Former Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad - East Providence, Rhode Island
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N 41° 47.885 W 071° 22.777
19T E 302297 N 4630094
Formed in 1854, the 14-mile line PW+B RR was completed in 1855, and service discontinued in 1973. A segment has been left with an orphaned bridge 150 yards from the southern end of the Providence River-Watchemoket Cove causeway in E. Providence, RI.
Waymark Code: WM167HW
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 05/26/2022
Views: 0
The Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad formed in 1854 and the 14-mile line was completed in 1855. Its electrified commuter rail line peaked at about 100 trains per day. Passenger service was discontinued in 1938 because of damage from that year’s historic hurricane and the railroad became freight-only afterwards. Part of the dual track portion of the PW&B’s former right-of-way ran along the eastern shore of the Providence River from Providence to Bristol, Rhode Island.
The PW&B right-of-way opened as the East Bay Bike Path in 1992. The western segment has been left as-is and the parallel eastern part now carries the East Bay Bike Path. It’s here that you will come across an orphaned bridge approximately 150 yards from the southern end of the Providence River-Watchemoket Cove causeway.
Access the bridge by foot or bike along the trail. Drive there and park at an East Bay Bike Path lot west of University Orthopedics Kettle Point at 1 Kettle Point Avenue, East Providence, RI, then head north on the path for about 200 yards.