> <title>Map of Charter a Railroad Baron's Business Car from Pullman Rail Tours, LLC

Between Northfield and Plymouth it still shows signs of its one time main line status with remnants of block signals along the track, ballast deck bridges, and highway overpasses. North of Plymouth the track construction is that of a branch line that served the logging interests and paper companies in the area.

NOTE: Mileage from Northfield to Plymouth is measured from the former Concord Passenger Station:

18.0 NORTHFIELD Assorted railroad equipment has found its way to the Northfield Freight House site for storage and display. Numerous private cabooses populate the tracks next to the historic freight house which is privately owned. The Franklin and Tilton branch leaves the main line here. At one time this branch connected with the Northern Railroad main line between Concord and White River Jct. at a point known as Franklin Jct. south of Franklin. The 1936 floods damaged the covered bridge across the Merrimack River ending this connection. Also on the F&T, near Northfield, is an "upside down" covered bridge, with the track located on the top of the timber trusses which are enclosed for protection. The F&T was purchased by the state in 1975 with the Concord - Lincoln line, but has been unused since about the time of purchase.

18.38 TILTON We cross the Winnipesaukee River for the first of three times in a mile on a new bridge built in 1991 replacing a timber trestle. Tilton station site is now occupied by a parking lot after we cross Route 3, Main Street. We follow Route 3 and the Winnipesaukee River eastward, crossing under I-93 shortly before we cross Route 140 at McDonald's Restaurant. This is the site of our annual three week event of "Santa Trains" that operate from the parking lot of the restaurant. New grade crossing equipt. was installed in Dec 1999. Across Route 3 from the new BJ's store is the new Lake Region Factory Stores Mall which opened in 1997. About a mile from route 140, just as you cross a grade crossing, was the Belmont Branch which ran for 4 miles south to its namesake terminus in Belmont. The branch was abandoned in 1929. The siding brnching of to the right before the paved road is an industrial track that still sees occasional service.

21.86 LOCHMERE We leave the Town of Tilton and enter the Town of Belmont. The station was located near the road crossing at the north end of the passing track. A dam and power station owned by the Public Service Co. of New Hampshire is nearby on our right. From here all the water from Winnipesaukee & Winnisquam flow to Silv er Lake and then become the Merrimack River, which flows through Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Lowell, Lawrence Haverhill before reaching the Atlantic at Newburyport MA.

24.69 WINNISQUAM The station was on the left before the grade crossing. It burned in the mid 1980's. At one time, Route 3 crossed the railroad on an overhead bridge, but this was replaced with the present grade crossing in the mid 1970's. New crossing protection lights were installed here in Dec 1999. We remain in sight of Winnisquam Lake as we travel on to Laconia. The cement wall to the side of the track encloses the sewer line which follows the railroad from Meredith to Tilton.

27.59 LACONIA On our right, before we reach the former passenger station are the remains of the Laconia Car Company which built considerable passenger & freight cars for the B&M, Maine Central and the other northeastern roads 100 years ago. The Laconia station has served the city in past years as a police station and bus and taxi station. Currently the station is home to several smaller shops and eateries. Passenger train service from Boston up to Laconia lasted until January 5, 1965. A freight agent existed to serve here until 1968 when he moved to Lakeport, continuing to serve until the state assumed ownership of the 'trackage in 1975. During the Xmas Holidays, this is the turning point and also a boarding station for "The Santa Train". Grade crossing signals were re-installed at Upper & Lower Messer Street crossings in 2000.

29.04 LAKEP0RT The freight house is still standing here, on our left behind the fire station. There remains an unused track which meandersed for about,a mile thru the Irwin Marine boat yard on the right, continued across Route 3, through McDonald's parking lot to an industrial are in recent years. This is the remnant of the Lakeport Branch which ran from Dover to Lakeport until 1935 when trackage between Alton Bay and Gilford was abandoned. The station at Alton Bay on Route 11 with its order board was on this branch. Grade crossing signals were installed here in 2003. We again cross the Winnipesaukee River, on a bridge modified as a draw bridge in 1990 for the use of the many pleasure boaters in the area. A state owned engine house was constructed in the 1970 s for use of the operators of this trackage. Behind it can be seen the only remaining stall of the former original brick engine house. Paugus Bay is on our right for several miles. Trains from the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad stop here, where the long siding is, to exchange ends with the engine so they can continue their trip back to Weirs Beach and Meredith. 6000 ties were installed from this point to Meredith in 1997 with the completion with ballast and laser alignment done in 2001. The overhead bridge serving Moulton Street was removed on 2003 and replaced by a grade crossing with automatic crossing protection . The Elm St grade crossing, just before the freight house, was relocated and new crossing protection added in 2003.

