Early Mass. railroad maps have been digitized by the Mass. State Library.
The
first railroad in Massachusetts was chartered in 1826 and since that time the
commonwealth has seen dozens of operators expand and contract their operations.
By 1836 railroad corporations had to submit reports of their activities to the
Secretary of the Commonwealth and in 1871 a Railroad Commission was established
to oversee these companies. This wonderful digital collection from the
Massachusetts State library brings together dozens of maps, manuscripts, and
annual reports related to the operations of these companies. The Maps area is remarkable as it features over
270 maps that document various railroad surveys from the mid 19th century
to the early 20th century. The Annual
Reports area includes over 50 reports from the Public Service Commission
that provide valuable insights into railroad operations. The Manuscripts area contains a range of
acts that document the potential and realized ambitions of a range of small,
medium, and large railroad companies, including the Dorchester and Milton
Extension Railroad Company. [from Scout Report, by KMG]
