Item 16399 - Railroad Station, Springvale, ca. 1900

Item 16399 - Railroad Station, Springvale, ca. 1900
Contributed by Sanford-Springvale Historical Society
Item 16399
Railroad Station, Springvale, ca. 1900
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*Credit line must read: Collections of Sanford-Springvale Historical Society
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Located at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Railroad Avenue, this station served passenger traffic until it was replaced by a more modern building in 1908.

The Portland and Rochester Railroad commenced passenger service between Portland and Springvale in December 1870 and was completed through to Rochester the following July. When the line became part of the Boston and Maine system at the turn of the century, there was frequent service in both directions.

In 1909 six passenger trains (three each way) and more than 20 freight trains passed through Springvale each way. At one time the famous Knickerboxer from New York to Bar Harbor was routed through Springvale.

With the advent of the automobile, rail travel dropped off and passenger service was discontinued in 1932. Freight service between Springvale abd Rochester was discontinued in 1952.

The line was shut down completely in 1961. The closing of the the Goodall mills in 1954 was a major factor in the railroad's demise. Most of the new industries in Sanford were using trucks by the 1960s to handle their freight.

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