Way Back Wednesday: South Shore Rail Line

September 30, 2026 Submitted By Geri Duff

This train on the South Shore Rail Line is crossing over Hingham’s Mill Pond (which is now the Station Street parking lot) on its way from Cohasset to Boston via North Braintree.

The day the line opened, January 1, 1849, a longer train took Dignitaries and the Press from Boston to the Car Barn in Cohasset where hot coffee, hot chowder and a cold repast awaited them.

After toasts and speeches they loaded up the train and returned to Hingham for sponge cake and coffee and then back to Boston. It is said that over 1000 people were served that day. Photo is from the Hingham Historical Society Archives.

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