Railroads
Railroads
Rail transportation was a major factor in New England’s economic growth in the 19th century. AHS’s expertise in documenting historic railroads, including tracks and associated structures, bridges, and equipment goes back decades. Our projects include the recordation of structures and signaling equipment associated with the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project from New Haven to Boston, HAER documentation of historic buildings in the New Haven Rail Yard, and National Register of Historic Places documentation of the 1876 former Central Vermont Railroad Pier in New London.
Featured Project
Norwalk River Railroad Bridge Replacement
The State of Connecticut is currently planning the replacement of the Historic American Engineering Record-listed 1896 Metro-North swing bridge in Norwalk, Connecticut. AHS is providing all cultural resource management-related services for the project, including identifying and evaluating impacts to historic resources affected by the replacement of the bridge and the removal of the associated high-tower catenary system. The historic districts on either side of the river are closely associated with the railroad and the bridge. AHS is assessing the impacts and working with consultants, CTDOT, and stakeholders to avoid or mitigate impacts to above- and below-ground resources.
Other Project Examples
New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Railroad
AHS served as cultural resource management consultant for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail project, currently planned from New Haven to Windsor, Connecticut. All historic culverts, bridges, signal equipment, grade crossing signage, stations, embankments, water tower remnants, and buried railroad structures such as roundhouses and turntable pits have been evaluated and documented. We prepared the Environmental Impact Evaluation/Environmental Assessment (EIE/EA) sections, assisted with the Programmatic Agreement and Memorandum of Agreement, developed the Corridor Exhibit Design Guide, and designed interpretive exhibit panels for selected stations.
Northborough Historic Resources Survey: Rail-Related Properties
Northborough, Massachusetts, like many towns, was transformed by the coming of the railroad in the 19th century. AHS inventoried rail-related features in the Town of Northborough using Massachusetts Historic Commission Form B (buildings) and F (structures).
Northeast Corridor Improvement
As part of the preparation of an EIS for Amtrak’s New Haven-to-Boston electrification project, we conducted a three-state analysis of impacts on National Register-listed and eligible historic rail resources.
For more information on AHS’s experience and capabilities, visit our expertise page.