Chester & Becket Railroad

Originally the Hudson & Chester Quarry Co. the granite was moved by train on this rail to Chester where it met the Boston & Albany Railroad. You can see this old railroad from Route 20 up on the mountain ledge on the left while traveling West through Chester and Becket.  This 7-mile railroad provided freight services for granite quarries in Becket for thirty years.  It ran from the junction of the Boston & Albany railroad in Chester to the present day Becket Quarry….and there were switchbacks there with additional rail to the Bowe Quarry, Pink Granite Quarry and the Newell Brothers Quarry. On Hampden Street in Chester there is a kiosk and official parking lot to hike a section of it.  The entire old railbed is walkable, but not officially open to hiking.

The property of the Chester & Becket railroad was operated by the Boston & Albany from November 26, 1897, the date of completion, to June 30, 1900.  There is much to learn about this railroad, we have spent years hiking and mapping the entire railroad from Becket to Chester.  Read more about the Railroad at the Chester Railway Museum. 

The Mullen House in Becket (home to the Becket Land Trust) also has excellent information including old photos.