PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/
10-K, 2000-03-29
RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 10-K

 X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
   EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999

   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
   SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   For the transition period from _______________ to _______________


Commission file number 0-16704

                    PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
                    -----------------------------------------

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
             ------------------------------------------------------



           Rhode Island                            05-0344399
  -----------------------------            --------------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of       I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
  incorporation or organization)

75 Hammond Street, Worcester, Massachusetts          01610
  -----------------------------            --------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code(508) 755-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                             Name of each exchange
       Title of Each Class                    on which registered
  -----------------------------            --------------------------
          Not Applicable                         Not Applicable

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                          Common stock, $.50 par value
        ----------------------------------------------------------------

                                (Title of Class)
        ----------------------------------------------------------------

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. X

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
<PAGE>

As of March 3, 2000,  the  aggregate  market  value of the voting  stock held by
non-affiliates  of the  Registrant  was  $23,342,608.  (For  this  purpose,  all
directors of the Registrant are considered affiliates.)

As of March 3,  2000,  the  Registrant  had  4,281,280  shares of  Common  Stock
outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference -
- -------------------------------------
None

Exhibit Index - Page IV-1.

<PAGE>
                                      I-1

                                     PART I

Item 1. Business
- ----------------

  Providence  and  Worcester  Railroad  Company  ("P&W") is a  regional  freight
railroad operating in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. The
Company is the only interstate freight carrier serving the State of Rhode Island
and possesses the exclusive and perpetual  right to conduct  freight  operations
over  the   Northeast   Corridor   between  New  Haven,   Connecticut   and  the
Massachusetts/Rhode  Island border. Since commencing  independent  operations in
1973, the Company,  through a series of  acquisitions of connecting  lines,  has
grown from 45 miles of track to its current system of  approximately  545 miles.
P&W operates the largest  double stack  intermodal  terminal  facilities  in New
England  in  Worcester,   Massachusetts,   a  strategic  location  for  regional
transportation and distribution enterprises.

   The Company  transports  a wide  variety of  commodities  for its  customers,
including construction aggregate,  iron and steel products,  chemicals,  lumber,
scrap metals,  plastic resins,  cement,  processed foods and edible food stuffs,
such as frozen foods,  corn syrup and animal and vegetable  oils.  Its customers
include The Dow Chemical Company,  Exxon Corporation,  Frito-Lay,  Inc., General
Dynamics  Corporation,  Getty  Petroleum  Marketing  Inc.,  International  Paper
Company, Leggett & Platt, Incorporated,  Mobil Oil Corporation,  R.R. Donnelly &
Sons and Tilcon Connecticut,  Inc. In 1999, P&W transported approximately 30,000
carloads of freight and 60,000 intermodal containers. The Company also generates
income through sales of properties,  grants of easements and licenses and leases
of land and tracks.

   P&W's  connections to multiple Class I railroads,  either directly or through
connections  with regional and short-line  carriers,  provide the Company with a
competitive  advantage  by  allowing  it to offer  creative  pricing and routing
alternatives  to  its  customers.  In  addition,  the  Company's  commitment  to
maintaining  its track and  equipment to high  standards  enables P&W to provide
fast, reliable and efficient service.

Industry Overview

 General

   Railroads are divided into three classes based on operating  revenues:  Class
I, $259.4 million or more; Class II, $20.8 million to $259.4 million;  and Class
III, less than $20.8 million. As a result of mergers and  consolidations,  there
are now only eight Class I railroads in the country.  These large systems handle
91% of the nation's rail freight business.

   The rail freight industry underwent a revitalization after the passage of the
Staggers Rail Act, which  deregulated the pricing and types of services provided
by  railroads.  As  a  result,   railroads  were  able  to  achieve  significant
productivity   gains  and  operating  cost  decreases   while  gaining   pricing
flexibility.   Rail  freight   service  became  more   competitive   with  other
transportation  modes with  respect  to both  quality  and price.  The volume of
freight moved by rail has risen  dramatically  since 1980 and  profitability has
improved significantly.

   One  result of the  revitalization  of the  industry  has been the  growth of
regional (over 350 miles) and short-line  railroads,  which has been fueled by a
trend among Class I railroads to divest  certain  branch lines in order to focus
on their  long-haul core systems.  There are now more than 500 of these regional
and  short-line  railroads.  They  operate  in all 50 states,  account  for over
one-fourth of all rail track,  employ 11% of all rail workers and generate about
9% of all rail revenue.

   Generally,  freight  railroads  handle  two  types of  traffic:  conventional
carloads and intermodal  containers  used in the shipment of goods via more than
one  mode  of  transportation,  e.g.,  by  ship,  rail  and  truck.  By  using a
hub-and-spoke approach to shipping,  multiple containers can be moved by rail to
and  from an  intermodal  terminal  and then  either  delivered  to their  final
destinations  by truck or transferred to ship for export.  Over the past decade,

<PAGE>
                                      I-2


commodity  shippers  have  increasingly  turned  to  intermodal   transportation
principally as an alternative  to long- haul  trucking.  The  development of new
intermodal  technology,  which  allows  containers  to be moved  by rail  double
stacked (i.e.,  stacked one on top of the other) in specially designed railcars,
together  with  increasing  highway  traffic  congestion  and  the  shortage  of
long-haul truck drivers have contributed to this trend.

 Break Up of Conrail

    Pursuant to the approval of the United States Surface  Transportation  Board
("STB"),  CSX  Corporation  ("CSX")  and  Norfolk  Southern  Railroad  ("Norfolk
Southern") jointly acquired Consolidated Rail Corporation  ("Conrail") and split
its assets between them on June 1, 1999. CSX acquired and now operates Conrail's
New England facilities.

   The  acquisition  of Conrail and the  division of its assets  between CSX and
Norfolk Southern resulted in service related delays and the temporary  diversion
of some  conventional  carloads of freight to trucks during the third and fourth
quarters of 1999.  Service,  however,  did improve  during the fourth quarter of
1999 and the  Company  anticipates  that these  service  related  delays will be
largely  eliminated  in the near future.  Service  issues  notwithstanding,  the
Company  believes  that  the  acquisition  of  Conrail  should  create  business
opportunities  as a result of longer Class I single line service on  competitive
routes, particularly between the Southeast and New England.

   The New York City and Long Island  metropolitan  area is one of the country's
largest  markets  for the  consumption  of products  and freight  transportation
services.  In August 1997,  the Company  entered into an agreement with CSX that
enables the Company to market rail service between its system and New York City.
Moreover,  in rendering its decision  authorizing  CSX's and Norfolk  Southern's
acquisition  of Conrail,  the STB  required  CSX to discuss with the Company the
possibility  of  additional  rail service  between New Haven,  CT and Fresh Pond
Junction (Queens),  NY as a step to provide competitive rail service to and from
New York  City.  Although  the STB has  declined  to compel  formal  discussions
between CSX and the Company,  it  continues to encourage  the Company and CSX to
develop  mutually  beneficial  business  on this route.  The Company  intends to
aggressively pursue such opportunities.

Regional Developments

   There  are a number  of  development  projects  underway  in New  England  to
increase  port  capacity  along  the  extensive  coastline  and to  improve  the
intermodal  transportation and distribution  infrastructure in the region. These
projects  present  significant  opportunities  for the Company to  increase  its
business.

 Quonset/Davisville

   The State of Rhode  Island has  proposed  the  redevelopment  of a 1,000 acre
portion of the former Naval facility at Quonset/Davisville to a more active port
and  industrial  park.  This facility  already  houses a number of rail oriented
industries and an auto port.  Construction of a freight rail improvement project
to provide additional track capacity and double stack clearance on the Northeast
Corridor  between  Quonset/Davisville  and the connection of the Corridor to the
Company's main line at Central  Falls,  R.I is expected to commence in 2000 at a
cost in excess of $120 million.

 Massachusetts Highway Improvement Program

  Work has begun on a significant  expansion of the Company's bulk transload and
intermodal  yards in Worcester in  conjunction  with the  Massachusetts  Highway
Department's $250 million project creating a direct Worcester  connection to the

<PAGE>
                                      I-3


Massachusetts  Turnpike.  This  project  will  result in a near  doubling of the
Company's transload facilities over the next two years.

 Port of New Haven

   The State of Connecticut is in the process of rebuilding the Tomlinson Bridge
in New  Haven,  which will  provide  rail  access to the Port of New  Haven.  In
conjunction with this project, the Company is working with the City of New Haven
and area users of the rail systems to fund a design for the restoration of local
street rail service  directly to port  properties.  Completion  of this project,
which is scheduled for late 2002, will provide the Company with increased access
to customers at the Port of New Haven.

Middletown/Hartford Line

   In cooperation with the state of Connecticut, the Company continues to pursue
restoration of the rail line extending from Middletown to Hartford, Connecticut.
This 11 mile  segment  has been out of service  for many  years.  With a planned
industrial  park  along  this line and a new  connection  to other  carriers  in
Hartford,   the  Company   believes   restoration  of  this  line  will  present
opportunities for revenue growth.

Railroad Operations

   The Company's  rail freight system  extends over  approximately  545 miles of
track.  The  Company   interchanges  freight  traffic  with  CSX  at  Worcester,
Massachusetts  and at New  Haven,  Connecticut;  with the  Springfield  Terminal
Railway Company (formerly Boston and Maine Railroad) at Gardner,  Massachusetts;
with the New England Central Railroad  (formerly Central Vermont Railway) at New
London, Connecticut;  and with the New York and Atlantic Railroad (formerly Long
Island Railroad) at Fresh Pond Junction on Long Island. Through its connections,
P&W links more than 80 communities on its lines. It operates four classification
yards  (areas  containing  tracks  used to group  freight  cars  destined  for a
particular  industry  or  interchange),  located  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,
Cumberland, Rhode Island and Plainfield and New Haven, Connecticut.

   By  agreement  with a private  operator,  the Company  operates  two approved
customs  intermodal  yards in Worcester.  A customs  intermodal  yard is an area
containing tracks used for the loading and unloading of containers.  These yards
are U.S.  Customs  bonded,  and  international  traffic  must be  inspected  and
approved by U.S. Customs officials.  The intermodal facility serves primarily as
a terminal  for movement of  container  traffic  from the Far East  destined for
points in New England.  Several major  container ship lines utilize double stack
train  service  through  this  terminal.  P&W works  closely  with the  terminal
operator to develop and  maintain  strong  relationships  with  steamship  lines
involved in international intermodal transportation.

 Customers

    The Company  serves  approximately  160  customers in  Massachusetts,  Rhode
Island, Connecticut and New York. The Company's 10 largest customers account for
roughly half of its operating revenues. In 1999, Tilcon Connecticut, Inc., which
ships  construction  aggregate from three  separate  quarries on P&W's system to
asphalt   production   plants  in  Connecticut  and  New  York,   accounted  for
approximately  13.2% of the  Company's  operating  revenues.  No other  customer
accounted for 10% or more of its total operating revenues in 1999.

 Markets

   The Company  transports a wide variety of commodities  for its customers.  In
1999,  chemicals and plastics and  construction  aggregate  were the two largest
commodity  groups  transported  by  the  Company,   constituting  41%  and  17%,

<PAGE>
                                      I-4


respectively,  of  conventional  carload freight  revenues.  The following table
summarizes  the Company's  conventional  carload  freight  revenues by commodity
group as a percentage of such revenues:

<TABLE>
Commodity                              1999     1998     1997     1996     1995
- ---------                               ---      ---      ---      ---      ---
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Chemicals and Plastics ............      41%      41%      42%      43%      44%
Construction Aggregate ............      17       17       20       18       18
Food and Agricultural .............      14       15       15       17       17
Forest and Paper Products .........      14       14       13       14       13
Scrap Metal and Waste .............       6        6        5        3        3
Other .............................       8        7        5        5        5
                                        ---      ---      ---      ---      ---
Total .............................     100%     100%     100%     100%     100%
                                        ===      ===      ===      ===      ===
</TABLE>


 Sales and Marketing

   P&W's  sales  and  marketing  staff of four  people  has  nearly  50 years of
combined  experience in pricing and marketing railroad  services.  The sales and
marketing  staff  focuses  on  understanding  and  addressing  the raw  material
requirements and  transportation  needs of its existing customers and businesses
on its lines.  The staff grows existing  business by  maintaining  close working
relationships  with  both  customers  and  connecting  carriers.  The  sales and
marketing  staff  strives to generate new  business for the Company  through (i)
targeting  companies  already on P&W's rail lines but not  currently  using rail
services,  (ii) working with state and local development  officials,  developers
and real  estate  brokers  to  encourage  the  development  of  industry  on the
Company's  rail  lines  and  (iii)   identifying   and  targeting  the  non-rail
transportation  of  goods  into  and out of the  region  in  which  the  Company
operates.  Unlike many other regional and short-line  railroads,  the Company is
able to offer its customers creative pricing and routing alternatives because of
its multiple connections to other carriers.

 Safety

   An important component of the Company's operating strategy is conducting safe
railroad  operations for the benefit and protection of employees,  customers and
the communities  served by its rail lines. Since commencing active operations in
1973, the Company has committed  significant  resources to track  maintenance to
minimize  the  risk of  derailments  and  believes  its rail  system  is in good
condition.

