The Green Mountain Railroad, Memories Of The Rutland

The Green Mountain Railroad is in many ways the resurrected Rutland Railroad, Vermont’s fabled freight carrier until the early 1960s. Using a forest green and yellow livery inspired directly from the Rutland (it’s virtually identical) the Green Mountain has been operating since 1964 just a few years after the Rutland’s demise when it was started by F. Nelson Blount to operate his collection of steam locomotives. While Mr. Blount passed away a few years after creating his new tourist railroad, which eventually became part of the National Park Service’s Steamtown, USA located in Scranton, Pennsylvania the Green Mountain Railroad lived on and split off as its own operation. Today, the railroad hauls both passengers and freight and has been widely acclaimed as the top tourist railroad in New England with its spectacular views of Vermont’s Green Mountain Range and onboard train services.

The Green Mountain Railroad dates back to the Rutland Railroad. While Vermont was home to railroads like the Boston & Maine, Central Vermon, and Delaware & Hudson perhaps its most legendary railroad was the Rutland. The Rutland Railroad, best remembered for the vast amounts of milk products it moved, has its beginnings dating back to the Champlain & Connecticut River Railroad, which was chartered by the State of Vermont in November of 1843 to connect Rutland and Burlington. By the time construction began on the railroad in 1847 it had changed its name to the Rutland & Burlington Railroad to better reflect its intentions. The railroad would open its main line in December of 1848.

For all of the fondness and status that surrounded the Rutland, particularly by the people of Vermont, the railroad struggled to survive for most of its life. During the 20th century the railroad found itself in numerous situations either resulting from takeovers or money troubles. Finally, during cash struggles in the early 1960s a strike hit the railroad as workers were unwillingly to have train movements shifted to allow for longer hauls, which would have translated to higher profits per train. Following this strike in 1961 the Rutland petitioned the ICC for total shutdown, which was granted that year.

In 1964 Mr. Blount stepped in to pick up some of the pieces of the Rutland, vying to operate the former railroad’s line between Rutland and Bellow Falls for his collection of Steamtown locomotives. After discussions with the State of Vermont and employees of the railroad it was decided to operate the entire route between Rutland and Ludlow for both freight and passenger operations. Today, the Green Mountain has split off from the Steamtown, USA museum and is an independent operation under the Vermont Rail System; you can also still see freight trains operating the route which interchanges traffic with both Pan Am Railways and New England Central (at Bellows Falls).

Currently the Green Mountain Railroad offers numerous excursions along its route including the Green Mountain Flyer, Champlain Valley Flyer, and White River Flyer. The railroad also operates numerous specials throughout the year, particularly during the holidays. For more information about all of the excursions and services the Green Mountain Railroad has to offer please click here to visit their website.

So, if you’re ever in Vermont vacationing or interested in riding one of the more scenic railroads in the country then a visit to the Green Mountain Railroad is definitely in order as I’m sure you won’t be disappointed in the experience.

For more reading on the Rutland Railway you might want to consider picking up a copy of the The Rutland Road by author Jim Shaughnessy. While it is hard to find resources out there detailing the Rutland (one reason being that it quit operating in the early 1960s) Mr. Shaughnessy’s book is a fabulous compilation of information on the Rutland from its earliest beginnings to eventual shutdown in 1961. If you have any interest in the Rutland or would like to learn more about this fabled little Vermont railroad I would highly recommend Mr. Shaughnessy’s book.

Also, for more information on tourist operations like the Green Mountain Railroad you 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 these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".