Railroads

Prior to the introduction of the railroad in the mid-19^th century, canal schooners populated the Lake Champlain, which was a major north-south trade route, small farms dotted the hilly Vermont landscape, and small mills lined the waterways. After the first locomotive rolled into the Green Mountain State, industry boomed along newly laid railroad tracks, trade routes came to small towns that had not previously had access to the waterways, and the small farms expanded their reach and specialized their markets. Physically, economically, and culturally, the railroad ushered in a new era in 19^th century Vermont.

Click on the links below to further explore the history of the railroad in Vermont.