   Safety of the Company's operations is of paramount importance for the benefit
and protection of the Company's employees,  customers and the communities served
by its rail lines. The Company and its employees have made dramatic improvements
in  preventing  injuries  while  at the  same  time  increasing  operations  and
expanding the work force.  Reportable injuries have been below ten incidents per
year for the past 6 years.

 Rail Traffic

   Rail traffic is classified as on-line or overhead  traffic.  On- line traffic
is traffic that  originates or terminates  with shippers  located on a railroad.
Overhead  traffic  passes  from one  connecting  carrier to another  and neither
originates nor terminates with shippers located on a railroad. Presently, P&W is
solely an on-line carrier but expects to provide  overhead service in the future
for certain rail traffic to and from Long Island.

   Rail freight rates can be in various forms. Generally,  customers are given a
"through"  rate,  a single  figure  encompassing  the rail  transportation  of a
commodity from point of origin to point of destination, regardless of the number
of carriers  which handle the car.  Rates are developed by the carriers based on
the commodity,  volume,  distance and  competitive  market  considerations.  The
entire freight bill is paid either to the originating  carrier ("prepaid") or to
the  destination  carrier  ("collect")  and divided  between all carriers  which
handle the move.  The basis for the division  varies and can be based on factors
(or  revenue  requirements)  independently  established  by each  carrier  which
comprise the through  rate,  or on a percentage  basis  established  by division

<PAGE>
                                      I-5


agreements among the carriers.  A carrier such as P&W, which actually places the
car at the  customer's  location and attends to the customer's  daily  switching
requirements,  receives  revenue  greater than an amount based simply on mileage
hauled.

 Employees

  As of January 1, 2000, the Company had 156 full-time  employees,  119 of which
were represented by three national railroad labor  organizations.  The Company's
employees  have  been   represented  by  unions  since  the  Company   commenced
independent operations in 1973.

   The Company's initial agreement with the United Transportation Union covering
the trainmen was unusual in the railroad  industry since it provided the Company
with discretion in determining  crew sizes,  eliminated  craft  distinctions and
provided a  guaranteed  annual wage for a maximum  number of hours  worked.  The
Company's  collective  bargaining  agreements have been in effect since February
1973 for trainmen, since May 1974 for clerical employees, dispatchers and police
and since June 1974 for maintenance employees. These contracts do not expire but
are subject to re-negotiation after the agreed-upon moratoriums.  The moratorium
periods are typically  three to five years in length.  The labor  agreements may
next be amended at July 1, 2004 for the United  Transportation Union (trainmen),
and July 1, 2000 for the Brotherhood of Railroad  Signalmen  (maintenance).  The
Company  is  currently   engaged  in   negotiations   with  the   Transportation
Communications  Union (clerical) to amend its agreement.  The Company  considers
its employee and labor relations to be good.

Competition

  The  Company is the only rail  carrier  serving  businesses  located  on-line.
However,  the  Company  competes  with other  carriers  in the  location  of new
rail-oriented  businesses  in the region.  The Company also  competes with other
modes of  transportation,  particularly  long-haul trucking  companies,  for the
transportation  of commodities.  Any improvement in the cost or quality of these
alternate modes of transportation,  for example,  legislation  granting material
increases in truck size or allowable weight,  could increase competition and may
materially adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations. As
a means of  competing,  P&W  strives  to offer  greater  convenience  and better
service than competing  carriers and at costs lower than some competing non-rail
carriers.  The Company also competes by  participating in efforts to attract new
industry to the areas which it serves.

   Certain rail competitors,  including CSX and Norfolk Southern,  are larger or
better  capitalized  than the Company.  While P&W believes the  acquisition  and
division  of  Conrail  will  lead  to  expansion   opportunities,   the  Conrail
transaction  may lead to increased  competition  with other  freight  railroads,
particularly in Massachusetts, and efforts by CSX and Norfolk Southern to reduce
revenue to connecting regional and short-line carriers.

  The Company  believes  that its  ability to grow  depends,  in part,  upon its
ability to acquire additional connecting rail lines. In making acquisitions, P&W
competes with other  short-line and regional rail  operators,  some of which are
larger and have greater financial resources than the Company.

Governmental Regulation

  The Company is subject to governmental regulation by the United States Surface
Transportation  Board ("the STB"),  the Federal  Railroad  Administration  ("the
FRA") and other federal,  state and local regulatory authorities with respect to
certain rates and railroad operations,  as well as a variety of health,  safety,
labor,  environmental and other matters,  all of which could potentially  affect
the competitive  position and  profitability of the Company.  Additionally,  the
Company is subject to STB  regulation and may be required to obtain STB approval
prior to its  acquisition  of any new  railroad  properties.  Management  of the
Company  believes that the regulatory  freedoms granted by the Staggers Rail Act
have been  beneficial to the Company by giving it  flexibility  to adjust prices
and  operations  to respond  to market  forces and  industry  changes.  However,
various   interests,   and  certain  members  of  the  United  States  House  of

<PAGE>
                                      I-6


Representatives  and Senate (which have jurisdiction over federal  regulation of
railroads),  have  from  time to  time  expressed  their  intention  to  support
legislation that would eliminate or reduce  significant  freedoms granted by the
Staggers Rail Act.

  As a result of the planned introduction of high speed passenger service on the
Northeast  Corridor,  the FRA has issued an order requiring that all locomotives
operating  on the  Northeast  Corridor  between New Haven and Boston be equipped
with automatic civil speed enforcement systems, the cost of which is anticipated
to be at least  $45,000  per  locomotive.  The  proposed  order does not address
whether the  federally  funded high speed  project or the Company  will bear the
costs of required locomotive retrofits.

Environmental Matters

  The Company's  railroad  operations  and real estate  ownership are subject to
extensive   federal,   state  and  local   environmental  laws  and  regulations
concerning,  among other things,  emissions to the air, discharges to waters and
the handling, storage, transportation and disposal of waste and other materials.
The Company  handles,  stores,  transports  and disposes of petroleum  and other
hazardous   substances  and  wastes.  The  Company  also  transports   hazardous
substances  for third parties and arranges for the disposal of hazardous  wastes
generated by the Company. The Company believes that it is in material compliance
with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Item 2. Properties
- ------------------

 Track

   P&W's rail system extends over  approximately 545 miles of track, of which it
owns approximately 170 miles. The Company has the right to use the remaining 375
miles pursuant to perpetual  easements and long-term trackage rights agreements.
Under certain of these agreements, the Company pays fees based on usage.

   Virtually  all of the main  lines on which the  Company  operates  are in FRA
class 3 condition (allowing 40 m.p.h.  speeds) or better. The Company intends to
maintain these lines in such excellent condition.

   Of the approximately  545 miles of the Company's  system,  313 miles, or 57%,
are located in Connecticut, 103 miles, or 19%, are located in Massachusetts, 102
miles,  or 19%, are located in Rhode Island and 28 miles,  or 5%, are located in
New York.

 Rail Facilities

   P&W owns land and a building with  approximately  69,500 square feet of floor
space in Worcester,  Massachusetts.  The building houses the Company's executive
and   administrative   offices  and  some  of  the  Company's   storage   space.
Approximately 2,100 square feet are leased to an outside tenant.

   The Company owns and operates three principal classification yards located in
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  Cumberland, Rhode Island and Plainfield, Connecticut
and also operates a classification yard in New Haven, Connecticut.  In addition,
the Company has maintenance facilities in Plainfield and Worcester.  The Company
has substantially  completed an expansion of its primary locomotive and rail car
maintenance  and repair  facility  in  Worcester,  MA. This  approximately  $1.8
million expansion will increase capacity and productivity and enable the Company
to accept  contract work for other  railroads and  customers.  In addition,  the
Company has  upgraded  its  Plainfield,  CT  equipment  maintenance  facility to
include a modern paint shop. P&W believes that its executive and  administrative
office facilities,  classification yards and maintenance facilities are adequate
to support its current level of operations.
<PAGE>
                                      I-7


 Other Properties

   The Company owns or has the right to use a total of  approximately  130 acres
of real  estate  located  along  the  principal  railroad  lines  from  downtown
Providence   through   Pawtucket,   Rhode  Island.  Of  this  amount,  P&W  owns
approximately eight acres in Pawtucket and has a perpetual easement for railroad
purposes over the remaining 122 acres.

   The Company has invested  nearly $12 million in the  development of the South
Quay,  which  is  adjacent  to 12  acres  of land  owned  by the  Company.  This
investment has resulted in the creation of  approximately 33 acres of waterfront
land. See "Item 3 Legal Proceedings."

   P&W actively  manages its real estate  assets in order to maximize  revenues.
The  income  from  property  management  is derived  from  sales and  leasing of
properties  and tracks and grants of easements to government  agencies,  utility
companies  and other  parties for the  installation  of overhead or  underground
cables,  pipelines and transmission  wires as well as recreational  uses such as
bike paths.

 Rolling Stock

   The  following  schedule sets forth the rolling stock owned by the Company as
of December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>

Description                                                          Number
- -----------                                                          ------
<S>                                                                   <C>
Locomotive .........................................................   31
Gondola ............................................................   77
Flat Car ...........................................................    4
Ballast Car ........................................................   30
Passenger Equipment ................................................    5
Caboose ............................................................    2
                                                                      ---
     Total .........................................................  149
                                                                      ===
</TABLE>

   The 31 diesel electric  locomotives are used on a daily basis, are maintained
to a high standard,  comply with all FRA and  Association of American  Railroads
rules and  regulations  and are adequate for the needs of the Company's  freight
operations.  The gondolas and flat cars are considered  modern rail cars and are
used by certain  P&W  customers.  Other  rail  freight  customers  use their own
freight cars or obtain such equipment  from other sources.  The ballast cars are
used in track  maintenance.  From time to time,  the Company has leased  ballast
cars to other adjoining railroads.  The passenger equipment and cabooses are not
utilized in P&W's rail freight  operations  but are used on an occasional  basis
for Company functions, excursions and charter trips.

 Equipment

   P&W has a  state-of-the-art  digital touch control  dispatching system at its
Worcester  operations center  permitting  two-way radio contact with every train
crew and  maintenance  vehicle on its lines.  The system also enables each train
crew to maintain radio contact with other crew members.  The Company maintains a
computer facility in Worcester with back-up computer facilities in Worcester and
Plainfield,  Connecticut to assure the Company's ability to operate in the event
of  disruption of service in  Worcester.  The Company also has  state-of-the-art
automatic  train defect  detectors at strategic  locations which inspect passing
trains and audibly  communicate  the results to train crews and  dispatchers  in
order to protect against equipment failure en route.

   The  Company  maintains a modern  fleet of track  maintenance  equipment  and
aggressively  pursues  available  opportunities  to work with  federal and state
agencies for the  rehabilitation  of bridges,  grade  crossings  and track.  The
Company's  locomotives are equipped with the cab signal technology necessary for
operations on the Northeast  Corridor and will be equipped with automatic  civil
speed  enforcement  systems which will be required upon the introduction of high
speed passenger service on the Northeast Corridor scheduled for the late fall of
2000.
<PAGE>
                                      I-8

Item 3. Legal Proceedings
- -------------------------

   In 1995 the  Company  entered  into a  settlement  agreement  with  Bestfoods
(formerly CPC International,  Inc.) resolving an environmental claim against the
Company,  arising out of a 1974 rail car  incident.  Pursuant to the  settlement
agreement,  the Company paid  Bestfoods  $990,000 in common stock of the Company
and cash. The Company and Bestfoods agreed that in the event Bestfoods recovered
proceeds from its insurance carrier for the costs of remediation of the involved
site,  the Company  would be entitled to 10% of  Bestfoods'  net recovery  after
deduction of litigation expenses. In 1997, Bestfoods obtained a judgement in its
favor from its insurance  carrier for over $18 million  (which  amount  included
approximately  $5  million  of  prejudgment  interest)  as well as an order that
obligates the insurance  carrier to reimburse  Bestfoods for future  remediation
expenses.  The insurance carrier's appeal of this judgement was unsuccessful and
it paid the $18 million judgement to Bestfoods.  In July 1998, Bestfoods paid $1
million to the  Company as an interim  payment  of the  Company's  10%  recovery
pending  final  resolution  of amounts to be paid to Bestfoods by its  insurance
carrier.  In September 1999,  Bestfoods and the insurance carrier entered into a
final settlement  agreement.  In December 1999 the Company received  $947,000 in
final payment of its 10% share of the recovery net of litigation expenses.

   In April 1999,  the Rhode Island  Supreme  Court  confirmed the Company's fee
simple  absolute  ownership  of a 33 acre  waterfront  property  located in East
Providence  (the "South  Quay").  The South Quay was developed by the Company to
capitalize on the growth of intermodal transportation, utilizing rail, water and
highway  connections.  The property has excellent  highway access (1/2 mile from
I-195), direct rail access and is adjacent to a 12 acre parcel also owned by the
Company.  In  January  2000,  the Rhode  Island  Superior  Court  confirmed  the
Company's fee simple absolute ownership of the 12 acre parcel.

