The Bermuda Railway route through Hamilton
In the 60 years since the Bermuda Railway closed, almost all traces of the right of way through Hamilton have disappeared as Bermuda’s capital has expanded. But for the railway enthusiast there are still some things to notice when walking the route the railway took through the city. In any case, for railway obsessives like myself, the Railway Trail seems incomplete if you leave out Hamilton.
However, the Bermuda Tourism department’s Map and Guide to the Trail conveniently includes a section called Palmetto Park to Rural Hill that lets you bypass Hamilton to the east, passing close to the Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens. This is a nice walk in itself.
The photo tour of this section remains to be done.
Hamilton Front Street at Par-La-Ville Road
in 1998. No sign remains of the tunnel that took the Bermuda
Railway under Par-La-Ville park.
The Par-La-Ville tunnel portal was right beside the tall
brown building, which is clearly visible in period pictures.
The yellow building is new. You can see a picture of the
tunnel mouth on the Hamilton to St. George’s
railway tour page.
The Cenotaph in 1998, with the Bermuda
government Cabinet Building in the background. This was the
site of the Bermuda Railway’s Hamilton, or Cenotaph, Station.
Note the automobile, replacement for the train, and the
scooter , replacement for the bicycle (of course, the cyclist
is wearing Bermuda shorts).