PASCOAG LINE
PROVIDENCE & SPRINGFIELD RAILROAD
The Providence & Springfield opened between Dike Street in Providence and Pascoag in 1873. For the two miles from Dike Street to the area of Union Station the railroad used the Hartford Providence & Fishkill which became part of the New York & New England. In 1890 the NY&NE leased the P&S and used the line in connection with its Woonsocket & Pascoag branch to offer another route between Providence and Boston. In 1895 the New Haven gained control of the NY&NE.
William Tinkham was the force behind the creation of the P&S. He and other mill owners along the Woonasquatucket River needed transportation. Moreover, the P&S was seen as a possible way to reach Springfield in Massachusetts and connect with trunk lines to the west and north. Under the NY&NE an extension of the P&S to Douglas Junction was accomplished in 1893 but the NY&NE was too weak to continue. The extension was abandoned in 1937 but remainder of the line lasted until the early 1960's.
P&S Number 1 with what appears to be an inspection train around the time the line opened in 1873.
"Hercules" was built by Rhode Island in1873
RIHS COLLECTION
P&S Number 2 with a "gravel" train. The "William Tinkham" was built by Rhode Island in 1873,
one of the three original 4-4-0 type engines that were built when the P&S commenced operations.
Two additional engines were purchased before the NY&NE leased the line.
PASCOAG
Providence is to the left. The postcard was mailled February 9, 1909 with the message,
"This is our Depot - hope you will like it."
Pascoag
The water tank, engine house, turntable and station are shown left to right. View is north.
PASCOAG ROUNDHOUSE
"Mars", Number 4, was built by Rhode Island in 1882. The first four P&S locomotives had names from
Greek mythology but "Stentor" was changed to William Tinkham to honor the road's president
Vertical is elevation in feet, Horizontal is miles, Numbers on grades are rise in feet per mile.
OLNEYVILLE - 2.25 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
OLNEYVILLE AT HARTFORD AVENUE
The New Haven RR GE 44-ton locomotive No.0813 was a small diesel used on branches or remote locations.
MANTON - 4.09 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
CLIMBING ABOARD AFTER FLAGGING THE CROSSING AT MANTON
New Haven K-1-b 2-6-0 Number 291 was built by Cooke in 1907.
LYMANSVILLE - 4.67 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
CENTREDALE - 6.23 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
Route 44 is on the left.
CENTREDALE DEPOT --- JULY 20, 1969
The depot served as a small restaurant for a time but the area is now a shopping plaza. Note the ex-grain elevator.
The Centredale Depot as the Railroad Deli and Sandwich Shop. Putnam Pike - Route 44
March 1981 -- Photo by Edward J. Ozog
Breakfast Special, 2 Eggs, Fries, Toast and Coffee 95 Cents March 1981 Photo by Edward J. Ozog
CENTREDALE FREIGHT HOUSE AND DEPOT - 1909
ESMOND - 7.69 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
Esmond Passenger Depot on the right - Freight Station on the left.
Esmond Mills water tower displays Esmond Bunny Baby Blanket symbol.
GEORGIAVILLE - 8.53 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
GEORGIAVILLE
STILLWATER - 9.77 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
SMITHFIELD - 12.06 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
PRIMROSE - 14.2 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
Blank Boards Are For Advertisements
FIELDS STATION - 15.73 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
TARKILN - 16.72 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
The semaphore blade in the box is for flagging passenger trains.
OAKLAND - 19.49 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
THE COMBINE ONCE SERVED AS A TEMPORARY STATION AT OAKLAND
DOUGLAS JUNCTION EXTENSION
The seven mile extension to Douglas Junction where the NY&NE's line between Boston and the Hudson River was met was built in 1893 and required two long wrought iron trestle bridges. The beginning of the extension is at the end of the high bridge in Pascoag where the station was located.
ONE OF THE HIGH BRIDGES AT PASCOAG - 1893
A HIGH BRIDGE NORTH OF PASCOAG
The extension was officially abandoned in 1937.
Bridgeton was listed in employee timetables as 0.77 miles north of the Pascoag station and 3.82 miles south of the Wallum Lake station. The train is northbound.
THE 7:47 A.M. TRAIN FOR PROVIDENCE ARRIVING AT WALLUM LAKE
The State Hospital for Consumptives (tuberculosis) was opened at Wallum Lake in 1905 and for many years the extension was busy carrying visitors to the hospital and coal to the hospital powerhouse.
Locomotive is New Haven C-11d class 4-4-0 No. 1717 built for NY&NE as No. 20 in 1884 and scrapped in Feb. 1917.
WALLUM LAKE WAS AN IMPORTANT STATION ON THE EXTENSION
THE DEPOT WAS THE HIGHEST IN RHODE ISLAND - 570 FEET
THE HIGHEST POINT IN RHODE ISLAND IS 812 FEET
THE EXTENSION REACHED SLIGHTLY OVER 600 FEET AT THE MASSACHUSETTS BORDER
THE GRADE ON THE EXTENSION WAS A RELATIVELY STEADY 0.8 PER CENT
Vertical is elevation in feet, Horizontal is miles, Numbers on grades are feet of rise per mile.
WOONSOCKET & PASCOAG
The Woonsocket & Pascoag completed a 9.5 mile line to Harrisville on the Providence & Springfield in 1890 and both came under the control of the New York & New England that year. The two roads provided the NY&NE an indirect route from Boston to Providence. Most of the road was abandoned in 1937 but a few miles of track at Woonsocket have remained in operation.
Vertical is feet of elevation, Horizontal is miles, Numbers on the grades are rise in feet per mile.
HARRISVILLE - 20.94 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE
Junction of P&S and W&P
WHIPPLES - ONE MILE FROM HARRISVILLE
OAKLAND CENTRE - 1.63 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE
GLENDALE - 2.83 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE
NASONVILLE - 4.07 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE
SLATERSVILLE - 6.35 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE
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UNION VILLAGE - 8.4 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE
1.3 MILES FROM WOONSOCKET'S NY&NE DEPOT