  In July 1999 the Company  engaged  Cushman & Wakefield  to provide real estate
advisory  and  marketing  services  for the South Quay and the  adjacent 12 acre
parcel. In addition,  the Rhode Island  Department of Transportation  contracted
for engineering  services to complete roadway  improvements for vehicular access
to the South Quay from the interstate highway system. The project is expected to
be completed by 2002.  The Company  believes its costs in  developing  the South
quay  will be fully  recovered  from  future  development  of the  property  and
associated  rail  freight  revenues,  as well as possible  port  charges such as
wharfage, dockage and storage.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- -----------------------------------------------------------

  Not applicable.
<PAGE>
                                      II-1



                                     Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY

The Common Stock is quoted on the American  Stock  Exchange  ("AMEX")  under the
trading symbol "PWX". Prior to March 5, 1997, the Common Stock was traded on The
Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") under the symbol "PWRR". The following table sets
forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per share for the
Common Stock as reported on the AMEX. Also included are dividends paid per share
of Preferred Stock and Common Stock during these quarterly periods.
<TABLE>
                                     Common Stock
                                     ------------
                                     Trading Prices         Dividends Paid
                                     --------------         --------------
                                   High          Low      Preferred    Common
                                   ----          ---      ---------    ------

<S>                                <C>  <C>     <C>  <C>     <C>      <C>
1999
First Quarter .............        12 7/8       10 1/2       $5.00    $.03
Second Quarter ............        14 5/8       10 5/8        -0-      .04
Third Quarter .............        14 1/4       10 5/8        -0-      .04
Fourth Quarter ............        10 3/4        7 5/8        -0-      .04

1998
First Quarter .............        18 7/8       14 1/2       $5.00    $.03
Second Quarter ............        17           14 1/4        -0-      .03
Third Quarter .............        17           11 1/4        -0-      .03
Fourth Quarter ............        13 3/8       10 1/4        -0-      .03
</TABLE>


As of March 3,  2000,  there  were  approximately  731  holders of record of the
Company's Common Stock.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors held January 28, 1998, the Board modified
the Company's  dividend  policy to pay dividends on the Common Stock  quarterly.
The  declaration of cash dividends on the Common Stock will be at the discretion
of the Board of Directors based on the Company's earnings,  financial condition,
capital requirements and other relevant factors and restrictions.

In the second quarter of 1999, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $.04
per share on the  outstanding  Common Stock which  represented a 33.3%  increase
over the previous declared dividend.
<PAGE>
                                      II-2

Item 6. Selected Financial Data
- -------------------------------

  The  selected  financial  data set forth below has been  derived  from audited
financial statements.  The data should be read in conjunction with the Company's
audited financial statements and notes thereto and "Management's  Discussion and
Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"  and the other
information included elsewhere in this annual report.
<TABLE>
                                           Years Ended December 31,
                                1999      1998       1997       1996      1995
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
                                  (in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                          <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>     <C>
Income Statement Data:
Operating revenues .......   $21,871   $22,738   $ 22,083    $19,456 $  19,778
Operating expenses .......    21,129    20,036     18,333     17,714    17,677
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
Income from operations ...       742     2,702      3,750      1,742     2,101
Other income .............     3,974     4,156        638      1,660       581
Interest expense .........      --        (495)    (1,358)    (1,371)   (1,175)
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
Income before income taxes
 and extraordinary item ..     4,716     6,363      3,030      2,031     1,507
Provision for income taxes     1,690     2,360      1,100        780       590
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
Net income before
 extraordinary item ......     3,026     4,003      1,930      1,251       917
Extraordinary loss from
 early extinguishment of
 debt, net of income tax
 benefit .................      --         219       --         --        --
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
Net income ...............     3,026     3,784      1,930      1,251       917
Preferred Stock dividend .         3         3          3          3         3
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------

Net income available to
 common shareholders .....   $ 3,023   $ 3,781     $1,927     $1,248     $ 914
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======
Basic income per common
 share (a) ...............   $   .71   $  1.13    $  0.87    $  0.57   $  0.45
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======
Diluted income per common
 share (a) ...............   $   .70   $  1.10    $  0.81    $  0.54   $  0.43
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======
Weighted average
 shares--basic ...........     4,260     3,352      2,209      2,178     2,043
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======
Weighted average
 shares--diluted .........     4,334     3,433      2,489      2,461     2,136
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======
Cash dividends declared on
 Common Stock ............   $   640   $   402    $   267    $   218   $   205
                             =======   =======    =======    =======   =======


                                                December 31,
                               1999      1998       1997       1996      1995
                             -------   -------    -------    -------   -------
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets ............... $86,371   $84,594    $71,212    $68,491  $ 68,012
Short-term debt ............      --        --      2,281      2,117       612
Long-term debt, less current
 portion ...................      --        --     11,916     12,131    12,977
Shareholders' equity .......  66,683    63,709     38,038     36,061    34,455
</TABLE>

  (a) The income per share amounts for 1998 are stated net of a loss of $.06 per
  share attributable to the extraordinary item.
<PAGE>
                                      II-3


Item 7. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     of Operations
     -------------

The following discussion should be read in connection with the Company's audited
financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report.

This annual report  contains  forward-looking  statements that involve risks and
uncertainties.  The  Company's  actual  results may differ  materially  from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Overview

The Company is a regional freight  railroad  operating in  Massachusetts,  Rhode
Island, Connecticut and New York.

The Company generates  operating revenues primarily from the movement of freight
in both conventional freight cars and in intermodal containers on flat cars over
its rail lines.  Freight  revenues are recorded at the time  delivery is made to
the customer or the connecting  carrier.  Modest non-freight  operating revenues
are  derived  from  demurrage,  switching,  weighing,  special  train  and other
transportation  services as well as from services  rendered to freight customers
and other outside parties by the Company's Maintenance of Way,  Communications &
Signals,  and  Maintenance  of Equipment  Departments.  Operating  revenues also
include amortization of deferred grant income.

The  Company's  operating  expenses  consist of  salaries  and wages and related
payroll taxes and employee  benefits,  depreciation and amortization,  insurance
and casualty claim expense, diesel fuel, car hire, property taxes, materials and
supplies, purchased services and other expenses. Many of the Company's operating
expenses  are of a  relatively  fixed  nature and do not  increase  or  decrease
proportionately  with  increases or decreases in operating  revenues  unless the
Company's  management were to take specific actions to restructure the Company's
operations.

When comparing the Company's results of operations from one year to another, the
following  factors should be taken into  consideration.  First,  the Company has
historically  experienced fluctuations in operating revenues and expenses due to
unpredictable   events  such  as  one-time  freight  moves  and  customer  plant
expansions and shut-downs. Second, the Company's freight volumes are susceptible
to  increases  and  decreases  due to changes  in  international,  national  and
regional  economic  conditions.  Third,  the  volume  of  capitalized  track  or
recollectable  projects  performed  by the  Company's  Maintenance  of  Way  and
Communications & Signals  Departments can vary  significantly  from year to year
thereby impacting total operating expenses.

The  Company  also  generates  income  through  sales of  properties,  grants of
easements and licenses, and leases of land and tracks. Income or loss from sale,
condemnation  and disposal of property and  equipment and grants of easements is
recorded  at the time the  transaction  is  consummated  and  collectibility  is
assured. This income varies significantly from year to year

One  of  the  Company's  customers,   Tilcon  Connecticut,   Inc.,  which  ships
construction  aggregate from three separate  quarries on the Company's system to
asphalt   production   plants  in  Connecticut  and  New  York,   accounted  for
approximately 13.2%, 13.4% and 15.1% of its operating revenues in 1999, 1998 and
1997,  respectively.  The Company does not believe that this customer will cease
to be a rail shipper or will  significantly  decrease its freight  volume in the
foreseeable   future.   In  the  event  that  this  customer   should  cease  or
significantly  reduce its rail freight operations,  management believes that the
Company could  restructure its operations to reduce operating costs by an amount
sufficient to offset the decrease in operating revenues.
<PAGE>
                                      II-4

Results of Operations
- ---------------------

The following table sets forth the Company's  operating  revenues by category in
dollars and as a percentage of operating revenues:
<TABLE>

                                              Years Ended December 31,
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                       1999           1998            1997
                                   ------------   ------------    ------------
                                         (in thousands, except percentages)
<S>                               <C>      <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>      <C>
Freight Revenues:
 Conventional carloads ........   $18,006   82.3% $19,031  83.7% $19,001   86.0%
 Containers ...................     2,384   10.9    2,132   9.4    1,675    7.6
Non-Freight Operating Revenues:
 Transportation services ......       560    2.6      640   2.8      632    2.9
 Other ........................       921    4.2      935   4.1      775    3.5
                                  -------   ----  ------- -----  -------  -----
  Total .......................   $21,871  100.0% $22,738 100.0% $22,083  100.0%
                                  =======  =====  ======= =====  =======  =====
</TABLE>

The  following  table  sets  forth  conventional  carload  freight  revenues  by
commodity group in dollars and as a percentage of such revenues:
<TABLE>

                                                Years Ended December 31,
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                       1999           1998            1997
                                   ------------   ------------    ------------
                                         (in thousands, except percentages)
<S>                               <C>      <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>      <C>
Chemicals and plastics .......    $ 7,363   40.9% $ 7,813  41.1% $ 8,000   42.1%
Construction aggregate .......      3,101   17.2    3,239  17.0    3,762   19.8
Food and agricultural products      2,481   13.8    2,904  15.3    2,831   14.9
Forest and paper products ....      2,477   13.8    2,730  14.3    2,546   13.4
Scrap metal and waste ........      1,176    6.5    1,074   5.6      969    5.1
Other ........................      1,408    7.8    1,271   6.7      893    4.7
                                  -------   ----  ------- -----  -------  -----
  Total ......................    $18,006  100.0% $19,031 100.0% $19,001  100.0%
                                  =======  =====  ======= =====  =======  =====
</TABLE>

The following table sets forth a comparison of the Company's  operating expenses
expressed in dollars and as a percentage of operating revenues:
<TABLE>

                                              Years Ended December 31,
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                       1999           1998            1997
                                   ------------   ------------    ------------
                                         (in thousands, except percentages)
<S>                               <C>       <C>   <C>      <C>   <C>       <C>
Salaries, wages, payroll taxes
 and employee benefits .......    $12,328   56.4% $11,587  51.0% $11,023   49.9%
Casualties and insurance .....        755    3.4      745   3.3      572    2.6
Depreciation and amortization       2,517   11.5    2,225   9.8    2,054    9.3
Diesel fuel ..................        798    3.6      658   2.9      708    3.2
Car hire, net ................        546    2.5      672   2.9      598    2.7
Purchased services, including
 legal and professional fees .      2,183   10.0    1,868   8.2    1,762    8.0
Repairs and maintenance of
 equipment ...................      1,130    5.2    1,007   4.4      943    4.3
Track and signal materials ...      2,091    9.6    1,666   7.3    1,866    8.4
Other materials and supplies .      1,175    5.4    1,113   4.9    1,012    4.6
Other ........................      1,672    7.6    1,572   6.9    1,325    6.0
                                  -------   ----  ------- -----  -------  -----
 Total .......................     25,195  115.2   23,113 101.6   21,863   99.0
 Less capitalized and
  recovered costs ............      4,066   18.6    3,077  13.5    3,530   16.0
                                  -------   ----  ------- -----  -------  -----
  Total ......................    $21,129   96.6% $20,036  88.1% $18,333   83.0%
                                  =======  =====  ======= =====  =======  =====
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                      II-5


Year ended December 31, 1999 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1998

Operating Revenues

Operating  revenues  decreased  $867,000,  or 3.8% to $21.9 million in 1999 from
$22.7  million in 1998.  This  decrease was  comprised of a $1.0 million  (5.4%)
decrease in  conventional  freight  revenue,  and a $94,000  (6.0%)  decrease in
non-freight  operating  revenues partially offset by a $252,000 (11.8%) increase
in net container freight revenues.

The decrease in conventional  freight  revenues is attributable to a decrease in
traffic  volume  and  to  a  decrease  in  the  average  revenue   received  per
conventional car-loading of 3.7%. The Company's conventional freight carloadings
decreased by 549, or 1.8%, to 29,933 in 1999 from 30,482 in 1998.

On June 1, 1999 the rail lines and operations of Consolidated  Rail  Corporation
("Conrail"),  with which the Company has historically  interchanged the majority
of its rail freight  traffic,  were split  between CSX  Corporation  and Norfolk
Southern Railroad.  The Company estimates that delays and other service problems
attributable  to this split-up  accounted for a traffic  reduction of nearly 700
carloadings which were diverted to truck. The Company believes that most of this
traffic  will be  returned  to rail once the  service  problems  related  to the
Conrail split-up have been overcome.  While the situation has improved,  service
problems still remained as of the end of 1999. During 1999, two of the Company's
rail-freight  customers  continued to phase out  operations  which  utilized the
Company's  rail-freight  services.   Reduced  traffic  to  these  two  customers
accounted for a reduction of approximately  890 carloadings  during the year. It
is  anticipated  that these two  customers  will complete the phase-out of their
rail-freight served operations over the next year or two.