33.77 WEIRS BEACH A summer colony for well over a century. The railroad shares the station with the MV Mt. Washington II. This diesel powered ship cruises the lake during the summer months on 2 - 2 1/2 hour cruises. Smaller boats, the Doris E. and the Sophie C. offer shorter voyages. The station and boardwalk was rebuilt in 1986-87. We proceed northward along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee's Meredith Bay, passing occasional clusters of cottages before passing under Route 3 and arriving at Meredith. This is the main stop for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and where thousands of tourists board for the scenic lakeside ride.

37.70 MEREDITH The freight house, a baggage car, some cabooses occupy the yard area. This is the base of operations for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and the most northern of its stations. Here trains turn for the return trip to Weirs Beach and then Lakeport. The former passenger station was relocated to the hill above the tracks at the Route 3 overpass years ago, and served as a restaurant. It burned several years ago and has not been replaced. The former passenger station site is marked by a curbed, paved platform on our right on the north side of Main St. Lake Waukewan is on our right as you leave town. Year-round passenger service to Meredith ended on October 25, 1959. Summer service from mid-June until mid-September continued until 1965.

41.06 WINONA Former station site in the Town of New Hampton, north of Winona Road which we cross on an overhead bridge. Winona Lake on right. Top of grade at 675 ft. above sea level at mileage C43.76 as a dirt road crosses overhead on a wooden bridge. We climb a 1.42% grade from mileage C42 to the summit. After passing the summit we descend a 1.13% grade for almost 3 miles.

45.78 ASHLAND The former passenger station is on our right before we cross Depot Street, Route 132. In the summer of 1999, this station was rededicated by then Transportation Secretary Margaret Dole, after extensive renovations.Numerous Fall excursions and chartered dinner trains of the Ashland Historical Society now stop here to pick up passengers. Passengers keep warm in the restored station while waiting for the Winnipesaukee Scenic. Across Depot Street crossing, on our right, is the old former freight house owned by a local artist. We cross the Squam River on the high bridge. A former spur track ran down grade to the ruins of the Ashland Paper Co. and proceeded around the pond to a business across the street. A freight agent was stationed at Ashland until the early 1970's. We pass under the twin bridges of Rt I-93 on a new roadbed as the railroad and Route 3 were relocated in this area when the Rt I-93 interchange was constructed in the 1960's. The old road bed turned to our right.

47.85 BRIDGEWATER We cross the Pemigewasset River on a three span through truss bridge. This is not the original bridge which was built of wood. It was destroyed by a derailment on the bridge which left the remains of a flatcar in the water on the West side of the truss. It is on its back, minus trucks, but can still be seen under proper light conditions. The station site was located on the left after we pass under US Route 3 at the end of River Road. Just to the right before the bridge, the smell of cedar wood was from the large stack on hand of Cedar by the firm that makes "Shoe Trees" at the Rochester Shoe Tree Co.

51.26 PLYMOUTH The track lies between the Pemigewasset River and Route 3 for several miles. Plymouth State College is located in this town of 5000. We pass the freight house on our left before arriving at the former passenger station, now a senior citizens center. A small yard is located here. Plymouth was once the junction of the Pemigewasset Valley Branch to Lincoln and the former main line to Woodsville. The main line was abandoned on October 31,1954, with subsequent highway and flood control construction obliterating much of the roadbed toward Woodsville along the Baker River. A municipal parking lot and court house now occupies some of the former yard area. Bridge Street is scheduled to be realigned with a new bridge over the river. This will also include new grade crossing signals for that busy crossing. Mileage is now measured from Plymouth. Regular passenger service on the Pemigewasset Valley Branch was discontinued September 21, 1938. Actually service was to be discontinued about a week later, but was hastened by the "Hurricane of 1938", which rendered the tracks impassable. B&M busses replaced the train, operating until 1952. Plymouth freight agency closed about 1965, Lincoln in the 1970's.

