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During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, little known steam railroads competed to serve--and sometimes to initiate--real estate ventures along the beaches and marshlands northeast of Boston. These railroads, of both narrow and standard gauge, also exploited the newfound leisure time of the working and middle classes. Trains provided cheap transportation to the seashore and its amusements, eateries, and seasonal hotels. Massive trestles, an extravagant recreational pier, and synchronized steamboat services were developed to support the railroads. This book recounts the stories of these enterprises and the communities that grew up around them. It details not only the construction and operation of the rail lines, but also the people associated with them and the inevitable corporate intrigues. The Train on the Beach will appeal both to railroad enthusiasts and to those intrigued by the history of the Boston area.