The Company did  experience  increased  rail-freight  traffic  from  several new
customers and from certain existing customers which partially offset the traffic
declines  discussed  above.  The reduction in the average  revenue  received per
conventional  carloading,  between years, is largely attributable to a change in
the mix of freight hauled toward lower revenue commodities.  Management believes
that the average freight  received per carloading  should increase in the future
as freight,  temporarily  lost to Conrail  split-up  related  service  problems,
returns to the railroads.

The increase in container  freight revenue was primarily the result of increased
container  traffic volume.  Total  intermodal  containers  handled  increased by
6,098, or 11.3% to 59,921 containers in 1999 from 53,823 containers in 1998. The
average revenue received per intermodal container increased by approximately .5%
due to rate increases  attributable  to increases in certain  railroad  industry
cost indices.  The increases in container  traffic  volume results from both new
customers and increased volume from existing customers.

The decrease in non-freight  operating  revenues is attributable to decreases in
billings for demurrage,  secondary  switching and other  transportation  related
services.  Such  revenues  can vary from  year to year  depending  upon  traffic
volumes and customer requirements.

Operating Expenses

Operating  expenses  increased  $1.1 million,  or 5.5%, to $21.1 million in 1999
from $20.0  million in 1998.  Operating  expenses as a  percentage  of operating
revenues  ("operating  ratio")  increased  to 96.6% in 1999 from  88.1% in 1998.
While  operating  expenses  have risen  generally  across  the  board,  the most
significant  increase  was in the area of  salaries,  wages,  payroll  taxes and
employee  benefits which increased  $741,000,  or 6.4%, to $12.3 million in 1999
from $11.6 million in 1998.  This  increase  results from  additional  employees
hired throughout 1998,  increases in the average rates of pay due to semi-annual
cost of living  adjustments  and pay rate increases  mandated by union contracts
and from higher costs of payroll taxes and employee health and welfare benefits.
In addition the amount expended for diesel fuel increased by $140,000, or 21.3%,
between years due to the increased cost of petroleum products,  and depreciation
and  amortization  expense  increased by $292,000 or 13.1% as a result of recent
additions to property and equipment and  amortization of goodwill related to the
1998 acquisition of Connecticut Central Railroad Company.

Other Income

Other income  decreased  by $182,000,  or 4.4% to $4.0 million in 1999 from $4.2
million in 1998.  The  principal  items of income in this category for 1999 were
$2.1 million  derived from the sale of long-term fiber optics cable licenses and

<PAGE>
                                      II-6

$947,000 related to the recovery of the portion of an  environmental  claim paid
by the Company in prior years.

Interest Expense

The Company had no interest  expense in 1999  compared with $495,000 of interest
expense in 1998. This decrease  resulted from the Company utilizing a portion of
the net proceeds of its 1998 public stock  offerings  and other income to retire
all of its long and short-term debt.

Year Ended December 31, 1998 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1997

Operating Revenues

Operating  revenues  increased  $655,000,  or 3.0% to $22.7 million in 1998 from
$22.1  million in 1997.  This  increase  was  comprised  of a  $457,000  (27.3%)
increase in net  container  freight  revenues,  a $168,000  (11.9%)  increase in
non-freight  operating  revenues and a $30,000  (.2%)  increase in  conventional
freight revenues.

The  increase in  container  freight  revenues  was  primarily  the result of an
increase in traffic volume.  Total intermodal  containers  handled  increased by
10,415,  or 24.0%, to 53,823  containers in 1998 from 43,408 containers in 1997.
The average rate received per  intermodal  container  increased  slightly due to
rate  increases  attributable  to increases in certain  railroad  industry  cost
indices.

Conventional  freight  revenues  remained  relatively  unchanged  between  years
despite the fact that the Company's  conventional freight carloadings  decreased
by 565, or 1.8%, to 30,482  carloadings in 1998 from 31,047 carloadings in 1997.
The  average  revenue  received  per  conventional  carloading  increased  by  a
comparable  percentage,  however,  due to a  shift  in the  relative  volume  of
commodities   handled   toward  higher   revenue   commodities.   The  Company's
conventional  freight  volume was adversely  affected  during the latter part of
1998 by the global recession, which resulted in reduced shipments of scrap metal
and U.S. made steel. In addition, delayed award of highway construction projects
caused a decline in shipments of  construction  aggregate used in the production
of asphalt.  Scrap metal and  construction  aggregates  command a  comparatively
lower  freight rate than many of the other  commodities  handled by the Company.
Decreases in these  commodities were partially offset by increases in volumes of
inbound raw materials to many of the  Company's  manufacturing  customers.  Such
traffic  volumes  increased  by  approximately   7.5%  in  1998  and  reflect  a
revitalization  of the  Southern New England  Manufacturing  base as well as the
Company's successful marketing efforts.

The $168,000 increase in non-freight  operating revenues resulted primarily from
increases in Maintenance of Way Department billings. Such revenues can vary from
year to year  depending  upon the  needs of rail  customers  and  other  outside
parties.

Operating Expenses

Operating  expenses  increased  $1.7 million,  or 9.3%, to $20.0 million in 1998
from $18.3  million in 1997.  Operating  expenses as a  percentage  of operating
revenues  ("operating ratio") increased to 88.1% in 1998 from 83.0% in 1997. The
increase in operating expenses is primarily  attributable to a number of factors
among which are the following:

   o The number of employees on the Company's payroll increased during 1998 from
     147 to 154.

   o Profit  sharing  expense for 1998  increased  by $88,000 to  $425,000  from
     $337,000 in 1997. The increase is attributable to the substantial  increase
     in other non-operating income generated in 1998.

   o Total  capitalized  track expense and recovered costs for 1998 totaled $3.1
     million,  a $453,000  decrease from 1997,  when such costs amounted to $3.5
     million.

   o Casualties and insurance  expense increased by $173,000 to $745,000 in 1998
     from $572,000 in 1997. Casualty loss expense in 1998 accounted for $111,000
     of this increase since no casualty loss expense was incurred in 1997.

   o Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $171,000 to $2.2 million
     in 1998 from  $2.1  million  in 1997.  This  increase  is  attributable  to
     significant additions to property and equipment during 1997 and 1998 and to
     amortization of goodwill related to the acquisition of Connecticut  Central
     Railroad Company in April 1998.
<PAGE>
                                      II-7


   o Net car hire expense increased by $74,000 from $598,000 in 1997 to $672,000
     in 1998.  This increase is  attributable to the increase in inbound freight
     shipments  experienced  during  the year but has been more  than  offset by
     demurrage revenues received from inbound freight customers.

Other Income

Other income  increased  $3.5  million to $4.2 million in 1998 from  $638,000 in
1997.  This  increase is due primarily to an increase in gains from the sales of
property and easements,  principally $2.3 million derived from the sale of fiber
optics cable licenses.  In addition the Company received $1.0 million in 1998 as
an interim payment  relating to the recovery of the portion of an  environmental
claim paid by the Company in prior years.

Interest Expense

Interest  expense  decreased  $863,000 to $495,000 in 1998 from $1.4  million in
1997.  This decrease is the result of the Company paying off all of its long and
short-term  debt during  1998,  using some of the  proceeds of its public  stock
offerings  and other income.  Prepayment  penalties of $344,000 were incurred on
the early  extinguishment  of a portion of the Company's  long-term debt,  which
penalties,  net of a  $125,000  income  tax  benefit  have been  reported  as an
extraordinary item in 1998.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has historically  relied primarily on cash generated from operations
to fund working capital and capital expenditures relating to ongoing operations,
while relying on borrowed  funds to finance  acquisitions  and equipment  needs,
primarily  rolling stock. The company  generated $2.4 million,  $2.3 million and
$3.5 million of cash from operations in 1999, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The
company's  total cash and cash  equivalents  decreased  by $2.7 million in 1999,
increased  by $6.8  million in 1998,  and  decreased  by $167,000  in 1997.  The
principal  utilization of cash during the three year period was for expenditures
for property and equipment  acquisitions,  principal  payments on long-term debt
obligations, reduction of current liabilities and payment of dividends.

During 1999, 1998 and 1997 the Company generated $2.3 million,  $3.0 million and
$230,000, respectively from the sales and disposals of properties not considered
essential  for  railroad  operations  and from the  granting  of  easements  and
licenses. Included in these amounts are $2.1 million in 1999 and $2.3 million in
1998  generated  from sales of fiber optics  cable  licenses.  In addition,  the
Company  received  $947,000 in 1999 and $1.0  million in 1998 from  Bestfoods as
payment of the Company's 10% recovery due from Bestfoods  relating to Bestfoods'
recovery from its insurance  carrier for the portion of an  environmental  claim
paid by the Company in previous  years.  The Company  holds  various  properties
which  could be made  available  for  sale,  lease or grants  of  easements  and
licenses.  Revenues  from sales of  properties,  easements and licenses can vary
significantly from year to year.

The Company  completed  secondary  public  offerings of  1,000,000  newly issued
shares of its common stock in March 1998 and 750,000 shares in October 1998. Net
proceeds from these  offerings  totaled $20.1 million.  These funds,  along with
proceeds from sales of  properties,  easements  and  licenses,  were utilized to
retire all of the Company's long and short-term borrowings,  for acquisitions of
equipment and to expand the Company's  Worcester MA  maintenance  facility.  The
Company  intends to utilize the  remaining  proceeds  from these  offerings  for
general  corporate  purposes   including  the  possible   acquisition  of  other
connecting railroads,  rail lines and trackage rights,  equipment additions, and
infrastructure improvements.

In June 1999,  the Company's  principal  bank renewed the Company's $2.0 million
revolving line of credit for a two year period through June 1, 2001.  Borrowings
under this line are  unsecured and bear interest at either the prime rate or one
and one half per cent  over  either  the one or  three  month  London  Interbank
Offered  Rates.  The Company does not pay any  commitment  fee on this line. The
Company had no advances against the line of credit during 1999.

During  1999 the  Company  expended  $3.9  million  on  rolling  stock and other
equipment.  Included  were  expenditures  of $2.1  million for forty new gondola
railcars in January and $820,000 for three used locomotives in March.

The Company  entered into a contract in 1999 for the  expansion of its equipment
maintenance  facilities  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts  in the  amount  of  $1.8
million.  This project was  substantially  completed in 1999 with  approximately
$115,000 of costs remaining to complete the project in 2000.
<PAGE>
                                      II-8


Substantially  all of the mainline  track owned by the Company meets FRA Class 3
standards  (permitting  freight  train  speeds  of 40 miles per  hour),  and the
Company  intends to continue to maintain  this track at this level.  The Company
expended  $2.5  million,  $3.0 million and $2.5 million for track  structure and
bridge improvements in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.  Deferred grant income
of $405,000 in 1999, $144,000 in 1998 and $935,000 in 1997 financed a portion of
these improvements.  In addition, the Company received approximately $850,000 of
grant  proceeds  in  1999  and  1997 to  purchase  track  materials  for a track
improvement  project  in  Massachusetts  commenced  in 1997,  which the  Company
expects to complete by 2000. The track materials were purchased  during 1997 and
1999 and are included in "materials  and supplies" on the  accompanying  balance
sheets.  Management estimates that approximately $2.5 million of improvements to
the Company's  track  structure and bridges will be made in 2000,  provided that
sufficient funds, including grant proceeds,  are available.  Improvements to the
Company's  track  structure  are  made,  for the  most  part,  by the  Company's
Maintenance of Way Department personnel.

In  1999,  the  Company  paid  dividends  in the  amount  of  $5.00  per  share,
aggregating $3,000, on its outstanding  noncumulative  Preferred Stock and $0.15
per share  aggregating  $640,000,  on its  outstanding  Common Stock.  Continued
payment of such  dividends is contingent  upon the Company's  continuing to have
the necessary financial resources available.

The Company believes that expected cash flows from operating activities and cash
flows from financing activities will be sufficient to fund the Company's capital
requirements for at least the next 12 months.  To the extent that the Company is
successful in consummating  acquisitions or implementing its expansion plans, it
may be necessary to finance such  acquisitions  or expansion  plans  through the
issuance of additional equity securities, incurrence of indebtedness or both.

Inflation

In recent years,  inflation  has not had a  significant  impact on the Company's
operations.

Seasonality

Historically,  the Company's operating revenues are lowest for the first quarter
due to the absence of construction aggregate shipments during this period and to
winter weather conditions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In June  1998,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  133,  "Accounting  for  Derivative
Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities",  subsequently  amended  in June 1999 and
effective  for fiscal  years  beginning  after June 15,  2000.  The new standard
requires that all companies record derivatives on the balance sheet as assets or
liabilities,  measured at fair value.  Gains or losses resulting from changes in
the values of those  derivatives  would be accounted for depending on the use of
the  derivative  and whether it qualifies  for hedge  accounting.  Management is
currently  assessing the impact of SFAS No. 133 on the  financial  statements of
the Company. The Company will adopt this accounting standard on January 1, 2001,
as required.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
- ------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash and Cash Equivalents

As of December 31, 1999, the Company is exposed to market risks which  primarily
include changes in U.S. interest rates.

