the fitchburg railroad was completed westward to fitchburg on march 5, 1845. the vermont and massachusetts railroad (v&m) soon extended the line west of fitchburg, reaching baldwinville in september 1847 and greenfield on january 20, 1850. the cheshire railroad opened in stages from south ashburnham beginning in 1847; fitchburg was the first major station to the east of the junction. the fitchburg and worcester railroad (f&w) opened in 1850, giving fitchburg connections to framingham and worcester.