The Newfane Railroad Station, now owned by the Historical Society of Windham County, was along the path of the West River Railroad.
The West River Trail may well be Vermont’s oldest transportation path. Native Americans called the West River “Wantastiquet” or “waters of the lonely way,” and the Wantastiquet path was an important connection from the West River valley and Fort Dummer in Brattleboro over the Green Mountains to Otter Creek and Lake Champlain.
In 1879, this path was developed into the West River Railroad, originating in Brattleboro and terminating at the South Londonderry Depot. However, not long after the railroad opened, people began to call it “36 miles of trouble.” Its narrow gauge and winding route led to undependable, if not dangerous, service. A 1903 editorial called the trains “trydaily—they go down in the morning and try to get back at night.”
A train stops at the Newfane Railroad Station in this photograph taken by regional photographer Porter Thayer.
The Newfane Railroad Station was chosen as one of the railroad’s “water stations,” as it was located at the midpoint of the railroad line and on a plateau above the steep grades to the north and south. (The water was used to replenish the steam engines.)
In October 2014, the Historical Society of Windham County purchased the Newfane Railroad Station (which includes the old depot building and the water tank building, both of which were built in 1880). The purchase of the station is not just about preserving a unique historic landmark; it’s about preserving Vermonters’ stories — and the story of the West River Railroad dominated Windham County history for more than half a century.
Today, 16 miles along the upper section of this valley route provide a safe, scenic alternative to Route 30 for hikers, walkers, skiers, and bikers, linking the villages of South Londonderry, Jamaica, and Townshend with 4,500 acres of public land. The lower 5.7-mile section, from the mouth of the West River to the quarry on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston, is open for public use.
The Historical Society of Windham County, which opens Memorial Day, always has on display signs, hardware, documents, and photographs of the West River Railroad. Additional material is available for research. The grand opening of the West River Railroad Museum is planned for 2017.
For more information, visit historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.
Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons
The Newfane Railroad Station, now owned by the Historical Society of Windham County, was along the path of the West River Railroad.
