NEB&W Guide to the Lake Champlain Railroad Causeway

Last Update: 2008-11-11

Layout Photo Gallery Table of Contents

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• A section of the topographic map shows the causeway was built curved to follow an underwater sandbar, as the lake was only a few feet deep here. On the "long fill", there were two bridges, a swing bridge on the north section and a fixed girder bridge on the southern section. The clusters of little squares along the shore line at spots are summer cabins.
  • [Map.]

• These two Phil Hastings photos which appeared in Jim Shaughnessy's The Rutland Road made us want to model this spectacular scene. The first view was taken from South Hero Island looking southwest, with the swing bridge barely visible.
  • [Prototype view.]
  • [Second view.]

• When first built c. 1900, the fill was not yet protected with the large blocks of marble rip-rap.
  • [Postcard view.]

• A Rutland photo of the causeway appeared in the June 1, 1940 Railway Age. The caption specifically pointed out the use of marble slabs for rip-rap.
  • [Company photo.]

• The swing bridge was manually operated. Color photos by John Gardner.
  • [Closed.]
  • [Open.]
  • [Cranking it open.]

• Valuation notes for the drawbridge tender shanty.
  • [Val notes.]

• Our causeway.
  • [Layout view.]
  • [Bigger.]

• Tom Amrine built a mockup that is so detailed, most visitors think it is the finished model.
  • [Model photo.]
  • [Model photo, sky and water digitally enhanced.]

• Near the end in the 1960's, the tracks began to be overgrown with weeds. This Jim Shaughnessy photo was taken from the south end (the "mainland), looking north.
  • [Prototype view.]

• The causeway after abandonment. Note the size of the blocks.
  • [Prototype c. 1970's.]
  • [Another view.]

• A postcard view of the shorter causeway from Grand Isle to North Hero Island, across what was called "The Gut". (Note the bridge is opened.)
  • [Postcard view.]

See our Layout Guide for the causeway.

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