The  Company  invests  cash  balances  in excess of  operating  requirements  in
short-term  securities,  generally  with  maturities  of 90  days  or  less.  In
addition,  the  Company's  revolving  line  of  credit  agreement  provides  for
borrowings  which bear interest at variable  rates based on either prime rate or
one and one half  percent  over either the one or three month  London  Interbank
Offered  Rates.  The  Company  had no  borrowings  outstanding  pursuant  to the
revolving line of credit  agreement at December 31, 1999.  The Company  believes
that the effect,  if any, of reasonably  possible  near-term changes in interest
rates on the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows
should not be material.
<PAGE>
                                      II-9


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
- ---------------------------------------------------

                    PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY

                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                         Page

Independent Auditors' Report .........................   II-10

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 ......   II-11

Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31,
 1999, 1998 and 1997 .................................   II-12

Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended
 December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 ....................   II-13

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
 December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 ....................   II-14

Notes to Financial Statements ........................   II-15
<PAGE>
                                     II-10


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


To the Board of Directors and
 Shareholders of Providence and
 Worcester Railroad Company

We have audited the  accompanying  balance  sheets of  Providence  and Worcester
Railroad Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of
income,  shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1999. Our audits also included the financial statement
schedule  listed  in the  Index  at Item  14.  These  financial  statements  and
financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our  responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements and
financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the  United  States of  America.  Those  standards  require  that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a
test basis,  evidence  supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial
statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant  estimates  made by  management,  as well as evaluating  the overall
financial  statement  presentation.   We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our  opinion,  such  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in all material
respects, the financial position of Providence and Worcester Railroad Company as
of December 31, 1999 and 1998,  and the results of its  operations  and its cash
flows for each of the three  years in the  period  ended  December  31,  1999 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.  Also,  in  our  opinion,  such  financial  statement  schedule,   when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Worcester, Massachusetts
March 3, 2000
<PAGE>
                                     II-11


PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
<TABLE>
                                                                 December 31,
                                                               1999        1998
                                                             -------     -------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>
 Cash and equivalents ..................................     $ 4,626     $ 7,294
 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
  doubtful accounts of $125 in 1999 and 1998 ...........       3,251       2,806
 Materials and supplies ................................       2,107       1,810
 Prepaid expenses and other ............................         181         568
 Deferred income taxes .................................          58          55
                                                             -------     -------
  Total Current Assets .................................      10,223      12,533

Property and Equipment, net ............................      64,156      60,050
Land Held for Development ..............................      11,851      11,845
Goodwill, net ..........................................         141         166
                                                             -------     -------

Total Assets ...........................................     $86,371     $84,594
                                                             =======     =======

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
 Accounts payable ......................................     $ 2,347     $ 4,046
 Accrued expenses ......................................         650         709
                                                             -------     -------
  Total Current Liabilities ............................       2,997       4,755
                                                             -------     -------

Profit-Sharing Plan Contribution .......................         400         425
                                                             -------     -------

Deferred Grant Income ..................................       7,421       6,928
                                                             -------     -------

Deferred Income Taxes ..................................       8,870       8,777
                                                             -------     -------

Commitments and Contingencies

Shareholders' Equity:
 Preferred stock, 10% noncumulative, $50 par
  value; authorized, issued and outstanding 647
  shares in 1999 and 1998 ..............................          32          32
 Common stock, $.50 par value; authorized
  15,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
  4,281,280 shares in 1999 and 4,228,131 shares
  in 1998 ..............................................       2,141       2,114
 Additional paid-in capital ............................      28,519      27,955
 Retained earnings .....................................      35,991      33,608
                                                             -------     -------
  Total Shareholders' Equity ...........................      66,683      63,709
                                                             -------     -------

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity .............     $86,371     $84,594
                                                             =======     =======
</TABLE>

               The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
                              financial statements.
<PAGE>
                                     II-12


PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
<TABLE>
                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                   1999       1998        1997
                                                --------   --------    --------
<S>                                             <C>        <C>         <C>
Operating Revenues - Freight and Non-Freight    $ 21,871   $ 22,738    $ 22,083
                                                --------   --------    --------
Operating Expenses:
  Maintenance of way and structures .........      3,526      3,593       3,035
  Maintenance of equipment ..................      2,269      2,063       1,874
  Transportation ............................      5,784      5,244       4,987
  General and administrative ................      4,211      4,103       3,764
  Depreciation ..............................      2,409      2,192       2,054
  Taxes, other than income taxes ............      2,384      2,169       2,021
  Car hire, net .............................        546        672         598
                                                --------   --------    --------
   Total Operating Expenses .................     21,129     20,036      18,333
                                                --------   --------    --------

Income from Operations ......................        742      2,702       3,750
                                                --------   --------    --------

Other Income ................................      3,974      4,156         638
                                                --------   --------    --------
Interest Expense:
  Capital Properties, Inc. ..................       --          (99)       (410)
  Other .....................................       --         (396)       (948)
                                                --------   --------    --------
   Total Interest Expense ...................       --         (495)     (1,358)
                                                --------   --------    --------

Income before Income Taxes and Extraordinary
 Item .......................................      4,716      6,363       3,030

Provision for Income Taxes ..................      1,690      2,360       1,100
                                                --------   --------    --------

Income before Extraordinary Item ............      3,026      4,003       1,930

Extraordinary Loss from Early Extinguishment
 of Debt, Net of Income Tax Benefit .........       --          219        --
                                                --------   --------    --------

Net Income ..................................      3,026      3,784       1,930

Preferred Stock Dividends ...................          3          3           3
                                                --------   --------    --------

Net Income Available to Common Shareholders .   $  3,023   $  3,781    $  1,927
                                                ========   ========    ========

Basic Income Per Common Share:
 Income before Extraordinary Item ...........   $    .71   $   1.19    $    .87
 Extraordinary Item .........................       --         (.06)       --
                                                --------   --------    --------
 Net Income .................................   $    .71   $   1.13    $    .87
                                                ========   ========    ========

Diluted Income Per Common Share:
 Income before Extraordinary Item ...........   $    .70   $   1.16    $    .81
 Extraordinary Item .........................       --         (.06)       --
                                                --------   --------    --------
Net Income ..................................   $    .70   $   1.10    $    .81
                                                ========   ========    ========
</TABLE>

               The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
                              financial statements.
<PAGE>
                                     II-13


PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
<TABLE>
                                 Years Ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997
                                                   Additional       Total Share-
                              Preferred  Common     Paid-in   Retained  holders'
                                 Stock    Stock     Capital   Earnings   Equity
                                -------  -------   -------    -------   -------
<S>                             <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Balance, January 1, 1997 ....   $    33  $ 1,094   $ 6,365    $ 28,569  $36,061

Issuance of 22,550 common
 shares to fund the Company's
 1996 profit sharing plan
 contribution ...............                 11      215                   226
Issuance of 11,139 common
 shares for stock options
 exercised, employee stock
 purchases and other ........                  6       85                    91
Dividends paid:
 Preferred stock, $5.00 per
  share .....................                                      (3)       (3)
 Common stock, $.12 per share                                    (267)     (267)
Net income for the year .....                                   1,930     1,930
                                -------  -------   -------    -------   -------
Balance, December 31, 1997 ..        33    1,111     6,665     30,229    38,038

Issuance of 22,156 common
 shares to fund the Company's
 1997 profit sharing plan
 contribution ...............                 11       326                  337
Issuance of 9,828 common
 shares for stock options
 exercised, employee stock
 purchases and other ........                  5        91                   96
Issuance of 1,750,000 common
 shares for underwritten
 public stock offerings (net
 of expenses of $2,538) .....                875    19,181               20,056
Issuance of 200,000 common
 shares for stock purchase
 warrants exercised .........                100     1,320                1,420
Issuance of 23,614 common
 shares for the acquisition
 of Conn Central ............                 11       372                  383
Conversion of 6 preferred
 shares into 600 common
 shares .....................        (1)       1
Dividends:
 Preferred stock, $5.00 per
  share .....................                                      (3)       (3)
 Common stock, $.12 per share                                    (402)     (402)
Net income for the year .....                                   3,784     3,784
                                -------  -------   -------    -------   -------
Balance, December 31, 1998 ..        32    2,114    27,955     33,608    63,709

Issuance of 31,095 common
 shares to fund the Company's
 1998 profit sharing plan
 contribution ...............                 16       369                  385
Issuance of 14,554 common
 shares for stock options
 exercised, employee stock
 purchases  and other .......                  7       117                  124
Issuance of 7,500 additional
 common shares for the
 Company's 1998 acquisition
 of Conn Central ............                  4        78                   82
Dividends paid:
 Preferred stock, $5.00 per
  share .....................                                      (3)       (3)
 Common stock, $.15 per share                                    (640)     (640)
Net income for the year .....                                   3,026     3,026
                                -------  -------   -------    -------   -------
Balance, December 31, 1999 ..   $    32  $ 2,141   $28,519   $ 35,991   $66,683
                                =======  =======   =======    =======   =======
</TABLE>

               The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
                              financial statements.
<PAGE>
                                     II-14


PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
<TABLE>
                                                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                  1999        1998        1997
                                               --------    --------    --------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>         <C>
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 Net income ................................   $  3,026    $  3,784    $  1,930
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash flows from operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization ...........      2,517       2,225       2,054
   Amortization of deferred grant income ...       (171)       (161)       (149)
   Profit-sharing plan contribution to be
     funded with common stock ..............        360         425         337
   Gains from sale, condemnation and
     disposal of property and equipment, and
     easements, net ........................     (2,353)     (2,561)       (157)
   Gain from recovery of environmental claim       (947)     (1,000)
   Deferred income taxes ...................         90         245         260
   Other, net ..............................         59          74          65
   Increase (decrease) in cash and
     equivalents from:
     Accounts receivable ...................       (225)       (504)        217
     Materials and supplies ................       (297)        276      (1,065)
     Prepaid expenses and other ............        387        (401)        (46)
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses .        (93)        (94)         85
                                               --------    --------    --------
 Net cash flows from operating activities ..      2,353       2,308       3,531
                                               --------    --------    --------
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 Purchase of property and equipment ........     (8,295)     (6,751)     (5,160)
 Proceeds from sale and condemnation of
  property and equipment, and easements ....      2,333       2,996         230
 Proceeds from recovery of environmental
  claim ....................................        947       1,000
 Proceeds from deferred grant income .......        518         203       1,475
                                               --------    --------    --------
 Net cash flows used by investing activities     (4,497)     (2,552)     (3,455)
                                               --------    --------    --------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 Net payments under line of credit .........       --        (1,350)        (90)
 Payments of long-term debt ................       --       (11,491)       (699)
 Dividends paid ............................       (643)       (405)       (270)
 Proceeds from long-term debt ..............       --          --           730
 Net proceeds from public offerings of
  common stock .............................       --        20,056        --
 Issuance of common shares for stock options
  exercised, employee stock purchases and
  cash acquired in acquisition of subsidiary        119         209          86
                                               --------    --------    --------
 Net cash flows from (used by) financing
  activities ...............................       (524)      7,019        (243)
                                               --------    --------    --------
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Equivalents      (2,668)      6,775        (167)
Cash and Equivalents, Beginning of Year ....      7,294         519         686
                                               --------    --------    --------
Cash and Equivalents, End of Year ..........   $  4,626    $  7,294    $    519
                                               ========    ========    ========

Supplemental Disclosures:
 Cash paid during year for:
  Interest .................................   $   --      $    493    $  1,328
                                               ========    ========    ========
  Income taxes .............................   $  1,263    $  2,342    $    873
                                               ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>

               The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
                              financial statements.
<PAGE>
                                     II-15


PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999,  1998, and 1997
(Dollars in Thousands  Except Per Share Amounts)

1.   Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Description of Business
     -----------------------

     Providence and Worcester  Railroad Company (The "Company") is an interstate
     freight carrier  conducting  railroad  operations in  Massachusetts,  Rhode
     Island,  Connecticut  and New York.  Through its  connecting  carriers,  it
     services customers located throughout North America.

     One customer  accounted  for  approximately  13.2%,  13.4% and 15.1% of the
     Company's operating revenues in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

     Cash and Equivalents
     --------------------

     The Company  considers  all highly  liquid  investments  with a maturity of
     three months or less when purchased to be cash  equivalents for purposes of
     classification  in the balance  sheets and  statements of cash flows.  Cash
     equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair market value.

     Materials and Supplies
     ----------------------

     Materials and  supplies,  which  consist of items for the  improvement  and
     maintenance  of  track  structure  and  equipment,   are  stated  at  cost,
     determined on a first-in,  first-out  basis,  and are charged to expense or
     added to the cost of property and equipment when used.

     Property and Equipment
     ----------------------

     Property and equipment,  including land held for development,  is stated at
     historical  cost (including  self-construction  costs).  Acquired  railroad
     property is recorded at the purchased  cost.  Major renewals or betterments
     are capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs, which do not improve
     or extend  asset  lives,  are charged to expense  when  incurred.  Gains or
     losses on sales or other  dispositions  are  credited or charged to income.
     Depreciation is provided using the straight-line  method over the estimated
     useful lives of the assets as follows:

               Track structure                  20 to 67 years
               Buildings and other structures   33 to 45 years
               Equipment                        4 to 25 years

     The   Company   continually   evaluates   long-lived   assets  and  certain
     identifiable  intangibles  held and used for impairment  whenever events or
     changes in circumstances  indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
     not be recoverable.  When factors  indicate that assets should be evaluated
     for  possible  impairment,  the  Company  uses an  estimate  of the related
     undiscounted  future cash flows over the  remaining  lives of the assets in
     measuring whether the assets are recoverable.

