BILLERICA AND BEDFORD RAILROAD

The 'Billerica and Bedford Railroad' was an early narrow gauge railroad in Massachusetts, built to demonstrate the advantages of a gauge railroad.
George E. Mansfield, of Hazelhurst, Massachusetts, became an early promoter of the two foot gauge after seeing the Ffestiniog Railway in operation in Wales. He persuaded the citizens of Billerica of the economies of a two foot line, and became general manager of the Billerica & Bedford when it was chartered in 1876. Construction began in May 1877, and the line was completed between North Billerica and Bedford in August 1877, a distance of 8.63 miles.
The line was built very cheaply in accordance with narrow gauge doctrine, but rapidly found itself financially embarrassed. Turntables were built at each end of the railroad, and a wye and enginehouse were built at Bedford, but no stations were ever constructed along the line. The company went bankrupt and was liquidated in June 1878.
Mansfield, undeterred, went on to promote the two foot gauge in Maine, where the largest network of these lines was ultimately built. The Boston and Lowell Railroad used most of the B&B roadbed to extend its Lexington Branch in May 1885.

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★ Billerica and Bedford history