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Three Athol Images from "Quabbin's Railroad: The Rabbit"

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The Rabbit railroad or Rabbit Line was the nickname for the Athol to Springfield, Massachusetts, branch of the Boston & Albany railroad. The name is said to originate from the many stops and short runs between the numerous small towns along the line. Another claimed reason for the nick name is unscheduled stops to let rabbit hunters off. The line provided essential transportation for the small towns in the Quabbin region. For example, it took older school children to high school in Athol. When the Quabbin region was flooded, the branch, which had run through all four flooded towns, ceased operation and severed an important trade link for the Athol region

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