41-630: The East Providence Branch is a railroad line in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, in the United States. It connects Valley Falls, Rhode Island , to East Providence, Rhode Island , via South Attleboro, Massachusetts , and Pawtucket, Rhode Island . The branch was originally built by the Providence and Worcester Railroad (P&W) in 1874, connecting its main line to a coal dock in East Providence, and
82-434: A navigational context, if one were floating on a raft or other vessel in the main stream, this would be the side the tributary enters from as one floats past; alternately, if one were floating down the tributary, the main stream meets it on the opposite bank of the tributary. This information may be used to avoid turbulent water by moving towards the opposite bank before approaching the confluence. An early tributary
123-451: A 23-foot (7.0 m) high bridge crossing the Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) line to Providence—this height was chosen to allow brakemen on top of B&P trains to safely pass under the bridge—and the 18-foot (5.5 m) high and 120-foot (37 m) long Omega Pond Bridge. Also near Abbott Run was a 40-foot (12 m) high fill , the largest on the line; the most significant cut
164-444: A larger stream ( main stem or "parent" ), river, or a lake . A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean . Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they flow, drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater , leading the water out into an ocean. The Irtysh is a chief tributary of the Ob river and is also the longest tributary river in
205-414: A left tributary which is called Right Fork Steer Creek. These naming conventions are reflective of the circumstances of a particular river's identification and charting: people living along the banks of a river, with a name known to them, may then float down the river in exploration, and each tributary joining it as they pass by appears as a new river, to be given its own name, perhaps one already known to
246-435: A margin of error of +/- $ 8,183) and the median family income was $ 101,415 (+/- $ 9,974). Males had a median income of $ 47,752 (+/- $ 5,915) versus $ 45,116 (+/- $ 8,018) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 46,121 (+/- $ 3,101). Approximately, 4.8% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over. As of
287-542: A potential branch of the Providence and Worcester Railroad (P&W) to East Providence were completed in December 1867, by prominent Providence civil engineer S. B. Cushing. Cushing subsequently conducted further surveys, though the ultimately chosen route was very similar to that of the first survey. The East Providence Branch was authorized in 1870 by the Rhode Island General Assembly , via an amendment to
328-410: A third stream entering between two others is designated the middle fork; or the streams are distinguished by the relative height of one to the other, as one stream descending over a cataract into another becomes the upper fork, and the one it descends into, the lower ; or by relative volume: the smaller stream designated the little fork, the larger either retaining its name unmodified, or receives
369-451: Is a tributary that joins the main stem river closer to its source than its mouth, that is, before the river's midpoint ; a late tributary joins the main stem further downstream, closer to its mouth than to its source, that is, after the midpoint. In the United States, where tributaries sometimes have the same name as the river into which they feed, they are called forks . These are typically designated by compass direction. For example,
410-588: Is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Cumberland , Providence County , Rhode Island , United States. The population was 12,094 at the 2020 census . Warren Buffett 's company Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chace in Valley Falls as a cotton-manufacturing company, called the Valley Falls Company . Valley Falls is also the home of the Ann & Hope Mill. Valley Falls
451-426: Is located at 41°55′03″N 71°23′32″W / 41.917366°N 71.392353°W / 41.917366; -71.392353 in the southern part of the town of Cumberland. It is bordered by the city of Central Falls, Rhode Island to the south, the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts to the east, and the town of Lincoln, Rhode Island to the west. The Blackstone River runs along the western and southern edge of
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#1732876956175492-625: The American River in California receives flow from its North, Middle, and South forks. The Chicago River 's North Branch has the East, West, and Middle Fork; the South Branch has its South Fork, and used to have a West Fork as well (now filled in). Forks are sometimes designated as right or left. Here, the handedness is from the point of view of an observer facing upstream. For instance, Steer Creek has
533-723: The Northeast Corridor . The line then parallels the George Bennett Highway for several miles, traveling southward in a nearly straight line. The branch continues past the terminus of the highway and enters East Providence , following the east bank of the Seekonk River and crossing the mouth of the Ten Mile River on the Omega Pond Railroad Bridge . Beyond the bridge, the branch curves eastward and connects to
574-498: The Rhode Island Department of Transportation have both identified this as a safety hazard. The city of Pawtucket worked with the railroad to rehabilitate grade crossings along the branch in 2024, following years of complaints about vehicle damage at crossings. The branch is single-track and maintained to Class I standards (a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). Valley Falls, Rhode Island Valley Falls
