BONUS: Forgotten Railroad of Rhode Island | The Wood River Branch Railroad P2

BONUS: Forgotten Railroad of Rhode Island | The Wood River Branch Railroad P2

From The Story of Rhode Island by Kevin Padula

April 16, 2026 · 11 min · Season 3

About this episode

This episode explores the struggles and survival of the Wood River Branch Railroad amidst various disasters and economic challenges.

The Wood River Branch Railroad should not have survived. Built in the aftermath of a deadly train wreck and during the Panic of 1873, the line spent decades fighting for its life. Fires destroyed its largest customers. Floods washed out its tracks. Economic collapse nearly ended it more than once. And yet, each time, the communities along the Wood River found a way to keep it running. In this episode of Forgotten Railroads of Rhode Island, we explore: - The 1909 fire that devastated the railroad’s biggest industry - The Great Flood of 1927 and its destruction along the line - The surprising individuals who saved the railroad from abandonment - And the final event that brought the Wood River Branch to an end This is Part 2 of a two-part series. To learn more about the history of Rhode Island visit www.storyofrhodeisland.com *For an ideal viewing experience, I recommend watching this episode on The Story of Rhode Island YouTube channel.

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Padula

Topics covered

  • railroad history
  • natural disasters
  • community resilience
  • economic challenges
  • Rhode Island history

Keywords

  • Wood River Branch Railroad
  • Rhode Island
  • 1909 fire
  • Great Flood of 1927
  • railroad history
  • community efforts
  • economic collapse

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Wood River Branch Railroad

Places: Rhode Island

More episodes of The Story of Rhode Island

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Story of Rhode Island podcast page.