Burlington
There is a stretch of rail in downtown Burlington, right along Lake Champlain, which includes a yard for the Central Vermont RR. This in this area, pedestrians can follow the ROW on the Island Line Trail for over a mile. From there, on either end, the trail follows the lakeshore. This is also the site of the historic Burlington Union Station (and the new Amtrak platform). This is where the Champlain Valley Dinner Train loads its passengers.
I also happened to come across a little CN speeder loaded onto a trailer near the rail yard.
I also happened to come across a little CN speeder loaded onto a trailer near the rail yard.
Swanton
The New England Central Railroad runs from the Alburg, VT/Canadian border to New London, CT. Around Lake Champlain, in Vermont, the NECR runs their branch line infrequently. According to the historical museum in town, trains run on the line twice a day: once heading up to Canada in the morning, and once back with the empty cars. This route runs through a wildlife preserve in town, and the preserve's trail runs right over the tracks. This means that hikers have to cross the right-of-way to complete the loop. This is probably a rare instance where that can legally be done (excepting standard level crossings). So, I took this opportunity to take a photo standing mid-rails looking straight down the tracks.
The swing bridge, which runs paralell to 78, over Lake Champlain is over 100 years old. It was automated in 2012 and now the building that sits aside the bridge is unused. NECR can control the bridge from St. Albans, farther south.
The swing bridge, which runs paralell to 78, over Lake Champlain is over 100 years old. It was automated in 2012 and now the building that sits aside the bridge is unused. NECR can control the bridge from St. Albans, farther south.
The Swanton Historical Museum, right in the middle of town, sits at the former site of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain RR roundhouse. The remains of the ash dumps, work pits, and turntable can still be seen on the property. They also have a preserved caboose from the Central Vermont (#4009), ... . The active NECR line runs at the back of the museum property. Against the current ROW, I found some old ties in the ground.
Right across the street, there is a bridge that pedestrians can walk across. This serves as a marker for the site of the once-longest covered railroad bridge "in the east".
Right across the street, there is a bridge that pedestrians can walk across. This serves as a marker for the site of the once-longest covered railroad bridge "in the east".
Alburgh
Alburgh used to be a junction of rail activity. Now, there are a couple of rail trails, the remains of an old bridge (spanning between Alburgh and Rouses Point), and a single line running through town, from Swanton, and up into Canada.
Rouses Point
Just across the lake from Alburgh, Vermont is Rouses Point, New York. This is the last Amtrak Montrealer stop before the Canadian border. The station building dates back to 1889, when it was built by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad. Now, the station is used as the village's welcome center after restoration post-2002. Visiting during open hours has been a challenge, but, here's some shots of the outside. Besides the beautiful station itself, the museum has a switch stand, speeder, and some luggage racks in its collection. More information about the building can be found here.