615-480: The CDP was $ 46,163, and the median income for a family was $ 52,414. Males had a median income of $ 35,334 versus $ 25,422 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 20,373. About 3.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over. Tributary A tributary , or an affluent , is a stream or river that flows into
656-778: The East Junction Branch, via a new track built by the Providence and Worcester Railroad in 2006. The original route, now abandoned, continues along the Seekonk River, passing under the Henderson Bridge , past the approaches to the disused Crook Point Bascule Bridge , and then beneath the Washington Bridge which carries Interstate 195 . The right-of-way ends at the Wilkesbarre Pier by Bold Point . Initial surveys for
697-795: The New Haven between 1894 and 1895, at a cost of approximately $ 18,000 ($ 659,000 in 2021). The bankrupt New Haven Railroad was merged into the Penn Central Transportation Company at the end of 1968. Penn Central assumed operations of the P&;W, including the East Providence Branch, as ordered by the Interstate Commerce Commission . The P&W still existed as a company, and convinced the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) that it should be allowed to separate from
738-546: The Penn Central merger; several years of legal battles ended with a court order in P&W's favor in December 1972. On February 3, 1973, the East Providence Branch and the rest of the P&W system returned to P&W operation. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation purchased the entire line in 1982 in order to build the Pawtucket Industrial Highway adjacent to the active tracks. Shippers located along
779-606: The Providence and Worcester Railroad's charter, with corresponding approval from the Massachusetts General Court for a small portion of the branch that entered South Attleboro, Massachusetts . It was to connect the tidewater areas of East Providence (at Bold Point ) to the P&W main line in Valley Falls, Rhode Island . The branch included a trio of bridges; from north to south, a 40-foot (12 m) high stone arch bridge over Abbott Run (a Seekonk River tributary ),
820-425: The age of 18; 48.1% were married couples living together; 25.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 26.0% of households consisted of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 21.0% of the population. 20.4% of
861-477: The branch are served by a local freight train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, based out of Valley Falls Yard, just north of the branch's connection to the P&W mainline. This train continues to the East Junction Branch to serve customers as needed. Most of the grade crossings on the line are protected only by traffic lights, without the flashing lights, bells, and gates typical of grade crossings. P&W and
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#1732876956175902-651: The branch the following month. In the spring of 1875, the branch was fully opened to other freight traffic. Residual work on the branch continued until 1878. Following the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad 's (commonly referred to as the Stonington Line) 1889 lease of the Providence and Worcester Railroad, and the Old Colony Railroad 's takeover of both the Boston and Providence and the Providence, Warren and Bristol,
943-515: The branch. In response, the Stonington attempted to use the P&W's charter authority from 1870 to build a new alignment to Wilkesbarre Pier, over Old Colony land, claiming the P&W had technically not built that part of the branch yet. The Old Colony took the Stonington to court, arguing the scheme violated the P&W charter and would disrupt the Old Colony's facilities in the area. Double-track
984-513: The census of 2000, there were 11,599 people, 4,494 households, and 3,258 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,261.5 people /km (3,267 people/sq mi). There were 4,668 housing units at an average density of 507.7 units /km (1,315 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.88% White , 0.83% African American , 0.11% Native American , 0.52% Asian , 1.42% from other races , and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.94% of
1025-636: The community. According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 9.5 km (3.7 sq mi). 9.2 km (3.6 sq mi) of it is land and 0.3 km (0.12 sq mi) of it (3.01%) is water. The 2020 United States census counted 12,094 people, 4,818 households, and 3,053 families in Valley Falls. The population density was 3,408.7 people per square mile (1,316.1 people/km ). There were 5,027 housing units at an average density of 1,416.9 units per square mile (547.1 units/km ). The racial makeup
1066-416: The designation big . Tributaries are sometimes listed starting with those nearest to the source of the river and ending with those nearest to the mouth of the river . The Strahler stream order examines the arrangement of tributaries in a hierarchy of first, second, third and higher orders, with the first-order tributary being typically the least in size. For example, a second-order tributary would be
1107-489: The line were formally abandoned in 2006, with a new connection completed to the East Junction Branch that year. P&W operates local freight train service on the branch. The branch begins in Valley Falls, Rhode Island , just south of Valley Falls Yard . It briefly enters Massachusetts in the southwestern corner of South Attleboro , crossing over Interstate 95 , before reentering Rhode Island in Pawtucket after crossing over
