The Vergennes & Fair Haven Electric Railway

This proposed electric railway was surveyed and maps were drawn but no apparent construction was done. Whether there was inadequate funding for the project, business interests changed their mind or what happened is uncertain. The tracks would have been laid along Main Street in Vergennes and out what was known as Route 30A, now known as Route 22A. With only a few exceptions the track was to be laid in the road way or parallel along one side or the other. there were two major diversions, on featuring a half mile of separate right of way and the other about a mile. The remarks say it was to minimize grading efforts (filling and excavating) to keep the grade to less than 10 percent.

The purpose of the line was to haul freight to and from the farms and villages in Addison County. Perhaps the funding required to build the project was too much for the local business men and banks subsequently could not authorize the loans and/or bonds.

The Table below is from a set of blueprints that also showed the proposed route map, and elevation diagrams.

This proposed road follows the turnpike through the rich Vergennes Clay Area of Vermont. (Reference is advised to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soils for details of this section.) and will serve a present population of 12000 and give world access to the richest and most beautiful section of the Champlain Valley now 10 miles or more from a railroad.

The road will not be expensive to operate. The amount of maximum grade will be less than 10 per cent of the milage. In addition to the increase in percent volume of freight business following the building of this road, attention is called to the fact of this section being in the New York City (and Boston) milk territory, and is capable of furnishing a carload per day from each town. A large express business will be done. Mail carried, and summer passenger business of great value. No account is made of present out going lumber. One mill in one town is now shipping more than 50 car loads."