Trolleys

Monson once had two and one half trolleys, one going to Brimfield between Fenton Rd & the Quabaug River, and the Palmer-Monson line, which ran North-South, connected Palmer with Monson. The half was the Ludlow-Palmer line (from: Springfield and Eastern Street Railway
"The line from Palmer to Ludlow followed US 20 out the west end of Palmer. Just before the crossing of the Quaboag River, the tracks split to cross the river north of the road, and then crossed to the south side of the road onto a private right-of-way just north of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The part of this across the river has since become a realignment of the road. Near the Palmer/Wilbraham town line, the line left the north side of the B&A and returned to the road, continuing west to the border with Springfield, across the Chicopee River from Ludlow. At the end of this route, the road now known as Old Boston Road, Stony Hill Road and River Road was used. "

The inital route of the Palmer-Monson line is shown on the 1908 topographical map & in "One Town and Seven Railroads', plus the existence of the remains of a bridge crossing the Chicopee Brook behind 180 Palmer Road.

However, I speculate that there was a later, additional right-of-way on the West side of the Chicopee Brook & RR line, running from Bunyan Rd to Hospital Rd, and further North. This based also on old maps & walkabouts. This implies there must have been another bridge (or shared bridge) accross the Quabaug River, downstream from Fay's Bridge.

The initial route ( The Palmer and Monson Street Railway Co. ), I assumed that it ran down the Palmer Road (Rte 32.) However, MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report - Monson gives a different route in North Monson.

An additional article Springfield and Eastern Street Railway states:

History

The first line of the Palmer and Monson Street Railway opened in 1898, connecting Palmer to Monson. It was controlled by the Consolidated Railway of Connecticut. In May 1901 the company was renamed to the Springfield and Eastern Street Railway. An extension to the Springfield Street Railway in Ludlow opened on September 17, 1901, and a line to Brimfield opened in July 1907. On September 1, 1905, the Springfield Street Railway leased the Springfield and Eastern. In 1906 the S&E, along with most other Massachusetts properties of the Consolidated Railway (including the Springfield Street Railway), was sold to the New England Investment and Security Company. By 1927 buses had replaced the trolleys.

Lines

The original line ran between Palmer and Monson, and was later extended to South Monson. Most of this was over the present Route 32, except in two places. In Palmer, instead of crossing the Boston and Albany Railroad east of downtown with current Route 32, the line continued with Main Street, crossing the tracks downtown. Additionally, the tracks used a private right-of-way in North Monson, crossing the New London Northern Railroad at Bunyan Road.

Another point of confusion, is the possible connection with the Flynt RailRoad (spur.) While the two routes almost meet at the Country Club, Apparently, there was no actual connection. The Flynt RR ran from the Quarry Southeastward crossing Main St at what is now the Monson Medical Center, and joining the North-South RR line there. Some early maps show the Flynt line going South of the Rock House with a turnaround spur heading North almost to the Country Club, other show it going to the North of the Rock House and than heading South to join the North-South RR. Apparently, the Flynt RR and the Trolley never met.

Another unknown is How far South? Both articles claim it went to South Monson, but to where. My guess was that went as far as Bliss or even Maple streets. I posed the question to Joe Plato and he said it ran to Wales Road. He added that he & friends were allowed by the conductor to hop on the runningboard, but only when the trolley was going South, fearing getting caught.

Thanks to Joe Plato & Stephen Phillips.