Boston & Maine Railroad
Suncook Loop & Suncook Valley Branch
Sidings Changes
1898-1936
The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society has posted scans of records, compiled by Robert Fuller, of sidings changes over time to their Online Archives . Arranged by Valuation Section, these documents were maintained in order to keep detailed records when the railroad added or removed any side tracks, whether railroad or privately owned. Totals were needed for reporting to various agencies, and could be found in publications such as the annual ICC Blue Book, etc.
I extracted the relevant Valuation Sections for the B&M's Suncook Loop (Val Sec 23.1) running from the NH Division mainline (Val Sec 21) at Hooksett via Suncook to Bow Jct., and the Suncook Valley Branch (Val Sec 29 and 23.6 until the shortline's independence in 1924,) as well as the Concord & Manchester Electric (Val Sec 25) as it is in close proximity to the steam lines in several areas. This small subset of the records represent my primary area of interest, and are tabulated below. What these records allow researchers to do is, by starting at the detailed Valuation Survey maps and documents produced ca. 1914, one can work forwards or backwards through time in order to determine very precise track arrangements at any time for which records exist.
| Date | Location | Description | Laid | Removed | Net Change | Ownership | Val Sec-Page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1897 | Ctr. Barnstead | Pass. Car Trk. | 186 | R.R. | 23.6-1 | |||
| Feb 1898 | Bow Jct. | Fellows Siding | 94 | +94 | B&M | 23.1-1 | ||
| June 1898 | Pittsfield | ? | 79 | -79 | B&M. | 29-1 | ||
| Aug 1898 | Suncook | Coal Trk. | 760 | -654 | +106 | Billed to China Mills | 23.1-1 | |
| Oct 1898 | Short Falls | J.G.Fellows Track | 255 | -255 | Not given | 29-1 | ||
| Aug 1899 | Between Suncook + Bow Jct. | Frank Whitehouse | 450 | -450 | B&M | 23.1-1 | ||
| July 1900 | Suncook | Siding | 370 | +370 | E.Baker + Co. | 23.1-1 | ||
| Aug 1901 | Bow Jct. | C.E.Br. | 876 | +876 | C.E.Br C&MRR(x'ed out: See V.S. 25 | 23.1-1 | ||
| Aug 1901 | Bow Jct. | Gravel Pit Trk. | 3331 | -3331 | B&M | 23.1-1 | ||
| Aug 1901 | Bow Jct. | C.E. Branch | 876 | +876 | Concord Electric Br. C.&M.R.R. | 25-1 | ||
| Sept 1901 | 1½ miles East of Suncook | Siding | 481 | +481 | Concord Electric Br. C.&M.R.R. | 25-1 | ||
| Oct 1901 | Suncook | Conc. & Nash. Elec. Conn. | 70 | +70 | Concord Electric Br. C.&M.R.R. | 25-1 | ||
| Nov 1901 | Suncook | C.E.Br. C.& M.Conn. | 70 | -70 | Concord Electric Br. C.&M.R.R. | 25-1 | ||
| Nov 1901 | Suncook | C.E.Br. C.& M.R.R. | 481 | -481 | Concord Electric Br. C.&M.R.R. | 25-1 | ||
| Apr 1902 | Suncook | Simpson's Trk | 996 | -996 | B&M | 23.1-1 | ||
| May 1902 | Hooksett | Parker's Trk. | 233 | +233 | Walter M. Parker | 23.1-1 | ||
| Dec 1902 | Suncook | Connection C.A.Bailey | 97 | +97 | C.A.Bailey | 29-1 | ||
| Apr 1903 | Suncook | Extension C.A.Bailey | 147 | +147 | C.A.Bailey | 29-1 | ||
| May 1903 | Suncook | Extension C.A.Bailey | 24 | +24 | C.A.Bailey | 29-1 | ||
| May 1903 | Pittsfield | Hiram A. Tuttle | 244 | +244 | Hiram A. Tuttle | 29-1 | ||
| June 1903 | Garvins Falls (Bow) | H.C.&R Trk | 1118 | +1118 | Holbrook Cabot & Rollins | 23.1-1 | ||
| July 1903 | Suncook | Gravel Pit | 309 | +309 | Not given | 23.1-2 | ||
| Aug 1903 | Suncook | Gravel Pit Trk. Ext. | 311 | +311 | B&M | 23.1-2 | ||
| Sept 1903 | Pittsfield | Ext. Siding | 24 | +24 | R.R. | 29-1 | ||
| June 1904 | Allenstown | Gravel Pit Trk. | 1020 | -1020 | B.& M. | 28-3 | ||
| Oct 1904 | Garvins Falls (Bow) | H.C.&R Trk | 1118 | -1118 | Holbrook Cabot & Rollins | 23.1-1 | ||
| Nov 1904 | Concord | C.E.Br. #1 | 118 | +118 | B&M | 25-1 | ||
