Wolfeboro Historical Society Photograph Archive Transportation Railroads

Railroad development in the mid-1800's was rapidly opening up the country for commerce and travel. Wolfeboro was not on a rail line; the final leg of a journey to Wolfeboro meant horse and buggy, stagecoach, or steamship. Finally, in 1872, the Boston and Maine Railroad began service on a new branch from Sanbornville to Wolfeboro. This unusual line had twelve stations in only 12.3 miles and ran all the way to the Town Docks, to connect directly with the lake steamships. This was a primary force in developing Wolfeboro for tne next 60 years, until the automobile industry caused the decline of rail transport. Passenger service stopped in 1936; freight service stopped in the 1950's. The line was operated intermittently as the Wolfeboro Railroad, a tourist train which also carried some freight, from about 1972 to 1979. In the 1990's the old train bed was converted to a recreational trail from Wolfeboro to Cotton Valley. In 2018, the section to Sanbornville was developed. Part of the track remains today and is used and maintained by local railroad clubs.

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