The Wellfleet Railroad

In the late 19th century, the railroad transformed Cape Cod—and Wellfleet was no exception. Before trains, travel to the Outer Cape was slow, often requiring a long coastal voyage or days on rough roads. That changed in 1870 when the Cape Cod Railroad extended service to Wellfleet, making the town far more accessible to visitors and trade.

The line originally ran from Boston to Sandwich, then gradually extended down the Cape. By the time tracks reached Wellfleet, the station became a hub for summer visitors, fishermen shipping their catch, and locals traveling up-Cape for supplies. Oysters, fish, cranberries, and other goods moved quickly to Boston markets, boosting the town’s economy.

The Wellfleet station stood near the town center, with sidings and freight facilities that bustled during the fishing season. The arrival of the train also marked the start of Wellfleet’s tourism era, as middle-class vacationers began arriving for summer stays in inns and cottages.

The decline came with the rise of the automobile. By the 1930s, Route 6 offered faster, more flexible travel. Passenger service to Wellfleet ended in 1938, though freight continued for a short time after. Eventually, the tracks were removed, and the station disappeared.

Today, traces of the railroad remain in the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a popular biking and walking path that follows much of the old railbed. In Wellfleet, the memory of the train lives on as part of the story of how the town shifted from an isolated fishing village to a connected summer community.