Railroads of Rhode Island: Shaping the Ocean State's Railways

by Frank H. Heppner

Dominated by Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island’s scenic coast is paralleled by the tracks of some of the oldest and now fastest railroads in the United States. With determination and ingenuity, early civil engineers overcame barriers such as the Great Swamp, which stretches from Kingston to Westerly. The state’s key position at the intersection of trade routes and between the major population centers of New England also shaped the placement of its railroads, as well as their dynamic character. Tour the state’s historic railways with longtime railfan and railroad historian Frank Heppner. From the Stonington Line to the Boston and Providence Railroad, speed along the pioneer tracks in Rhode Island.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

210 pages, Hardcover

First published February 21, 2012

Reviews

[Krista]

3.5 stars, and the half is because I am a local. While the book can be enjoyable to train aficionados, it does drag in some areas and becomes confusing with the lengthy company names. Also, much of the “Rhody-isms” might fall flat to those unfamiliar with the quirks (personally, I appreciated the callouts — especially the one where locals refer to everything as what it used to be).

[M.J. Rodriguez]

Railroading in the Littlest State!

I really enjoyed reading the complete history of the very short railroads in The Ocean State. The sections of this book that I liked the most are the restoration of the Kingston station and the electrification of the ex-NYNH&H Shore Line through Providence. This book is very interesting to any railfan!

[James]

If you're into railroads as I am.