Articles from the Woonsocket Patriot newspaper.
The Woonasquatucket Railroad was chartered in 1857, but due to financial setbacks and the American Civil War, work wasn’t begun until 1871. In 1872 the name was changed to the Providence & Springfield Railroad. It later became the New York & New England Railroad in 1890, and in 1895, the New England Railroad. The name was changed again in 1898 to the New York & New Haven Railroad.
Passenger service to the Smithfield portion of tracks was discontinued in 1931, and the tracks were torn up in 1962.
Click on images to enlarge.
Woonsocket Patriot
February 18, 1870
Woonsocket Patriot
November 24, 1871
Woonsocket Patriot
March 15, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
April 5, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
April 12, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
April 19, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
June 28, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
August 16, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
July 19, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
September 6, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
October 4, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
November 15, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
November 28, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot
December 6, 1872
Woonsocket Patriot January 24, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
February 21, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
March 7, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
May 2, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
May 23, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
August 15, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
August 22, 1873
Woonsocket Patriot
May 22, 1874
Woonsocket Patriot
December 25, 1874
Woonsocket Patriot
January 29, 1875
Woonsocket Patriot January 29, 1875
Woonsocket Patriot
April 30, 1875
Woonsocket Patriot
February 4, 1876
Woonsocket Patriot
February 4, 1876
Woonsocket Patriot
October 27, 1876
Daily Kennebec Journal
Augusta, Maine
October 23, 1878
Woonsocket Patriot
December 27, 1878
Waterbury Evening Democrat
March 22, 1888
Other known railroad accidents that have occurred on the Smithfield portion include the following:
On August 14, 1888, a 55-year-old man was struck and killed by a moving train. The exact location is not recorded.
On May 16, 1924, a 37-year-old man was killed when he fell under a moving train in Stillwater.
On April 14, 1925, an automobile containing a man and three women was struck by a train at the Brayton Avenue crossing. All four were killed.
On November 30, 1928, a husband and wife were injured when their automobile collided with a train at the Brayton Avenue crossing.
On September 18, 1945, an automobile was struck by a train at the “Bull Run” crossing at Farnum Pike and Leland Mowry Rd. One person was killed and six others were injured.
On September 28, 1955, one man was killed when his car collided with a train that was crossing Douglas Pike near the North Smithfield town line.