     Goodwill
     --------

     Goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of three
     years.

     Deferred Grant Income
     ---------------------

     The  Company  has  availed  itself of various  federal  and state  programs
     administered by the states of Connecticut,  Massachusetts  and Rhode Island
     for  reimbursement  of expenditures for capital  improvements.  In order to
     receive  reimbursement,  the Company must submit requests for the projects,
     including  cost  estimates.  The Company  receives  from 70% to 100% of the
     costs of such projects,  which have included  bridges,  track structure and
     public  improvements.  To the extent that such grant  proceeds are used for
     capital  improvements to bridges and track structure,  they are recorded as

<PAGE>
                                     II-16


     deferred  grant  income  and  amortized   into  operating   revenues  on  a
     straight-line  basis  over  the  estimated  useful  lives  of  the  related
     improvements ($171 in 1999, $161 in 1998 and $149 in 1997).

     Grant  proceeds  utilized  to finance  public  improvements,  such as grade
     crossings  and  signals,  are  recorded  as a direct  offset to the related
     expense.

     Although the Company  cannot  predict the extent and length of future grant
     programs,  it intends to continue filing requests for such grants when they
     are available.

     Revenue Recognition
     -------------------

     Freight  revenues are recorded at the time delivery is made to the customer
     or the connecting carrier.

     Gain or loss from sale, condemnation and disposal of property and equipment
     and easements is recorded at the time the  transaction is  consummated  and
     collectability is assured.

     Income Taxes
     ------------

     Deferred  income taxes are recorded  based on the  differences  between the
     financial  statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and tax credit
     carry  forwards,  using  enacted  rates in effect in the years in which the
     differences are expected to reverse.

     Income per Common Share
     -----------------------

     Basic income per common share is computed using the weighted average number
     of common shares  outstanding  during each year.  Diluted income per common
     share  reflects  the  effect  of  the  Company's  outstanding   convertible
     preferred  stock,  options and warrants  (using the treasury stock method),
     except where such items would be antidilutive.

     A  reconciliation  of net income  available to common  shareholders for the
     computation of diluted income per share is as follows:
<TABLE>
                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                                     1999       1998       1997
                                                    ------     ------     ------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>
    Net income ................................     $3,026     $3,784     $1,930
    Interest expense impact (net of tax) on
     assumed conversion of debt to exercise
     warrants .................................       --         --           84
                                                    ------     ------     ------
    Net income available to common
     shareholders assuming dilution ...........     $3,026     $3,784     $2,014
                                                    ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>

     A reconciliation  of weighted average shares used for the basic computation
     and that used for the diluted computation is as follows:

<PAGE>
                                     II-17


<TABLE>

                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                  1999        1998        1997
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
     Weighted average shares for basic ........  4,260,073  3,352,052  2,208,820
     Dilituve effect of convertible preferred
      stock, options and warrants .............     74,382     81,104    280,450
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
     Weighted average shares for diluted ......  4,334,455  3,433,156  2,489,270
                                                 =========  =========  =========
</TABLE>

     Options and warrants to purchase 188,952 and 182,960 shares of common stock
     were outstanding during 1999 and 1998  respectively,  but were not included
     in the  computation  of diluted  earnings  per common share  because  their
     effect would be antidilutive. No such options and warrants were outstanding
     during 1997.

     Employee Stock Option Plan
     --------------------------

     The  Company  accounts  for  stock-based  awards  to  employees  using  the
     intrinsic value method.

     Use of Estimates
     ----------------

     The  preparation of the Company's  financial  statements in conformity with
     generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make
     estimates and  assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and
     liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
     of the  financial  statements  and the  reported  amounts of  revenues  and
     expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results may differ from those
     estimates.  The  Company's  principal  estimates  include the allowance for
     doubtful   accounts,   useful  lives  of  properties,   goodwill,   accrued
     liabilities   including   health  insurance  claims  and  legal  and  other
     contingencies, and income taxes.

     Comprehensive Income
     --------------------

     Comprehensive Income equals net income for 1999, 1998 and 1997.

     Segment Reporting
     -----------------

     The  Company  organizes  itself  as one  segment  reporting  to  the  chief
     operating  decision  maker.  Products  and  services  consist  primarily of
     interstate freight rail services.  These include the movement of freight in
     both  conventional  freight cars and in intermodal  containers on flat cars
     over  the  Company's  rail  lines,  as well as  non-freight  transportation
     services  such as  switching,  weighing  and  special  trains and  services
     rendered to freight  customers and other  outside  parties by the Company's
     Maintenance of Way, Communications and Signals and Maintenance of Equipment
     Departments.

     Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards
     ----------------------------------------------

     In June 1998, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
     Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
     Instruments and Hedging Activities",  subsequently amended in June 1999 and
     effective for fiscal years  beginning after June 15, 2000. The new standard
     requires  that all  companies  record  derivatives  on the balance sheet as
     assets or liabilities,  measured at fair value.  Gains or losses  resulting
     from  changes in the values of those  derivatives  would be  accounted  for
     depending on the use of the  derivative  and whether it qualifies for hedge
     accounting. Management is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 133 on
     the  financial  statements  of the  Company.  The  Company  will adopt this
     accounting standard on January 1, 2001, as required.
<PAGE>
                                     II-18


2.   Property and Equipment

     Property and equipment consists of the following:
<TABLE>
                                                               December 31,
                                                            1999          1998
                                                          -------       -------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>
     Land and improvements .......................       $ 9,692        $ 9,124
     Track structure .............................        53,497         51,119
     Buildings and other structures ..............         5,422          5,331
     Construction in progress ....................         1,821            361
     Equipment ...................................        23,221         21,454
                                                         -------        -------
                                                          93,653         87,389
     Less accumulated depreciation ...............        29,497         27,339
                                                         -------        -------
      Total property and equipment, net ..........       $64,156        $60,050
                                                         =======        =======
</TABLE>


3.   Land Held for Development

     Pursuant to permits issued by the United States Department of the Army Corp
     of Engineers  ("ACE") and the Rhode  Island  Coastal  Resources  Management
     Council  ("CRMC"),  the Company has created 33 acres of waterfront  land in
     East Providence,  Rhode Island ("South Quay") designed to capitalize on the
     growth of  intermodal  transportation  utilizing  rail,  water and  highway
     connections. The property has good highway access (1/2 mile from I-195) and
     direct  rail  access  and is  adjacent  to a 12 acre site also owned by the
     Company.

     The permits for the  property  allow for  construction  of a dock along the
     west face of the South Quay.  The ACE permit has been  extended to December
     31, 2003 and the CRMC permit has been extended to May 11, 2009.

     In April 1999, the Rhode Island Supreme Court issued an Opinion  confirming
     the Company's fee simple absolute title to the South Quay. In January 2000,
     the Rhode Island Superior Court confirmed the Company's fee simple absolute
     title of the 12 acre parcel  adjacent to the South Quay.  Also in 1999, the
     Rhode  Island  Department  of  Transportation  entered  into a contract for
     engineering  services to undertake  roadway  improvements to provide direct
     vehicular access from the interstate  highway system to the South Quay. The
     project is anticipated to be complete by 2002.

     In July 1999,  the  Company  engaged  Cushman &  Wakefield,  a real  estate
     services  company,  to provide real estate advisory and marketing  services
     for the South Quay and the adjacent 12 acre parcel.  These services include
     an analysis of the "highest  and best use" of the property and  development
     of a marketing  strategy,  as well as providing  brokerage services for the
     property.  The  combined 45 acre site enjoys  excellent  visibility  and is
     located  approximately  2 miles from  downtown  Providence,  Rhode  Island.
     Potential uses identified  include  development of a private port facility,
     manufacturing use with direct  multi-modal  access (truck,  port and rail),
     and other commercial,  industrial or residential  development.  The Company
     intends  to  explore  all  development  opportunities  for the  South  Quay
     including  both rail and non-rail  related uses and believes its costs will
     be fully  recovered from such future  developments,  including the lease or
     sale  of the  property,  associated  rail  freight  revenues,  particularly
     intermodal double-stack container trains, and possible port charges such as
     wharfage, dockage, and storage.

     If able to attract user or investment  commitments,  the Company intends to
     construct a vessel  unloading  area. The Company has engaged in discussions
     with  potential  users  interested in utilizing the property for offloading
     bulk products such as salt and construction aggregate. The Company has also
     explored the development of the facility for offloading  container  vessels
     and barges.  The Company will need additional  terminal capacity to achieve
     expected growth in its intermodal  container business and may use a portion
     of the property as an intermodal  terminal facility to provide it with such
     capacity.  This  development  will not proceed,  however  until the Company

<PAGE>
                                     II-19


     completes overhead clearances which are anticipated to be completed by year
     end 2000.

4.   Notes Payable, Bank and Long-Term Debt

     The Company has a revolving  line of credit with its principal  bank in the
     amount of $2,000 expiring June 1, 2001.  Borrowings  outstanding under this
     line of credit are unsecured, due on demand and bear interest at either the
     bank's  prime rate or one and one half percent over either the one or three
     month London Interbank Offered Rates. The Company pays no commitment fee on
     this  line.  There  were no loans  outstanding  under  the line at any time
     during 1999.

     In 1998 the Company utilized a substantial portion of the proceeds from its
     common stock  offerings and other income to pre-pay all of its  outstanding
     long-term  debt.  Prepayment  penalties  of $344  were  incurred  on  early
     extinguishments of a significant  portion of this debt, which penalties net
     of a $125 income tax benefit have been reported as an extraordinary item on
     the accompanying statement of income for 1998.

5.   Other Income

<TABLE>
     Other income consists of the following:         Years Ended December 31,
                                                   1999        1998        1997
                                                  ------      ------      ------
<S>                                               <C>         <C>         <C>
     Gain from sale, condemnation and
      disposal of property and equipment
      and easements, net ......................   $2,353      $2,561      $  157
     Recovery of prior year environmental
      claim (See Note 7) ......................      947       1,000        --
     Rentals and license fees, under
      various operating leases ................      453         423         470
     Interest .................................      221         172          11
                                                  ------      ------      ------
                                                  $3,974      $4,156      $  638
                                                  ======      ======      ======
</TABLE>
     Gain from sale,  condemnation  and disposal of property and  equipment  and
     easements  for 1999 and 1998 includes  $2,127 and $2,293  received from the
     sale of long-term fiber optics cable licenses, respectively.

6.   Income Taxes

     The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
<TABLE>
                                                  Years Ended December 31,
                                             1999           1998           1997
                                            ------         ------         ------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>
     Current:
      Federal .......................       $1,495         $1,865         $  750
      State .........................          105            125             90
                                            ------         ------         ------
                                             1,600          1,990            840
     Deferred, Federal ..............           90            245            260
                                            ------         ------         ------
                                            $1,690         $2,235         $1,100
                                            ======         ======         ======
</TABLE>

     The 1998  provision  for income taxes is net of a $125  current  income tax
     benefit  related to the  extraordinary  loss from early  extinguishment  of
     debt.
<PAGE>
                                     II-20


     The following summarizes the estimated tax effect of temporary  differences
     that are included in the net deferred income tax provision:
<TABLE>
                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                   1999        1998        1997
                                                  -----       -----       -----
<S>                                               <C>         <C>         <C>
     Depreciation and amortization ............   $ 196       $ 194       $ 148
     General business tax credits .............    --            61         588
     Deferred grant income ....................    (123)        (15)       (478)
     Gain from sale, condemnation and
      disposal of properties and equipment ....    --           (83)        (17)
     Accrued casualty and other claims ........       2          88          14
     Other ....................................      15        --             5
                                                  -----       -----       -----
                                                  $  90       $ 245       $ 260
                                                  =====       =====       =====
</TABLE>

     Deferred  income  taxes  reflect  the  net  tax  effects  of (a)  temporary
     differences  between  the  carrying  amount of assets and  liabilities  for
     financial  reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes,
     and (b) tax credit  carryforwards.  The tax  effects of  significant  items
     comprising  the Company's net deferred  income tax liability as of December
     31, 1999 and 1998 are as follows:
<TABLE>
                                                                December 31,
                                                             1999         1998
                                                           -------      -------
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>
     Deferred income tax liabilities-
      Differences between book and tax basis of
       property and equipment ........................    $11,394       $11,198
                                                          -------       -------
      Other ..........................................         23          --
                                                          -------       -------
                                                           11,417        11,198
                                                          -------       -------
     Deferred income tax assets:
      Rental income received in advance ..............         36          --
      Deferred grant income ..........................      2,525         2,402
      Accrued casualty and other claims ..............          9            11
      Other ..........................................         35            63
                                                          -------       -------
                                                            2,605         2,476
                                                          -------       -------
     Net deferred income tax liability ...............    $ 8,812       $ 8,722
                                                          =======       =======
</TABLE>

     A  reconciliation  of  the  U.S. federal  statutory  rate  to  the
     effective tax rate is as follows:

<TABLE>
                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                    1999       1998       1997
                                                    ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
     Federal statutory rate ......................    34%        34%        34%
     Depreciation of properties acquired from
      bankrupt railroads having a tax basis
      in excess of cost ..........................    (2)        (1)        (1)
     Non deductible expenses .....................     2          2          1
     State income tax, net of federal income
      tax benefit ................................     2          2          2
                                                     ----       ----      ----
     Effective tax rate ..........................    36%        37%        36%
                                                     ====       ====      ====
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                     II-21


7.   Commitments and Contingencies

     The Company is a defendant in certain lawsuits relating to casualty losses,
     many of which are covered by insurance subject to a deductible. The Company
     believes that adequate provision has been made in the financial  statements
     for any  expected  liabilities  which may result from  disposition  of such
     lawsuits.

