Vermont Rail System to turn 50 shortly after New Year's Day

Early next year, the Vermont Rail System will mark its 50th anniversary.

On Jan. 6, 1964, the Vermont Railway was established by Jay Wulfson after the Rutland Railroad dissolved in fall 1963. The Vermont Railway became the nation's first public/private railroad, operating 125 miles of track in the state of Vermont.

In 1967, the Vermont Railway created a trailer-on-flat-car service, and eventually grew its intermodal trailer fleet to more than 6,000 units, becoming one of the nation's largest trailer operators.

The railroad purchased the Clarendon and Pittsford Railroad in 1972, acquired a portion of the D&H line in 1983, bought the Green Mountain Railroad in 1997, and later acquired the Washington County Railroad and New York & Ogdensburg Railway.

Today, the five railroads in the Vermont Rail System operate 350 miles of track, provide freight- and passenger-rail service, and support reload and warehouse facilities at multiple locations.

The Vermont Rail System plans to hold various festivities throughout 2014 to celebrate the golden anniversary. The company created a web page, www.vrs.us.com/news, to share details about the celebrations.