Cheshire

Company History: The Cheshire Railroad was established in 1844 and within a year merged with the Winchendon Railroad which was in the early stages of construction. The line opened in 1847 from a connection with the Vermont & Massachusetts in South Ashburnham, Massachusetts to Winchendon. Over the next few years, construction continued linking Keene and Bellows Falls, Vermont and Troy, New Hampshire. This made the Cheshire a bridge line between the Fitchburg Railroad in the east and the Vermont Central in the west. In 1890, the Cheshire Railroad was merged into the Fitchburg Railroad.

Successor/Parent History: The Fitchburg Railroad is a former railroad company, which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, United States, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. The Fitchburg was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1900. The main line from Boston to Fitchburg is now operated as the MBTA Fitchburg Line; Pan Am Railways runs freight service on some other portions.