922 although sometimes reported as built in 1920 since it appears that since the Cuban locomotives were built on speculation they may have been started and not immediately finished as other work and sales dictated.
NPRR sold Number 11 to the Bath & Hammondsport in 1937
Restored to service by the Everett RR of Pennsylvania in 2017
Restored by the Everett RR of Pennsylvania in 2017
NUMBER 11 WAS BUILT BY ALCO'S COOKE WORKS INTENDED FOR CUBA
Restored by the Everett RR in 2017
Photo by Bob Krug
NOVEMBER 14, 1931
Number 34, a 35-passenger Evans Rail Bus, provided passenger service from 1942 to 1953.
International Rail Bus No. 36 Acquired in 1949.
No. 36 was sold in 1953 after passenger service ended the year before. Probably on the turntable at the Pier
From September 1974 Model Railroader
NUMBER 30 WAS BUILT BY PYMOUTH IN 1937 - DESTROYED IN SHOP FIRE IN 1963
Photographed June 18, 1950 during a fan trip. Railbus Number 36 is at the left
The combine on the right , Number 35, was purchased in 1943. It was Delaware & Northern 81 and
Long Island Rail Road 240. Passenger service by rail ended in 1951 when Railbus 36 broke an axle.
No. 33 was built by Plymouth as Boston & Maine 101. In 1941 it was sold to Draper Corp. of Hopedale, MA for use on the Beebe River RR, a logging railroad in New Hampshire. However, the Beebe River was abandoned soon after and in 1942 it was acquired by the NPR.
NUMBER 33 WAS BUILT BY PLYMOUTH IN 1938, PURCHASED IN 1942 AND SOLD 1959. SHOWN AUGUST 7, 1959 IN CRANSTON APPARENTLY BEING DELIVERED TO THE WARWICK RAILWAY, THE NEW OWNER.
Number 35 was a 25-ton Plymouth built in 1929 and acquired in 1967.
Gasoline powered 35 at Peacedale in August 1971.
NUMBER 38 AT CONDENSED LIQUIFIED FISH OIL TANK AT PEACE DALE MARCH 2, 1959
38 was built by General Electric in 1958 (235 HP, 35 tons). Sold 1967.
NUMBER 40 IS A 65-TON, 235 HORSEPOWER VULCAN BUILT IN 1943.
PURCHASED IN 1963 - EX-U.S.NAVY, PORTSMOUTH NAVY YARD
Number 40 at the Peacedale Freight House.
NUMBER 40 WITH EX-BOSTON & MAINE COMBINE IN 1965
Excursion Service Lasted Only A Year
40 and 41 at Peacedale with a rail fan special in June 1972.