1148-403: The main stream. Distributaries are most often found in river deltas . Right tributary , or right-bank tributary , and left tributary , or left-bank tributary , describe the orientation of the tributary relative to the flow of the main stem river. These terms are defined from the perspective of looking downstream, that is, facing the direction the water current of the main stem is going. In
1189-464: The people who live upon its banks. Conversely, explorers approaching a new land from the sea encounter its rivers at their mouths, where they name them on their charts, then, following a river upstream, encounter each tributary as a forking of the stream to the right and to the left, which then appear on their charts as such; or the streams are seen to diverge by the cardinal direction (north, south, east, or west) in which they proceed upstream, sometimes
1230-416: The population was under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.5 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $ 88,927 (with
1271-448: The population. Valley Falls has an extremely large Irish population. There were 4,494 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
East Providence Branch - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-494: The prominent Slater family ) was a key proponent of the construction of the branch. By the end of May 1874, significant work had been completed on the line. The first revenue train, a unit train of coal from the docks at India Point , traveled over the branch on September 7, 1874, though final construction, including ballasting, continued. The line was substantially completed in October 1874, with coal trains beginning regular use of
1353-606: The remainder of the branch was constructed on land leased from both the B&;P and the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad in order to reach Wilkesbarre Pier. While initially single-track , the entire branch was designed and built to allow installation of double-track at a later date. The Providence Evening Press reported that, "The intention is not to construct a road as cheaply as it can be built, but in ballasting , masonry, track and equipments, to make it first-class in every respect." P&W president William Smith Slater (of
1394-535: The two new operators in the area of the branch came into a dispute about the status of the southern portion of the branch. The Old Colony's president stated the company was happy to allow the Stonington Line to use the southern portion of the branch under the same lease situation as before, but only with a guarantee that the latter would not allow the Old Colony's competition (chiefly the New York and New England Railroad , which connected to Valley Falls) to make use of
1435-433: The world with a length of 4,248 km (2,640 mi). The Madeira River is the largest tributary river by volume in the world with an average discharge of 31,200 m /s (1.1 million cu ft/s). A confluence , where two or more bodies of water meet, usually refers to the joining of tributaries. The opposite to a tributary is a distributary , a river or stream that branches off from and flows away from
1476-406: Was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males. The median income for a household in
1517-425: Was 7 miles (11 km) in length. At East Providence, the branch also met the East Junction Branch of the Boston and Providence Railroad and the mainline of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad . Built as a single-track railroad with bridges and the right-of-way prepared for future double-tracking , the line was fully double-tracked from 1892 to 1895; the second track was eventually removed. The P&W
1558-444: Was 80.24% (9,704) white or European American (77.54% non-Hispanic white ), 2.98% (360) black or African-American , 0.35% (42) Native American or Alaska Native , 1.54% (186) Asian , 0.03% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 7.0% (846) from other races , and 7.87% (952) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race was 12.72% (1,538) of the population. Of the 4,818 households, 29.7% had children under
1599-455: Was installed from Valley Falls to the Darlington neighborhood of Pawtucket in 1892. This was done in part to potentially allow for passenger trains between Woonsocket and Bristol to avoid congestion in Providence entirely, using the East Providence Branch to reach the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad , by now also a New Haven subsidiary. The remainder of the branch was double-tracked by
1640-602: Was leased by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad in 1888; the NYP&;B in turn was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (the New Haven) in 1892. The New Haven operated the branch until its merger into Penn Central Transportation Company at the end of 1968; in February 1973, the P&W broke free of its lease and resumed operations of the branch it had originally built. The final 1.41 miles (2.27 km) of
1681-602: Was located at Walker Point (south of the Omega Pond Bridge) and extended 1,200 feet (370 m) with a depth of approximately 35 feet (11 m). The route was relatively flat, with the greatest incline being 37 feet (11 m) to the mile, or approximately 0.7 percent, in the vicinity of the Mount Saint Mary's Cemetery in Pawtucket. South of the connection with the Boston and Providence Railroad's East Junction Branch,