| Nov 1904 | Concord | C.E.Br. #2 | 133 | +133 | B&M | 25-1 | ||
| Nov 1904 | Concord | C.E.Br. #3 | 138 | +138 | B&M | 25-1 | ||
| Nov 1904 | Concord | C.E.Br. Martins Pit Trk. | 365 | -365 | B&M | 25-1 | ||
| July 1905 | Suncook | J.Derosie | 544 | -544 | R.R. | 29-1 | ||
| July 1905 | Pittsfield | H.A. Tuttle | 244 | -244 | (H.A. Tuttle) | 29-1 | ||
| Dec 1905 | Bow Jct. | Gravel Pit | 807 | -807 | B&M | 23.1-2 | ||
| Jan 1906 | Bow Pit | Xover | 360 | -360 | B&M (taken up Dec) | 23.1-2 | ||
| May 1906 | Suncook | Warren Sargent | 723 | -723 | B&M | 23.1-2 | ||
| June 1906 | Contoocook Park | #1 Track | 129 | -129 | R.R. | 25-2 | ||
| Aug 1906 | Concord | Hospital | 250 | -250 | R.R. | 25-2 | ||
| Nov 1906 | Hooksett | Gile Track | 175 | -175 | R.R. | 21-15 | ||
| Nov 1907 | Concord | #7 Track | 10 | +10 | R.R. | 25-2 | ||
| Nov 1907 | W. Concord | Cinder Track | 230 | -230 | R.R. | 25-2 | ||
| July 1908 | Suncook | Simpson Miller Co. | 496 | -496 | 23.1-2 | |||
| June 1909 | Suncook | Geo. Simpson | 496 | -496 | 23.1-2 | |||
| June 1909 | Hooksett | Hooksett Siding | 24 | -24 | 25-2 | |||
| June 1909 | Bow | Bow Siding | 4 | -4 | 25-2 | |||
| June 1909 | Concord | Ball Ground Trk. Rumford Field | 747 | -747 | 25-2 | |||
| July 1911 | Penacook | Main Trk | 129 | -129 | 25-2 | |||
| Aug 1911 | Pittsfield | Ferdinand French Ext. | 30 | +30 | #2 | 29-2 | ||
| Sept 1911 | Concord | Clinton St. C.& M. Elec. Br. | 3537 | -3537 | 25-2 | |||
| Sept 1911 | Concord | Clinton St. C.& M. Elec. Br. | 312 | -312 | Removed Several years ago. Not reported | 25-2 | ||
| Nov 1912 | Bow Jct. | Transfer Trk. | 628 | +628 | Approx. 967 #1 | 23.1-2 | ||
| Nov 1912 | Hooksett | Pittsfield Br. Spur | 67 | -67 | #67 | 21-37 | ||
| Sept 1914 | Pittsfield | Welch-Folsom Lbr. Co. | 417½ | +417½ | Sketch shows Trk. lengthened 561' Total 802' #1 | 29-2 | ||
| Nov 1914 | Hooksett | Engine House Yd. | 1230 | -1230 | #55 | 21-43 | ||
| Nov 1914 | Hooksett | Engine House Trk. | 60 | -60 | #55 | 21-43 | ||
| Aug 1915 | Hooksett | E.S.Head Trk. | 380 | 383' #2 | 23.1-3 | |||
| Sept 1915 | Suncook | Suncook Mills Trk. | 920 | #3 | 23.1-3 | |||
| Suncook | Suncook Mills Trk. | Sk. as of 6/28/24 #7 | 23.1-3 | |||||
| Nov 1915 | Pittsfield | Gas Co. Try. | 32 | #1 | 23.6-1 | |||
| May 1919 | Ctr. Barnstead 225+72 | Milk Trk. Ext. | 244 | R.R #2 | 23.6-1 | |||
| Aug 1920 | Suncook 131+18 | F.M.Pettingill | 417 | 417' F.M.Pettingill #4 | 23.1-3 | |||
| Dec 1920 | Chichester 710+42.1 | Baker Box Co. | 347 | +347 | Baker Box Co. | 29-2 | ||
| Sept 1921 | Hooksett 1346+25 | B&M Track | 288 | Connection removed about 1913 #116 R.R. | 21-51 | |||
| Sept 1921 | Hooksett, Off above | W.M.Parker Track | 156 | #117 R.R. | 21-51 | |||
| April 1922 | Hooksett 24+70 | Gault Track | 707 | R.R (Connections out in 1910) #5 | 23.1-3 | |||
| April 1922 | Ctr. Barnstead 241+40 | Gravel Pit Trk. | 2120 | R.R. #3 | 23.6-1 | |||
| Aug 1923 | Pittsfield 915+30.8 | Leonard Packing Co. | 434 | L.P.Co. #4 | 29-2 | |||
| Date | Location | Description | RR + | RR - | Private + | Private - | Remarks | Val Sec-Page |
| Jan'y 1924 | Suncook 124+50 | Pembroke & Webster Mills Ext. | 70' | Total 2124' pt. owned by industry #6 | 23.1-4 | |||
| Jan'y 1924 | Suncook 125+29 | Xover | 191.5 | This amount changing (more blurry) #6 | 23.1-4 | |||
| Jan'y 1924 | Ctr. Barnstead 225+72 | H.P.Hood & Sons | 232 | #4 | 23.6-2 | |||
| 1924 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| 1924 | Val. Sec. 29 | No Change in trks-No Longer Operated by B.&M.RR. | 29-3 | |||||
| Apr 1925 | Hooksett 1224+32 | Scales Track | 1102 | #173 | 21-59 | |||
| July 1925 | Val. Sec. 23.6 | This entire branch was sold July 1925, operated now by Suncook Valley Railroad | 23.6-2 | |||||
