Other Railroad Structures
As tracks were being laid across the Vermont landscape, a number of important structures were rising along the rail lines. Buildings were necessary to house and repair the locomotives, supply fuel to the engines, or store freight. Following is a discussion of some of the many auxiliary structures association with the railroad, as well as dates on the construction or demolition of many of the structures along the railroad in Vermont.
The wood stops on the early CVR 1850 line: Chase's Cut, between Bethel and Randolph; Tarbell's between Braintree and East Granville; Roxbury, Northfield, Montpelier, Middlesex, Waterbury, and Bolton Falls.
Structures found along the lines in 1857 consisted of 28 passenger houses, 17 freight houses, 10 engine houses, 2 repair shops, 31 water stations, 7 dwellings, 39 wood sheds, 5 turntables, 2 car houses, and 4 ice houses.
In 1863, the CVR owned 35 passenger stations, 23 freight stations, 5 engine houses, 3 repair shops, 28 water stations, 13 dwellings, 48 woodsheds, 4 turntables, 3 car houses, and 5 ice houses.
During the 1880s, shops for repairing rails were set up along lines.
Turntables:
A new 70-foot steel turntable was installed in St. Albans around 1903
The old turntable from St. Albans was transferred to White River Junction in 1903
New London, Brattleboro, and White River Junction all received new 70-foot steel turntables in 1906
The old turntables were transferred to Barre, Burlington, and Williamstown in 1906.
A new turntable was installed in Burlington in 1910
The old turntable was transferred to Richford in 1910
Water Tanks:
In 1906, a new 100,000 gallon water tank was erected in St. Albans
A new cinder pit and coal chute were also constructed in White River Junction in 1903. A large, new warehouse was erected on the Long Dock in New London.
During 1906, several changes took place along the CVR lines. A new freight house was constructed in Brattleboro. The stalls at the engine houses in Brattleboro and White River Junction were extended. New stockyards were constructed in Sharon, Burlington, Northfield, and Williston. A new 44-foot track scale was erected in Bethel. A new engine house was constructed at Montpelier Junction. A new coal plant was constructed in Burlington.
During 1909, a 50,000 gallon water tank was erected at Montpelier Junction, a new ice house was constructed in White River Junction, and a coal chute, turntable, and tracks were raised in Vernon to prevent flooding from a new dam under construction.
During 1910, a combination passenger and freight station was constructed at South Franklin after a fire. Yantic and Amherst both received new 50,000 gallon water tanks. New coaling facilities were constructed at Palmer and Montpelier Junction.
A number of structures were erected along the CVR lines during 1912. A coaling facility was erected at Farnham. An ice house was constructed at St. Albans. Freight houses were constructed at East Swanton and Iberville. A foot subway was installed in Bethel for passengers transferring between railroads. In Waterloo, a machine shop and ice house burned down and were quickly replaced, and a water tank burned and was replaced in Roxbury.
Around 1916, a new water tanks were erected in Jonesville and Bethel.
In 1918, new water tanks were erected at East Albert, Des Rivieres, and Freleighsburgh.
In 1919, the CVR purchased milk houses in Colchester, Georgia, and Oakland. Milk receiving platforms were built at Enosburg Falls and Alburg, and Randolph and Richford received facilities the following year. An oil house was constructed in St. Albans, adjoining the engine house.
In 1930, a new artificial ice plant was constructed by the Continental Ice Refrigeration Company of Chicago, right across from Italy Yard in St. Albans.
