Boston and Maine Railroad Manchester and Lawrence BranchThe Manchester and Lawrence Branch (known as the M&L) ran from Lawrence, Massachusetts to Manchester New Hampshire. The line opened in 1849 as an independent railroad. It was soon leased by the Concord Railroad. In 1887 it came under the control of the Boston and Maine Railroad. In the nineteenth century most of the railroads that eventually combined into the Boston and Maine system were independent and there were many bitter rivalries among them. The Concord Railroad could get a more favorable rate division from the Boston and Lowell RR by threatening to divert Boston bound freight to the Boston and Maine at Lawrence over the M&L. Once the major New Hampshire Railroads merged into the Boston and Maine, the rate wars between the various New Hampshire railroads ceased and the M&L became a lightly used branch line. The entire line is now abandoned. Depots are still standing in Methuen, Salem, Windham, and Derry. A former B&M caboose is on display in Windham near the old depot and adjacent to the bike trail which occupies the old right of way in Windham. This line gets mentioned in some of the legal battles regarding the widening of Interstate 93 in Southern New Hampshire. There are proposals to restore passenger service to mitigate the traffic jams during construction. This would not be easy or cheap. There are some places with buildings on the right of way. New bridges would be needed in several places. In Salem the right of way passes through a very congested retail area, in some places the rails would run through shopping center parking lots. Manchester and Lawrence Branch Station List Miles from Lawrence STATION 0 Lawrence STATE MA MEMO Lawrence station built in 1931 at junction of the Western Route Main Line of the Portland Division with the Manchester and Lawrence Branch is now a commercial building that no longer serves trains. In the twenty first century commuter trains use a combination station and parking garage on the main line. 0.8 North Lawrence MA In 1879 a "grand depot" was built at corner of Lawrence and Essex Streets. At various times it was called "Lawrence" or "North Lawrence" or "Lawrence - Essex Street". This station was closed in 1931 when a new station was built on the South side of the Merrimack River. Double track extended a little north of Essex Street 2.41 Methuen MA Tracks are in place but not active. Station built about 1907, there is also an old freight house that dates back to the original Manchestter and Lawrence RR circa 1850 3.78 Hampshire Road 6.46 Rockingham Park NH NH Once called Messers. Mileage from ETT dated 10/31/1971. This time table's mileage figures vary slightly from 1932 ETT used for mileage for the other stations. 6.93 Salem 8.74 Canobie Lake 12.8 Windham NH NH NH Depot renovated in 2008. Rails are gone. Station in town of Windham. Rails are gone The right of way within the Town of Windham is a paved bike trail. - Windham once had a ball signal. One ball allowed W.N. & P. trains to cross the diamond, 2 balls allowed M&L Branch trains to cross the diamond. The Winter 1976 / 1977 edition of the B&M Bulletin has a major article on Windham with track diagram and many photos. There is a B&M caboose on display at Windham. Depot and freight house are standing but not in good shape. 15.96 Derry NH Depot is a restaurant. Right of way in the immediate vicinity of the depot is a paved bike trail. Elsewhere in Derry it is a dirt trail 21.07 Londonderry 23.6 Willey NH NH From 1918 timetable that used only 1 decimal space for mileage. In 1918 every passenger train at this station made only a flag stop. This area is now Manchester Airport. 27.17 Manchester NH Above is a picture of a plow extra crossing the Merrimack River bridge. The train is headed south toward the junction with the Western Route Main Line. Above is the former depot at Methuen, Mass. Another photo of the plow train, this time at Windham, NH Wednesday, January 28, 2009