| 1925 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1925 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| Dec 1926 | Hooksett 1263+06 | Passing Track Shortened | 781 | New length 4677' AFE 5949 #203 | 21-64 | |||
| Dec 1926 | Hooksett 1322+27.7 | Xover | 193 | AFE 5949 #203 | 21-64 | |||
| 1926 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1926 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| 1927 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1927 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| 1928 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| Nov 1929 | Hooksett | Frt. Ho. Trk. | 182 | #225 | 21-68 | |||
| 1929 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1929 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| 1930 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1930 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett | M.L. Changes | #239 | 21-71 | ||||
| Dec 1931 | Pembroke NH 323+16 | Pem. Siding | 707 | AFE12453 #8 | 23.1-4 | |||
| Date | Location | Description | RR + | RR - | Private + | Private - | Remarks | Val Sec-Page |
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett | M.L. shortened o/c Br 90 | 23 | #247 | 21-76 | |||
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett 1326+22 | Xover | 189 | #247 | 21-76 | |||
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett 1327+09 | Xover | 194 | #247 | 21-76 | |||
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett 1283+05 | So Bd Passing | 4577 | #247 | 21-76 | |||
| Dec 1931 | Hooksett 1294+09 | No Bd Passing | 3943 | #247 | 21-77 | |||
| Dec 1931 | Val. Sec. 25 | Total Difference | -0.38 | Letter from Mr. Crawford-Track remeasured by Burroughs | 25-3 | |||
| 1932 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-4 | |||||
| 1932 | Val. Sec. 25 | No Change | 25-3 | |||||
| Sept 1933 | Hooksett 26+15 | Emerson Mfg Co. Ext. | 1274 | #9 | 23.1-5 | |||
| Sept 1933 | Hooksett 26+15 | Emerson Mfg Co. New Try | 423 | #9 | 23.1-5 | |||
| 1933 | Val. Sec. 25 | All Track Removed | 25-3 | |||||
| 1934 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-5 | |||||
| 1935 | Hooksett | Transfer from V23.1 | 706 | AFE 16123 | 21-83 | |||
| 1935 | 0+25 to 18+99 | Reclass old Main Line | 1924 | 23.1-5 | ||||
| June 1936 | 1352+61.4-V21 Hooksett 1350+45.1-V21 | Freight Ho Track Ext. | 69 | #10 | 23.1-5 | |||
| June 1936 | Hooksett 21+13.8 | Xover | 191 | #10 | 23.1-5 | |||
| June 1936 | Hooksett | Former M.L. | 1945 | #10 | 23.1-5 | |||
| 1936 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | Transfer to V21 | 706 | AFE 16123 | 23.1-5 | |||
| 1937 | Val. Sec. 23.1 | No Change | 23.1-6 | |||||
| Aug 9 1940 | Hooksett 1354+54.8 | New Crossover 1352+75.6 | 180.7 | #288 AFE 18525 | 21-90 | |||
| Aug 9 1940 | Hooksett | Rem Crossover 1348+59 | 188 | #288 AFE 18525 | 21-90 | |||
| Oct 1941 | 385+19 Bow Jct 386+47 | Merr. Farmers Exch. | 110 | 525 | #11 | 23.1-6 | ||
| Oct 1941 | Bow Jct. | Merr. Farmers Exch. | 110 | 792 | #11 | 23.1-6 | ||
| Jan 1943 | Hooksett 19+87 to 96+68 | M.L. Track | 7681 | ICC 14026 | 23.1-6 | |||
| Nov 1944 | Concord | M.L. | 249 | AFE 21869 | 23.1-6 | |||
| Nov 1944 | Concord | Reclass old M.L. to S.T. | 513 | AFE 21869 | 23.1-6 | |||
| Nov 1950 | Hooksett | more... | 21-129 | |||||
| Dec 1953 | Concord | 458+33.8 to 382+57 = 1.44 mi M.L. reclassified to yd. trks. | 7577 | =187' to V21 | no report, Reclassified acc't retirement of Branch | 23.1-6 | ||
| New Suncook Valley Yd. Trk. | 7390 | 220 | Merrimack Farmers Exchange | 23.1-6 |
Please help preserve and share the history of New England railroads.
Posted 10/18/19. Updated 10/29/19. Copyright retained by Earl Tuson.