EAST PROVIDENCE NORTH

THE TUNNEL AND SEEKONK RIVER BRIDGE

Electrification of the Providence, Warren & Bristol increased the feasibility of a mile-long tunnel under college hill to provide a way of getting trains from the east bay to the Union Station in the center of Providence and an alternate route to Boston. The bridge and tunnel were put in service November 15, 1908.

THE MAP SHOWS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE TUNNEL AND SEEKONK RIVER BRIDGE RELATIVE TO PREVIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED FEATURES SUCH AS INDIA POINT, FOX POINT, WILKESBARRE PIER, INDIA POINT SWING BRIDGE, ROUNDHOUSE AND WASHINGTON HIGHWAY BRIDGE

The left side of the map shows the original Boston & Providence line turning to the northeast. It will meet the new line to Union Station at East Junction near Attleboro. Also on the left is the Providence & Worcester heading north to Valley Falls where it will join its main line. The pre-construction map suggests a swing bridge rather than the lift bridge and shows tracks directly to both the P&W and B&P routes.

The wye was built over the river as shown

The train is heading for the Seekonk River Bridge and the East Providence Station. The first car is one of the standard wood coaches that were converted into electric cars.

Postcard of the Gano Street portal mailed August 20, 1909.

GANO STREET TUNNEL PORTAL

A Budd RDC with white flags indicating an "extra" train is posed at the tunnel during a rail fan excursion c. mid-1950's.

THE NEW SEEKONK RIVER BRIDGE

The Bridge has a Scherzer rolling-lift draw span. The double-track bridge opens by rolling backward on the curved girders driven by the gear on the pivet that rides the horizontal beam. The large counterweight minimizes the electric power needed to open the bridge. The bridge is also known as a rolling bascule bridge. The width is 135 feet center to center of the channel piers. The channel width is 90 feet. The weight of the moving span is 1,550 tons.

THE TUNNEL IS LEFT, EAST PROVIDENCE IS RIGHT

The PW&B electric train on the bridge is composed of cars converted from standard coaches.

The colors used to tint early postcards can not be relied on for accuracy.

INTERLOCKING DIAGRAM

The East Providence Wye is left, Tunnel to Union Station is right.

MOST OF THE WYE WAS BUILT ON TRESTLE WORK OVER THE WATER

RED BRIDGE TOWER L-323 AT WATERMAN AVENUE

P&W route to Valley Falls is left, B&P route to East Junction is right

RED BRIDGE TOWER

Red Bridge once carried Waterman Avenue over the Seekonk River

WATERMAN AVENUE

Tower L-323 is behind the bridge, the B&P route to Boston is right.

SOUTH LEG OF SEEKONK BRIDGE WYE

North is left, South is right

The transfer of the PW&B terminal to Union Station and the extension of the electrified line north of India Point allowed for the construction of a station at Watchemocket Square close to the business center of East Providence. The station was partly over the tracks at the east end of Washington Bridge.

EAST PROVIDENCE STATION AT WATCHEMOKET SQUARE

Watchemoket Square with station on the left. Washington Bridge goes to Providence.

THE VIEW FROM WATERMAN AVENUE JUNE 1987

The Providence & Worcester train will take the route to Valley Falls on the left.

The route to East Junction is on the right.

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

BOSTON & PROVIDENCE

1899 TIMETABLE

THE ORIGINAL ROUTE OF THE BOSTON & PROVIDENCE OPENED IN 1835

Horizontal is miles, vertical is elevation in feet. Numbers on the profile show rise in feet per mile.

NEW HAVEN TRAIN FROM BOSTON TO NARRAGANSETT PARK

The ALCO DL109 and PA-1 powered train is crossing into Rhode Island just north of the race track

in Pawtucket using the original B&P route to India Point c. 1956.

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

THE THREE TRACK TERMINAL AT NARRAGANSETT PARK PAWTUCKET

The train has turned on the wye and is ready to return to Boston after the races.

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

The Narragansett Race Track Stands Are On The Left

New Haven EMD GP-9's Power The Race Special c. 1956

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

THE RUMFORD DEPOT

Robert J.Belletzkie Collection

THE EAST PROVIDENCE BRANCH BUILT TO THE

WILKESBARRE PIER BY THE

PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER IN 1874

A NEW HAVEN FREIGHT TRAIN ON THE P&W EAST PROVIDENCE BRANCH

The bridge carries the Pawtucket Street Railway

Brooks Street, (now Armistice Blvd.) Pawtucket 1904

PHILLIPSDALE JUNE 1987

Providence & Worcester 2002 Switching the Almac Warehouse.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

THE FREIGHT HOUSE IN THE DARLINGTON AREA OF PAWTUCKET c.1900

The freight house has been preserved and is still located off Cottage Street. The view is to the north.

NEW HAVEN ALCO S-1 0937 SWITCHING DARLINGTON AREA OF PAWTUCKET

Valley Falls to the Wilkesbarre Pier Line c. 1956

PHOTO BY EDWARD J. OZOG

Providence & Worcester 2002 Switching in Darlington Area of Pawtucket in June 1987.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Vertical is feet of elevation, Horizontal is miles, numbers on grades are rise per mile in feet.

PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER 2002 LEAVING VALLEY FALLS OVER THE LINE TO WILKESBARRE PIER IN JUNE 1987

Photo by Edward J. Ozog