As we leave the station area we cross Bridge St., the local access to I-93. The former main line to Woodsville went to the left shortly before the semaphore which was the one that protected the main line from the White Mountain Branch. We then cross - the Baker River on a through truss bridge adjacent to the Route 3 bridge. This is the first bridge on the White Mountain Branch. We climb a 1.12% grade from MP 1 to MP 2.
Mileages are now measured from Plymouth Station.

2.25 LIVERMORE FALLS In the town of Campton. A paper mill was located here until the 1950's. The remnants of a crumbling former steel truss from a highway overpass is visible to the south. THe trains of the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad stop here for a few moments before returning to Meredith during the "Fall Foliage Specials".

4.24 BLAIR We cross the Pemigewasset at mile 3.07 on a two span bridge built in 1928, replacing an earlier structure damaged by the 1927 floods. Damage from the 1927 floods resulted in passenger train interruption for a whole year. We pass through Blair State Forest, coming to the station site at Blair Road. A piece of granite foundation mark the site. On the left can bee seen a covered bridge that crosses the Pemigewasset River. This one of the largest spans of its kind in New Hampshire.

5.82 BEEBE RIVER We follow the Beebe River, a tributary of the Pemigewaset for a short distance before arriving at the community of Beebe River, a former company town for the sawmill complex located here. A long unused spur track to the mill continued on to a 15 mile logging railroad up the valley of the Beebe River which operated between 1917 and 1933 using a pair of Shays and a Climax geared locomotive. Smaller engines were used to switch the mill into the 1960's. The Climax now runs on the White Mountain Central Railroad in Lincoln.

7.37 CAMPTON Development of near-by Waterville Valley has awakened the once sleepy town of Campton. We pass under I-93 and pass the Campton station site, marked by an unused, and recently removed, siding. At one time a spur track ran up the Mad River Valley to Campton Village, but was apparently discontinued in the 1930's. We pass under I-93 again and enter the Town of Thornton.

8.93 LYFORD'S We pass over the Pemigewasset again at mileage 8.73 and come to the the Silsby Lumber Company mill from 1916 to the 1920's. Construction of I-93 has obliterated most of this site.

10.56 THORNTON the site of this flag station is just as we turn away from Route 3.

13.50 WEST THORNTON This station was

located at a dirt road crossing. A logging railroad ran northwest about a mile to the site of Veazey's Mill on Mirror Lake. We enter the Town of Woodstock as we pass the golf course of the Jack-O-Lantern resort. The golf course is the turning point for the Hobo Railroad which starts seven miles away at the Hobo Junction Station in Lincoln. 4000 ties were replaced here to Lincoln in 1997. The ballasting and alignment was completed in 2001.

16.60 WOODSTOCK I-93 again crosses overhead. We remain on the west shore of the river with Route 3 as the Interstate crosses to the East Bank.

18.31 MOUNTAIN PARK (not shown)We cross the Pemigewasset about a mile and a half beyond Woodstock Village. A flag station was located here to serve the Mountain Park Hotel. The Woodstock and Thornton Gore Railroad, owned by the Woodstock Lumber Company operated from here to Tripoli Mill in the Town of Livermore between 1909 -16.

19.37 FAIRVIEW (not shown) A flag station was located at the location where we cross Route 175.

20.61 NORTH WOODSTOCK We cross the Pemigewasset forthe final time on a two span bridge. The station site is marked by a curved remnant of concrete platform alongside Route 112 directly opposite the ramp to I-93. Presently the new siding there is the new home of The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train.

LINCOLN This station marked the end of the line for the White Mountain Branch. The B&M main line continued on to the Lincoln Paper Mill, but this trackage has either been removed or is disappearing to the ravages of time. It continued along the East Branch of the Pemigewasset, until it ceased operating in 1948. After that time the East Branch and Lincoln continued to switch the mill using a GE 45 Tonner until 1963

LINCOLN The present Lincoln Station is the home of the Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad and is on the North leg of the former Lincoln Wye. To reach it we cross route 112 on a diagonal crossing and pass through the "Hobo Hills Miniature Golf" to access the station area. Several tracks serve the station with two more serving the large engine house where all maintenance is done for the entire railroad. The Lincoln shops also take on outside work on a contract basis to keep the train crews busy during the off season and provide year long employment. .

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