Suncook Valley Railroad

The route of the fabled Blueberry Express was first suggested in January 1849, when a charter was granted by the state of New Hampshire to John Berry to build a railroad from east of Concord into the Suncook Valley to Pittsfield. A second charter was granted in July of that same year for a second investment group to extend the rails from Pittsfield to connect with the Dover and Winnipesogee Railroad (modern spelling Winnipesaukee) at an undetermined point near the village of Alton Bay. The charters lapsed into expiration due to disputes over an easement and a lack of financial backing. The looming Civil War also halted plans for the railroad.

In 1863, a second pair of charters were granted by the New Hampshire courts for the construction of the Suncook Valley road, and what became known as the Suncook Valley Extension Railroad-the line to be constructed from Pittsfield to Alton. Ground was broken April 26, 1869, the company was leased to the Concord Railroad November 11, 1869, and the first Suncook-Pittsfield round trip took place on December 6 of that year.

The Suncook Valley Extension Railroad was subsequently constructed by the Concord RR in 1889, and was wholly owned by that line. It was completed only as far as Center Barnstead; the connection to Alton never materialized.

The Concord RR was merged with the Boston, Concord, & Montreal effective January 1, 1890, to form the Concord and Montreal Railroad. The Suncook Valley lease was thus transferred to the new operation. Similarly, the C&M was leased by the Boston and Maine Railroad effective June 29, 1895, with the Suncook Valley control changing in the same manner.

On January 1, 1912, the original lease expired, but was extended until January 1, 1914, and again until January 1, 1916. When renewed upon the last contract's termination, the B&M would include terms providing for a shrewd, 60-day notice exit clause, which would be further reduced to 30 days in 1921. As the new decade proceeded, the B&M sought to shed the expense of running into the Suncook Valley region and petitioned for abandonment of its operation of the line on July 26, 1924. Notice of termination of the lease was given to Suncook Valley officers, and the last B&M train would leave Center Barnstead for Suncook on morning of September 28, 1924.

As the end of B&M operation loomed, preparations were made to begin operating the line in order to continue service. The Suncook agent, B&M employee C.J. McDonough was hired on as the general manager of the SV, whilst retaining his capacity with the B&M. Arrangements were made with the B&M to lease a locomotive and passenger equipment, and New Hampshire's first independent shortline began operating at noon on September 28, 1924.

Frank P. Fosgate would replace Mr. McDonough as General Manager effective January 27, 1925. With an after-the-fact approval, the ICC would also grant permission for SV operation of the Suncook Valley Extension RR in March 1925, with the B&M willfully surrendering its ownership of the extension to the SV.

From 1924 until June 6, 1936, the Suncook Valley would run two round trips from its terminus at Center Barnstead to Suncook and return. The first and last run of each day were operated as passenger trains; the two midday trips were operated as mixed train service- passenger and freight.

Mr. Fosgate died in November 1932, and would be succeeded by George S. Fowler. Throughout the early 1930s, the B&M considered how best to further reduce unprofitable branch lines. Based on a stated claim regarding the poor condition of some wooden bridges at the south end of the Suncook Loop at Hooksett, rail passenger service was discontinued on the Loop in January, 1935, and freight service was pared back further. Consequently, after SV management successfully completed negotiations to lease the Loop, Suncook Valley trains began operation into Concord, NH, on June 8, 1936.