The Cape Cod Central Railroad

The rails which host the Cape Cod Central Railroad today have had an uncertain fate since Conrail took over operations in 1976 (which was originally part of the Old Colony Railroad, later the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, and finally Penn Central). However, since its last reorganization in 1999 to its present name the tourist line has become a very popular operation and tourist attraction, taking passengers on a beautiful route that skirts the New England and Massachusetts coastline between Hyannis and Buzzards Bay (for instance, seeing whales in the Cape Cod Bay is not uncommon).

For a brief overview of the former railroad whose tracks the Cape Cod Central operates over, the New Haven Railroad was a mid-sized Northeastern carrier that is best remembered for moving more people than freight (interestingly it derived a good portion of its revenues from commuter services). At its peak the New Haven Railroad stretched across most of New England (even owning the Maine Central and Boston & Maine) and served its largest cities from Boston and Providence to New York City. In the end, however, poor management would cost the railroad by the mid-20th century and forced it into bankruptcy by the 1960s. In an interesting twist as a condition of the merger the NH was forced into the ill-fated Penn Central Corporation and disappeared into Conrail in 1976 after PC and the entire Northeastern rail market collapsed.

The New Haven’s strength was in its ability to haul thousands of passengers and commuters along its high speed main line between New York and Boston (which continues to this day), and points in between. While the railroad did have a strong presence hauling freight, especially during the early 20th century, it also had a very strong passenger/commuter market because of the fact that it offered the only direct Boston-New York rail connection (and it naturally marketed this quite heavily).

The Cape Cod Central Railroad today is a very popular tourist attraction due to not only the great scenery but also its many different dinner trains and other specials. However, this was not always the case. After Conrail took over operations from Penn Central in 1976, much of the rail property along Cape Cod was purchased by the State of Massachusetts with freight service taken over by shortline Bay Colony Railroad in 1982 (something that continues to this day). That same year the Cape Cod & Hyannis Railroad began as a tourist line to give visitors a chance to see the spectacular coastal scenery by rail. However, it fell through 1988. A year later the Cape Cod Railroad was formed to also operate a tourist train but it went bankrupt in 1997.

Then in 1999 the Cape Cod Central Railroad was formed and through dedicated service and determination it has become one of the most popular dinner trains in the country. Today, while the railroad offers standard excursion service along its line it also offers several different dinner trains from a traditional meal to luncheon and brunch trains. The railroad also offers family dinner trains and a murder mystery special that includes a meal and show (a feature that has become quite popular on many tourist lines across the country).

For those interested in such the Cape Cod Central Railroad’s locomotive roster is all diesel power bedecked in a beautiful original livery of maroon and black with yellow trim (the passenger cars also fully match the locomotives). Two locomotives, EMD GP7s, are of Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay lineage while a third, an Alco RS-3 (since “chop” nosed, or given a low hood and re-designated an Alco RS-3M), is of New York Central heritage and re-powered with an EMD prime mover.

For more information on tourist trains like the Cape Cod Central Railroad might want to consider the book Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2006 from the Empire State Railway Museum. Given excellent reviews this guidebook covers nearly all of the tourist railroads and museums operating in the country in fine detail. So, if you’re interested in locating a tourist train or railroad near you, or simply want to know more about a particular one, you will certainly not be disappointed in Empire State Railway Museum’s guidebook to tourist railroads and museums. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".