     In 1995 the Company  entered into a  settlement  agreement  with  Bestfoods
     (formerly CPC International, Inc.) resolving an environmental claim against
     the  Company,  arising  out of a 1974 rail car  incident.  Pursuant  to the
     settlement  agreement,  the Company paid  Bestfoods $990 in common stock of
     the company and cash.  The Company and  Bestfoods  agreed that in the event
     Bestfoods  recovered  proceeds from its insurance  carrier for the costs of
     remediation  of the involved  site, the Company would be entitled to 10% of
     Bestfoods' net recovery after  deduction of litigation  expenses.  In 1997,
     Bestfoods  obtained a judgement in its favor from its insurance carrier for
     over $18,000  (which amount  includes  approximately  $5,000 of prejudgment
     interest).   The  insurance   carrier's   appeal  of  this   judgement  was
     unsuccessful and it paid the $18,000 judgement to Bestfoods.  In July 1998,
     Bestfoods paid $1,000 to the Company as an interim payment of the Company's
     10% recovery pending final resolution of amounts to be paid to Bestfoods by
     its  insurance  carrier.  In September  1999,  Bestfoods  and the insurance
     carrier  entered into a final  settlement  agreement.  In December 1999 the
     Company received $947 in final payment of its 10% share of the recovery net
     of litigation expenses.

8.   Issuance of Common Stock

     In March  1998 the  Company  completed  an  underwritten  secondary  public
     offering of common  stock and issued  1,000,000  shares of common  stock at
     $14.25 per share. In October 1998 the Company  completed  another secondary
     public  offering of common stock and issued  750,000 shares of Common Stock
     at $11.125  per  share.  Net  proceeds  from these  offerings  amounted  to
     $20,056.  A substantial  portion of these funds were utilized to retire the
     Company's long and short-term  debt, to acquire rail cars and to expand the
     Company's  Worcester,   Massachusetts  maintenance  facility.  The  Company
     intends to utilize the remaining  proceeds from these offerings for general
     corporate  purposes  including  possible  acquisitions of other  connecting
     railroads,   rail  lines  and  trackage  rights;  equipment  additions  and
     infrastructure improvements.

     In connection with the March Offering the Company sold to the  underwriters
     warrants to purchase  up to 100,000  shares of common  stock at an exercise
     price of $22.09 per share.  In  connection  with the October  Offering  the
     Company sold to the underwriter warrants to purchase up to 75,000 shares of
     common  stock at an  exercise  price of $17.24  per share.  These  warrants
     became  exercisable  in 1999,  one year  from  the  effective  dates of the
     respective Offerings,  and expire four years thereafter.  They grant to the
     holders thereof  certain demand and  "piggyback"  rights of registration of
     the  securities  issuable  upon  exercise.  These  warrants  have  not been
     included in the  calculation of diluted income per common share since their
     effect is antidilutive.

     In March 1998 Massachusetts Capital Resource Company ("MCRC") exercised its
     warrants to acquire  200,000 newly issued  shares of the  Company's  common
     stock for $7.10 per share.  Proceeds to the Company  consisted  of a $1,420
     reduction  in the  outstanding  principal  balance of its 10%  subordinated
     long-term note payable to MCRC.

9.   Acquisition of Connecticut Central Railroad Company

     On April 21, 1998 the Company acquired all of the outstanding  common stock
     of Connecticut  Central Railroad Company ("Conn Central") for 20,000 shares
     of newly  issued  common  stock  of the  Company.  The  Company  issued  an
     additional  3,614  shares of its common stock to retire $50 of debt owed by
     Conn Central to two of its former shareholders. The total fair market value
     of the shares issued was $383,  which exceeded the fair market value of the
     net assets acquired by $199, which amount, net of amortization, is reported
     as goodwill on the  accompanying  balance sheet. In April 1999, the Company
     issued  an  additional  7,500  shares  of its  Common  Stock to the  former
     shareholders   of  Conn  Central   since   certain   financial   and  other
     considerations  as specified in the purchase and sale  agreement  were met.
     Issuance of these shares gave rise to additional  goodwill in the amount of
     $82. The Company is amortizing  this goodwill over a period of three years.
     Conn  Central  was a shortline  railroad  which had  operating  rights over

<PAGE>
                                     II-22


     approximately  28 miles of track in central  Connecticut  connecting to the
     Company's  Middletown Secondary line. Conn Central's operations were merged
     into those of the Company at the time of acquisition. Pro forma information
     would not be materially different from historical information.

10.  Employee Benefit Plans

     Stock Option Plan
     -----------------

     The Company has a  non-qualified  stock  option plan  ("SOP")  covering all
     management  personnel  having a  minimum  of one year of  service  with the
     Company  and who are not  holders of a majority  of either its  outstanding
     common stock or its outstanding preferred stock. In addition, the Company's
     outside  directors are eligible to  participate  in the SOP. The SOP covers
     50,000  common  shares or 5% of the  shares of  common  stock  outstanding,
     whichever is greater (214,064 shares at December 31, 1999). Options granted
     under the SOP, which are fully vested when granted,  are exercisable over a
     ten year period at the market  price for the  Company's  common stock as of
     the date the options are granted.

     Changes in stock options outstanding are as follows:
<TABLE>
                                                            Weighted Average
                                                            ----------------
                                             Number         Exercise   Fair
                                             of shares        Price    Value
                                             ------          ------   ------
<S>                                          <C>              <C>     <C>
     Outstanding at January 1, 1997 .....    35,154          $ 6.44

     Granted ............................     7,970            7.88   $ 2.96
     Exercised ..........................    (7,593)           6.63
     Expired ............................    (1,513)           5.98
                                             ------          ------   ------
     Outstanding and exercisable at
      December 31, 1997 .................    34,018            6.76

     Granted ............................     8,040           18.38   $ 7.98
     Exercised ..........................    (3,574)           7.15
     Expired ............................       (80)          18.38
                                             ------          ------   ------
     Outstanding and exercisable at
      December 31, 1998 .................    38,404            9.13

     Granted ............................     8,310           12.38   $ 9.53
     Exercised ..........................    (5,439)           7.53
     Expired ............................    (3,706)          10.73
                                             ------          ------   ------
     Outstanding and exercisable at
      December 31, 1999 .................    37,569            9.92
                                             ======          ======   ======
</TABLE>

     The fair  value of  options  on their  grant  date was  measured  using the
     Black-Scholes  options pricing model.  Key  assumptions  used to apply this
     pricing model are as follows:

                                             1999       1998      1997
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
     Average risk-free interest rate         6.30%      4.53%       5.75%
     Expected life of option grants          7.0 years  7.0 years   7.0 years
     Expected volatility of underlying stock  30%        36%         29%
     Expected dividend payment rate, as
      a percentage of the share price
      on the date of grant                   1.21%       .65%       1.26%

     It should be noted that the option pricing model used was designed to value
     readily  tradable  stock options with  relatively  short useful lives.  The
     options granted to employees are not tradable and have contractual lives of
     up to ten years. However,  management believes that the assumptions used to
     value the options and the model applied yield a reasonable  estimate of the
     fair value of the grants made under the circumstances.
<PAGE>
                                     II-23


     The following table sets forth  information  regarding  options at December
     31, 1999:

                     Range of       Number         Weighted Average
         Number      Exercise      Currently    Exercise   Remaining
        of Options    Prices      Exercisable     Price   Life (in years)
       ---------    ----------    ----------    ---------- -----------
          5,033     $3.25 - 4.38     5,033         $3.75       2
         15,775      5.50 - 7.88    15,775          7.34       6
          9,820      8.50 - 12.75    9,820         11.27       6
          6,941         18.375       6,941         18.375      8

     The Company has elected to remain with the accounting prescribed by APB 25,
     instead  of  adopting   SFAS  No.  123,   "Accounting   for  Stock-   Based
     Compensation".  Therefore, no compensation cost has been recognized for the
     SOP. Had  compensation  cost for the Company's  SOP been  determined on the
     fair value of the grant dates for awards under the SOP consistent  with the
     method  of  SFAS  123,  the  Company's  net  income   available  to  common
     shareholders and income per share would have been as follows:
<TABLE>

                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                               1999        1998        1997
                                             -------     -------     -------
     Net income available to common shareholders:
<S>                                        <C>           <C>           <C>
      As reported ....................     $   3,023     $   3,781     $   1,927
      Pro forma ......................         3,000         3,764         1,919
     Basic income per share:
      As reported ....................           .71          1.13           .87
      Pro forma ......................           .70          1.12           .87
     Diluted income per share:
      As reported ....................           .70          1.10           .81
      Pro forma ......................           .69          1.10           .81
</TABLE>

     The  income  per share  figures  for 1998 are net of a $.06 per share  loss
     attributable to an extraordinary item.

     Defined Contribution Retirement Plans
     -------------------------------------

     The Company has a deferred profit-sharing plan ("Plan") which covers all of
     its  employees  who  are  members  of  its  collective   bargaining  units.
     Contributions  to the Plan are  required  in years in which the Company has
     income from "railroad operations" as defined in the Plan. Contributions are
     to be equal to at least 10% but not more than 15% of the  greater of income
     before income taxes or income from railroad operations subject to a maximum
     contribution of $3.5 per eligible  employee.  Contributions to the Plan may
     be made in cash or in shares of the Company's  common stock.  Contributions
     accrued under this Plan amounted to $400 in 1999,  $425 in 1998 and $337 in
     1997. The Company made its 1997 and 1998  contributions and intends to make
     its 1999 contribution in newly issued shares of its common stock.

     The Company also has a Simplified  Employee  Pension  Plan  ("SEPP")  which
     covers  substantially  all  employees  who  are not  members  of one of its
     collective  bargaining  units.  Contributions to the SEPP are discretionary
     and are  determined  annually as a percentage  of each  covered  employee's
     compensation. Contributions accrued under the SEPP amounted to $197 in 1999
     and 1998 and $196 in 1997.

     Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     ----------------------------

     The  Company has an  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  ("ESPP")  under which
     eligible employees may purchase registered shares of common stock at 85% of
     the market price for such shares.  An aggregate of 200,000 shares of common
     stock are authorized  for issuance under the ESPP which was  established in
     1997.  Any  shares  purchased  under  the  ESPP are  subject  to a two year
     lock-up.  ESPP purchases  amounted to 8,665 shares in 1999, 5,504 shares in
     1998 and 2,846 shares in 1997.
<PAGE>
                                     II-24


11.  Preferred Stock

     The Company's $50 par value preferred stock is convertible  into 100 shares
     of common stock at the option of the shareholder.  The noncumulative  stock
     dividend is fixed by the  Company's  Charter at an annual rate of $5.00 per
     share, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.

     The holders of  preferred  stock are entitled to one vote for each share in
     the  election  of  two-thirds  of the Board of  Directors.  The  holders of
     preferred  stock and holders of common  stock are  entitled to one vote per
     share, voting as separate classes, upon matters voted on by shareholders.

12.  Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

     Historically  the Company has experienced  lower operating  revenues in the
     first  quarter  of the  year.  The  following  table  sets  forth  selected
     financial data for each quarter of 1999 and 1998. The  information for each
     of  these   quarters  is  unaudited  but  includes  all  normal   recurring
     adjustments that the Company considers  necessary for a fair  presentation.
     These results,  however are not  necessarily  indicative of results for any
     future period.
<TABLE>
                                              Year Ended December 31, 1999
                                          -------------------------------------
                                           First    Second     Third     Fourth
                                          Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
                                          -------   -------   -------   -------
<S>                                       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
     Operating Revenues ................. $ 4,926   $ 5,507   $ 5,961   $ 5,477
     Income (loss) from Operations ......     136       466       206       (66)
     Net Income .........................     260       389     1,688       689

     Basic Income Per Common Share ...... $   .06   $   .09   $   .39   $   .16

     Diluted Income Per Common Share .... $   .06   $   .09   $   .39   $   .16

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
                                              Year Ended December 31, 1999
                                          -------------------------------------
                                           First    Second     Third     Fourth
                                          Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
                                          -------   -------   -------   -------
<S>                                       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
     Operating Revenues .............     $ 4,983   $ 5,909   $ 6,393   $ 5,453
     Income from Operations .........         378       787     1,500        37
     Income before Extraordinary
      Item ..........................         136     1,988     1,666       213
     Net Income .....................         136     1,818     1,642       188

     Basic Income Per Common Share:
      Income before Extraordinary
       Item .........................    $    .06   $   .58     $ .48   $   .05
      Net Income ....................         .06       .53       .47       .05

     Diluted Income Per Common Share:
      Income before Extraordinary
       Item .........................    $    .06   $   .56     $ .47   $   .05
      Net Income ....................         .06       .51       .46       .04
</TABLE>

                             * * * * * * *

Item 9. Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
- ------------------------------------------------------------
     Not applicable.
<PAGE>
                                     III-1


                                    PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
- -----------------------------------------------------------

  The  Company's  Charter  and Bylaws  provide  that the members of the Board of
Directors (the "Board") shall be elected separately by the Company's two classes
of stock.  Holders of Common Stock elect one-third of the Board of Directors and
the holders of Preferred  Stock elect the remainder of the Board.  Directors are
elected to serve until the next annual meeting and until their  successors  have
been duly  elected by the  shareholders.  There are  currently  three  directors
elected by the holders of the Common  Stock and seven  directors  elected by the
holders  of the  Preferred  Stock.  Officers  are  elected  by and  serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.

