Bermuda Railway

The Bermuda Railway was a 21.7-mile (34.9 km) common carrier line that operated in Bermuda for a brief period (October 31, 1931 May 1, 1948). In its 17 years of existence, the railway provided frequent passenger and freight service over its length spanning most of the archipelago from St. George's in the east to Somerset, Sandys Parish, in the west.

Bermuda Railway
Bermuda Railway (in red) between St. George's, Hamilton, and Somerset in Sandys Parish
Overview
StatusPartially converted to rail trail
LocaleBermuda
Termini
  • St. George's
  • Somerset
Service
TypeCommon carrier
Services2
Depot(s)Hamilton
History
Opened1931 (1931)
Closed1948
Technical
Line length21.7 mi (34.9 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Route map

Somerset
Broom Street
Scott's Hill Road
Sound View Road
Somerset Bridge
Bridge Hill
White Hill
George's Bay
Sandys
Southampton
Evan's Bay
Frank's Bay
Church Road
Black Bay
Lighthouse
Southampton
Warwick
Riddell's Bay
Khyber Pass
Belmont
Cobb's Hill
Warwick
Paget
Ord Road
Elbow Beach
Rural Hill
Serpentine Road
Richmond Road
Queen Street
Pembroke
Paget
Hamilton–Front Street
Middle Road
Hospital
Tennis Stadium
Racecourse
Pond Hill
Pembroke
Devonshire
Prospect
Devonshire
Store Hill
Devonshire
Smith's
Flatts
Aquarium
Smith's
Hamilton
Shelly Bay
Crawl
Bailey's Bay
Coney Island
Hamilton
St. George's
Ferry Point
Oil Docks
Mullet Bay
Wellington
St. George's

Construction and maintenance proved to be exceedingly costly, as the Bermuda Railway was built along a coastal route to minimize the amount of land acquisition needed for the right of way. In so doing, however, extensive trestles and bridgework were necessary. More than 10 percent of the line was elevated on 33 separate structures of timber or steel construction spanning the ocean. In addition, the proximity to the ocean made rot and corrosion a significant problem. This, along with the introduction of private automobiles to the island after World War II, would ultimately doom the line.

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