The White River Railroad was an intrastate railroad in central Vermont. It ran from Bethel to Rochester, a distance of approximately 19 miles.

History Planning for the White River Valley Electric Railroad began in 1896, and the line was charted along the course of the White River. The name was changed to White River Valley Railroad and finally White River Railroad before construction began in 1899. Built on a shoestring budget, the first train arrived in Rochester in December 1900. Because the railroad followed the course of the White River closely, it was frequently damaged by floods and was often referred to as "The Peavine". Like most railroads in Vermont, it was heavily damaged by the great Flood of November 1927. Though the railroad was fully rebuilt the following year, the Great Depression reduced traffic to fatal levels, and the railroad was abandoned in 1933.

Stations The railroad stopped at the following locations from east to west:

Bethel, Vermont (interchange with the Central Vermont Railway and the Bethel Granite Railway) Lillieville, Vermont (informal flagstop) Gaysville, Vermont (station) Riverside (informal flagstop) Stockbridge, Vermont (station) Tupper's, Vermont (informal flagstop) Emerson, Vermont (informal flagstop) Talcville, Vermont (informal flagstop) Rochester, Vermont (station)

Locomotives LocomotiveDescriptionYear(s)NumberNameBuiltBuild YearPrevious OwnerNotesDisposition4-4-0 AmericanStraight stack. Upper headlight19011Manchester1879B&M4-4-0 AmericanStraight stack. Upper headlight24-4-0 AmericanStraight stack. Upper headlight19103Portland Company1884Maine Central20 pax doodlebug4Hummingbird4-Wheel Drive Auto Company Clintonville, WI1911New2-6-0n5Baldwin1913NewOnly new locomotiveRock of Ages 19330-4-4T1913-1922, 192761890Montpelier & Wells Riverlight passenger service2-4-2T19136Barre Railroad2-6-0n -19277Destroyed during the flood of 1927Stanley Steamer1916-19311011916NewSold to Boston & Maine 19314-4-0 AmericanStraight stack. Upper headlight368B&M4-4-0 AmericanStraight stack. Upper headlight1900-1905CV 45CV Shops St. Albans1873CVCV 71 W.C. Smith previously4-4-0 Americandiamond stacked wood burner1899John R. TupperD&HFirst locomotive

References Jones, Robert C., Railroads of Vermont, Volume II, 1993.

Herwig, Wes, A Whistle Up the Valley : The Story of the Peavine, Vermont's White River Railroad, 2005.