Directors and Executive Officers

   The current directors and executive officers,  their ages and their positions
held with the Company are as follows:

          Name                          Age  Position
          ----                          ---  --------
Robert H. Eder(a) ...................   67   Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                              Executive Officer
Orville R. Harrold(b) ...............   67   President, Chief Operating
                                              Officer and Director
Robert J. Easton(a) .................   56   Treasurer and Director
P. Scott Conti ......................   42   Vice President Engineering
Deborah E. Sedares ..................   37   Secretary and General Counsel
Richard W. Anderson (a) .............   52   Director
Frank W. Barrett(b) .................   60   Director
John H. Cronin(b) ...................   66   Director
J. Joseph Garrahy(b) ................   69   Director
John J. Healy(b) ....................   64   Director
Charles M. McCollam, Jr.(b) .........   67   Director
Merrill W. Sherman(c) ...............   51   Director

  (a)    Elected by holders of Common Stock.
  (b)    Elected by holders of Preferred Stock.
  (c)    Elected by Board of Directors to fill vacancy.

   The  following  is a brief  summary of the  background  of each  director and
executive officer.

Directors and Executive Officers

     Robert H. Eder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Eder
became  President of the Company in 1966 and led the Company through its efforts
to become an independent  operating  company.  He has been Chairman of the Board
since 1980. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He (with
his wife) is also majority owner and Chairman of an affiliated company,  Capital
Properties,  Inc., a real estate holding company of which he is also a Director.
Mr. Eder is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island and New York.

     Orville R. Harrold,  President,  Chief Operating Officer and Director.  Mr.
Harrold  has  been  with the  Company  since  the  commencement  of  independent
operations in February 1973.  Over the past 25 years,  he has held the positions
of Chief Engineer and General Manager,  becoming  President in 1980. Mr. Harrold
has a  bachelors  degree in  mechanical  engineering  from the Pratt  Institute,
Brooklyn,  New York and has been  employed in the  railroad  industry in various
capacities since 1960.

     Robert J. Easton,  Treasurer  and  Director.  Mr.  Easton has been with the
Company since 1986, initially as Controller.  He was promoted to the position of
Treasurer and Controller in 1988.  Prior to joining the Company,  Mr. Easton had
21 years of experience in public accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant
with a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Rochester.
<PAGE>
                                     III-2


     P. Scott Conti,  Vice  President  Engineering.  Mr. Conti has been with the
Company since 1988 and is responsible  for all activities of the  Maintenance of
Way and Engineering  Department which maintains the Company's  tracks,  bridges,
buildings  and grade  crossings,  overseeing  all  construction  activity  on or
affecting railroad  property.  From June 1988 to December 1997, Mr. Conti served
as Engineering Manager. In January 1998 he was promoted to Chief Engineer and in
March 1999 he was promoted to Vice President.  Prior to Joining the Company, Mr.
Conti was employed by Perini Corporation.

     Deborah E. Sedares,  Secretary and General Counsel.  Ms. Sedares joined the
Company in 1998 as Assistant  General Counsel and Assistant  Secretary.  In 1999
she was promoted to General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining the company,
Ms Sedares served as in-house  counsel to various  governmental  agencies.  Most
recently,  Ms.  Sedares was  General  Counsel  for the  Worcester  Redevelopment
Authority.  She is a 1987 graduate of Suffolk  University Law School and holds a
bachelors degree from Wheaton  College.  Ms. Sedares is admitted to practice law
in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

  Richard W. Anderson, Director. Mr. Anderson has been a Director of the Company
since 1998.  He is Senior  Vice  President  of  Massachusetts  Capital  Resource
Company ("MCRC"),  a private investment firm funded by major Massachusetts based
life insurance  companies  providing higher risk growth capital to Massachusetts
businesses.  He began working at MCRC in 1981 as Vice President. He was promoted
to Senior Vice President in 1985.

     Frank W. Barrett,  Director. Mr. Barrett has been a Director of the Company
since 1995.  From 1993 to 1998 he was Executive  Vice  President at  Springfield
Institution for Savings ("SIS").  Effective  January 1, 1999 he became Executive
Vice  President  and Chief  Lending  Officer of Family  Bank.  Family  Bank is a
Massachusetts subsidiary of Peoples Heritage Financial Group and the acquirer of
SIS. He is also a director of Dairy Mart Convenience Store, Inc.

     John H.  Cronin,  Director.  Mr.  Cronin has been a Director of the Company
since 1986.  Since 1971 until his  retirement in 1996,  Mr. Cronin was owner and
President of Ideal Products, Inc., a wholesale entertainment supply company.

     J. Joseph Garrahy, Director. Mr. Garrahy has been a Director of the Company
since 1992. He is a former four term  Governor of Rhode Island and,  since 1990,
has been an independent  business  consultant in the State of Rhode Island.  Mr.
Garrahy is also a director of Grove Real Estate Investment Trust.

     John J. Healy, Director. Mr. Healy has been a Director of the Company since
1991. He has been President of Worcester  Affiliated Mfg. L.L.C., an independent
business  consulting  firm  involved in efforts to revitalize  manufacturing  in
Massachusetts,  since January 1997.  Prior thereto,  Mr. Healy was President and
Chief Executive Officer of HMA Behavioral Health, Inc., a behavioral health care
management service provider.

     Charles M. McCollam, Jr., Director. Mr. McCollam has been a Director of the
Company since 1996. He owns and operates a number of insurance businesses in the
State of Connecticut,  as well as McCollam Associates, a consulting firm. He was
the Chief of Staff to a former governor of Connecticut.

  Merrill W. Sherman,  Director.  Ms. Sherman has been a Director of the Company
since 1999. She has been President, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank
Rhode Island, a community bank in the greater Providence metropolitan area since
its formation in March 1996. Prior thereto,  from September 1993 to August 1995,
Ms.  Sherman was a partner in the corporate and real estate  departments  of the
law firm  Brown,  Rudnick,  Freed & Gesmer  where she headed the firm's  banking
consulting  group  affiliate.  She retired  from her  position in August 1995 to
devote full-time efforts to the creation of Bank Rhode Island.

  The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, Stock Option & Compensation
Committee and Audit  Committee.  In accordance with the By- laws of the Company,
the Executive Committee, currently comprised of Robert H. Eder, Chairman, Robert
J.  Easton and  Orville R.  Harrold,  exercises  the  authority  of the Board of
Directors when formal Board action is required between meetings,  subject to the
limitations imposed by law, the By-laws or the Board of Directors. The Executive
Committee  acts  on  routine  matters  such  as  authorizing  the  execution  of
government  contracts  for  reimbursement  for Company work on highway  projects
adjacent to the railroad and grade crossing rehabilitation.
<PAGE>
                                     III-3


     The Stock Option & Compensation  Committee,  currently comprised of John J.
Healy,  Chairman,  Richard  W.  Anderson  and  Charles  M.  McCollam,  Jr.  , is
responsible  for  establishing  the amount of option shares to be granted to the
Company's  employees under the Stock Option Plan and for making  recommendations
to the full Board concerning executive officer compensation.

  The Audit Committee is currently comprised of John H. Cronin,  Chairman, Frank
W. Barrett,  J. Joseph Garrahy and Merrill W. Sherman.  All members of the Audit
Committee are independent  non-employee  directors.  The Audit Committee reviews
the Company's  procedures with respect to maintaining books and records, and the
adequacy and  implementation  of internal  auditing,  accounting  and  financial
controls.  The Audit Committee  reviews and makes  recommendations  to the Board
regarding  services provided by the independent  auditors of the accounts of the
Company,  reviews with the  independent  auditors the scope and results of their
annual examination of the Company's financial statements and any recommendations
they may  have,  and makes  recommendations  to the Board  with  respect  to the
engagement of the independent auditors.

  The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee.

  The  Board of  Directors  held  five  meetings,  the  Audit  Committee  held 3
meetings,  the Stock  Option &  Compensation  Committee  held 4 meetings and the
Executive  Committee  held 9 meetings  during the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999.

  During the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999,  each director who was not an
employee of the Company received a base fee of $500 for each attended meeting of
the Board of Directors plus $50 per attended meeting for each year of service as
a  director,  and each  member of the  Audit  Committee  and the Stock  Option &
Compensation  Committee received $300 for each attended meeting of the committee
(other than the Chairman of the Committee, who received $350).

  During the month of January of each year,  directors  of the  Company who were
serving as such on the preceding  December 31 and are not full time employees of
the  Company are  granted  options for the  purchase of 100 shares of the Common
Stock of the Company,  plus options for an  additional  ten shares for each full
year of service to the Company. The exercise price is the last sale price of the
Common Stock on the last  business day of the  preceding  year,  and the term of
each option is ten years  (subject to earlier  termination if the grantee ceases
to serve as a director), provided, however, that no option is exercisable within
six months following the date of grant.

Item 11. Executive Compensation
- -------------------------------

  The following table summarizes the compensation paid or accrued by the Company
during the three year period ended  December 31,  1999,  to its Chief  Executive
Officer  and each of its four most highly  compensated  executive  officers  who
earned more than $100,000 in salary and bonus in 1999, for services  rendered in
all capacities to the Company during 1999.
<PAGE>
                                     III-4


<TABLE>
                                                              Long-Term
                                  Annual Compensation         Compensation
                                  -------------------         ------------
<S>                          <C>   <C>      <C>     <C>           <C>     <C>
                                                              Securities
                                                              Underlying    All
                                                    Other     Options to   Other
                                                    Annual    Purchase   Compen-
                                   Salary          Compen-    Common      sation
Name and Principal Position  Year  ($)(a) Bonus($) sation($)  Stock       ($)(b)
- ---------------------------- ----  ------ ------   --------  ------------ ------

Robert H. Eder.............. 1999  307,403  17,500  23,653(c)      0      48,024
 Chairman of the Board and   1998  286,210    0     31,216(c)      0      48,696
   Chief Executive Officer   1997  288,530    0         0          0      47,453

Orville R. Harrold.......... 1999  262,181    0         0        1,087    42,726
 President and Chief         1998  240,382  20,000      0        1,011    43,940
   Operating Officer         1997  234,588    0         0         913     42,526

P. Scott Conti.............. 1999   99,072    0         0         147      8,068
 Vice President Engineering  1998   80,425    0         0         132      6,468
                             1997   70,155    0         0         118      5,295

Robert J. Easton............ 1999  130,858    0         0         346     10,469
 Treasurer                   1998  126,038  16,000      0         310     11,412
                             1997  123,232    0         0         210      9,353

Deborah E. Sedares.......... 1999  104,004    0         0          0       8,320
 Secretary and General       1998  19,038(d)  0         0          0        0
   Counsel                   1997     0       0         0          0        0
</TABLE>


(a)  Includes  amounts  taxable to employees  for personal use of  Company-owned
     vehicles,  other than Mr. Eder who does not have  personal use of a Company
     owned vehicle.

(b)  Includes  amounts paid  directly to the  retirement  accounts of management
     staff under the Company's  simplified  employee  pension plan,  and, in the
     case of Robert H. Eder and Orville R.  Harrold,  includes for 1999 premiums
     paid for life  insurance  coverage in the  amounts of $35,224 and  $29,926,
     respectively.

(c)  Includes the cost of a vehicle for Mr. Eder.

(d)  Date of hire,  October 5, 1998.  Appointed to the position of Secretary and
     General Counsel effective March 12, 1999.
<PAGE>
                                     III-5


                      OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

  The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock options
under the  Company's  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Plan to the Named  Executive
Officers during the Company's last fiscal year. The Company does not issue stock
appreciation rights.
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>           <C>       <C>       <C>   <C>      <C>
                                    % of Total
                        Number of    Options
                        Securities   Granted To
                        Underlying   Employees                        Grant Date
                         Options     In Fiscal   Exercise  Expiration    Present
     Name              Granted(a)     1999       Price($)     Date   Value($)(b)
    ------             ----------   ---------     ------    -------- -----------

Robert H. Eder(c)......     0            0            0          0            0

Orville R. Harrold.....   1,087         15.5      12.375    01/04/09       $9.53

P. