John, the tracks along Lake Winnipesaukee use to go to Woodsville, NH via Plymouth, but north of Plymouth was abandoned sometime in the 1950's. So it is true, there use to be a lot of trains running between Boston and Montreal. The rail line going up to Lincoln was technically a branch that started in Plymouth, with the mainline continuing up the valley to Rumney, Wentworth, Warren, Glencliff, Haverhill and so on.
fatlazyless, railroads are good for moving bulk commodities, they are cheaper and far more efficient at it than trucks will ever be. They still deal a lot with final destination commodities. If it's not direct rail service, needs can still be met through container freight and transload terminals.
The state did not purchase an abandoned railroad, they purchased an active one, in fact they purchased it to protect it from being abandoned and torn up. The city of Laconia and WOW Trails decade long battle to try and oust the railroad and force the state to tear up the tracks, ended back in 2019 when Laconia city council finally conceded.
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