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Mount Mansfield Electric (1897 - 1932)
Mount Mansfield Electric ran from Waterbury to Stowe, carrying
US Mail, express freight and passengers from the Waterbury station
on the Central Vermont Railroad to a hotel in downtown Stowe,
Vermont. Mount Mansfield Electric had a "box motor" to
pull freight cars. One loaded freight car was about all that it
could handle on the steep grades.
There were plans to continue the line from Stowe to
Morrisville. Some articles published by the Waterbury Historical
Society, indicate that these plans discussed extending the line to
Newport, Vermont, on Lake Memphormagog near the boarders of
Vermont, Canada and New Hampshire. This would have been a
formidable task, going over some of the highest passes, or notches
in the state, getting approval to cross the St. Johnsbury and Lake
Champlain Railroad (Steam) and acquiring right of way. It would
have made an iteresting connection between the Central Vermont /
Canadian National, St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain and Canadian
Pacific / Boston & Maine steam railroads. (click on the
pictures if you want to see a larger version). |
![[Mount Mansfield Electric car number 3]](mme3.jpg)
Mount Mansfield Electric's closed combination cars numbered 1, 2 and
3, were built by Wason Car Company in Massachusetts. They handled US
Mail, express freight and of course transported passengers. These 35
foot cars were timed to meet CV passenger trains at Waterbury, VT.
All passenger equipment was painted slate grey with gold letters and
trim. |
![[Mount Mansfield Electric car number 3 at the Park in Waterbury Center]](wtbryctr.jpg)
Mount Mansfield Electric's closed combination car number 3,
picking up passengers at the Park in Waterbury Center. Cars 1 and 3
lasted to the end of the electric railroad's trolley operations. Car
2 was dammaged in a collision with a hopper car full of coal, that
was being pushed up hill by the freight motor. |
![[Freight Motor and box car]](mmefm.jpg)
Here is the freight motor pulling a single box car up the hill
to Stowe. Freight motor (car) number 5, purchased new in 1914,
was originally painted a dark slate grey. The freight motor was
repainted red to improve visibility in the 1920's, presumably
after an auto accident. The original freight motor was rebuilt
as a work car after an accedent involving passenger car number
2. Click on the freight motor for more information on Mount
Mansfield Electric Railroad. |
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| Although we might like to think that the Waterbury to Stowe
route was profitable, there were many things that got in the way of
profits. Not the least of which was the geology of the route. There
were some places along the line cut through clay. The steep slopes
of the cut for the rail bed, slid down over the tracks douring rain
storms. With a single coal/steam generating station, and a single
battery substation there was insufficient electricity for steep
grades. An other problem was the use of the trolley trestle at
Waterbury Center by pedestrians, horse carts and automobiles. It was
viewed by some locals as a good short cut, but to those who's timing
was a bit off, it could be a frightful if not fatal experience.
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Click here to view a map of the
railroad. |
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