The records of one of the first joint railroad operating agreements in this country, made between the Boston and Worcester Railroad and the Western Railroad in 1839, may be found in the archives of the Society. Under the agreement, freight and traffic was to be handled cooperatively over the lines of the two roads. The contract covered such items as the through fare on the two roads from Boston to Springfield, division of profits on fares and tariffs collected, joint operation of passenger and freight trains, and reimbursement for services performed for each other.