West River Railroad

The Newfane Railroad Station stands 100 yards east on Cemetery Hill Road and includes the depot and water tank house, both built in 1880 for the Brattleboro & Whitehall Railroad, which was intended to run from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Whitehall, New York. Only 36 miles of rail were laid, terminating in South Londonderry. In 1905, the narrow-gauge track was replaced with standard gauge and the line was renamed the West River Railroad. Newfane’s water tank house was one of five on this line and is the only one remaining, a rare example of the steam engine era. With frequent accidents and weather disasters, the West River Railroad became known as “36 Miles of Trouble.” The last train rolled down the tracks in 1936.

Newfane, Vermont · United States