Taunton (Dean Street) Railroad Depot - Taunton, MA - Train Stations/Depots on Waymarking.com

In Taunton, on Dean Street and near U.S. Route 44 is a brick structure that was a railroad stration.

The railroad station is located east of the center of Taunton. There is still a single railroad track that goes by the station. I'm not sure how active the track is. According to one source (see reference below), only two stubs are being used, one at each end of the original railroad.

The original railroad was the Dighton and Stoughton Railroad. The main segment that includes this location was built in 1863-66. The owners intended to syphon off business from the Old Colony Railroad, which not only did not work, the Old Colony bought this railroad in 1865.

This station was built in 1876. The station is a brick structure that has wooden trim and bracing along the roofline. It has a peaked hip roof and dormers. There is an additional overhang below the roof. There are two additions that appear to be recent and definitely do not add to aesthetics of the building.

Over the years, passenger service declined and was totally abandoned. The property has changed hands, several times, becoming part of Conrail and the Bay Colony Railroad in recent times. Today, trains are run between Dean Street and Weir Junction, about a mile to the south, only - not sure what line operation, now. There is a proposal to create a new branch of the MBTA commuter rail line, but this is, at present, only plans.

A sign facing Route 44 show that the two tennants of the building are a realty office and the Taunton Retirement Board.

The station appears to be in good shape. It just is no longer used as a station.

Source:

Karr, Ronald Dale. The Rail Lines of Southern New England: A Handbook of Railroad History. Branch Line Press. Pepperel, MA, 1995.

Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: No Is the station/depot open to the public?: No If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?: Realty Office and the Taunton Retirement Board office. What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Dighton and Somerset, Old Colony Railroad, Conrail, Bay Colony RR. Station/Depot Web Site: [Web Link]

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