Springfield and New London Railroad
The Springfield and New London Railroad is a historic railroad in Massachusetts. It was incorporated in Massachusetts as the Springfield and Longmeadow Railroad on May 2, 1849. In 1866 the act of incorporation was amended so as to permit a location terminating at the state line in either Longmeadow or Wilbraham. By a later act this corporation was authorized to consolidate with a Connecticut corporation under the name of Springfield and New London Railroad.
Chapter 70 of the Acts of 1869 authorized the city of Springfield to take stock in or loan its credit to the S&NL. A proposal for a subscription of $150,000 in stock was accepted by the city government, and the question was submitted to the voters at a special election on July 21, 1874. The new company was incorporated on January 6, 1875.
The comments of the Springfield Republican, touching this vote, led to a libel suit of Willis Phelps against the publishers of that paper. Shortly after this vote the railroad was completed. The S&NL constructed the Armory Branch line from Springfield to the Connecticut state line.
Edwin Dickinson Metcalf served as a president of the S&NL as well as Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts.
