Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington

Company History: This company was established in 1886 to takeover the 3’ gauge Deerfield River Railroad that ran from a connection with the Fitchburg Railroad at the eastern portal of Hoosac Tunnel in Massachusetts north to the city of Readsboro, Vermont. Within a few years, construction pushed the line north to Wilmington, Vermont for a total length of 25 miles. The line was standard gauged in 1913. The extension to Wilmington was abandoned during the Depression. The line began turning a profit during the Second World War and was dieselized in 1949. Traffic subsided in the 50s until plans were announced for a nuclear power plant at Monroe Bridge. HT&W began moving construction equipment and materials for the project. After it was completed, traffic slumped again. Facing a big line relocation due to a new dam in the area, HT&W chose to surrender instead and was abandoned in 1971.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.