Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad facts for kids
The railroad's yard in Melville, Rhode Island
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | North Kingstown, Rhode Island |
| Locale | Newport County, Rhode Island, USA |
| Dates of operation | 1979 (Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railway) 1997 (Newport Dinner Train) 2014 (as Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad)–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad is a special train line that offers fun rides on Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island. It's known as a "heritage railroad" because it uses old tracks and trains to give people a taste of history. This railroad was created in 2014-2015 when two other train companies, the Newport Dinner Train and the Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railway, decided to join forces.
History of the Railroad
Regular passenger train service between Fall River, Massachusetts and Newport, Rhode Island stopped a long time ago, in 1938. For many years after that, the train lines didn't make much money from carrying goods.
In the 1970s, the train company at the time, Penn Central, wanted to stop using the line completely. But then, another company called Conrail took over. They sold the southern part of the tracks to the state of Rhode Island. The state then let a group of volunteers, called the Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railway, use the tracks.
This volunteer group used a few old train engines, including two GE 45-ton "switchers" (small engines used to move cars around). They also had some old passenger cars, like a coach built in 1904 and a fancy parlor car from 1884.
A big problem happened in 1988 when the Sakonnet River rail bridge was damaged. It was completely removed in 2007. This meant the train tracks on Aquidneck Island were cut off from the rest of the country's train network.
Even with the bridge gone, a new company called the Newport Dinner Train started using the tracks in 1997. They offered special dinner rides and other fun trips for tourists. The two train companies, the volunteers and the dinner train, sometimes had disagreements because they both had to share the same single track.
The Newport Dinner Train brought its own engines to the island. In 2006, they got a GE 44-ton switcher engine. It had to be brought to the island on a large boat called a barge! They also had special dining cars and a parlor car. Later, in 2006, they bought two Budd RDCs, which are train cars that can move themselves.
By 2013, the Newport Dinner Train was put up for sale. It was bought in November 2014 and renamed the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad Company. The Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railway stopped operating in early 2015 and eventually joined with the new Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad.
Train Equipment
The Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad uses different types of trains and cars for its operations.
Locomotives (Engines)
These are the powerful engines that pull the train cars.
| Number | Builder | Type | Build date | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | General Electric | GE 44-ton switcher | 1951 | Operational | This engine was built in 1951. It worked for other railroads before being bought by the Newport Dinner Train in 2006. It was brought to the island on a barge and started working that same year. |
| 13/30 | Budd Company | Budd RDC | 1956/1957 | Operational | These two special train cars can move themselves. They were bought in 2006 and also arrived on the island by barge. They started operating for the railroad in the same year. |
Rolling Stock (Train Cars)
These are the special cars that passengers ride in or that are used for other purposes on the train.
- Dining Car Aquidneck Spruce: A car where people can enjoy meals.
- Theater Car Atlantic Rose: A car designed for entertainment or special views.
- Dashing Dan's Clam Car: A unique car, possibly for serving food or snacks.
- Kitchen Bellevue Clipper: A car equipped with a kitchen to prepare meals.
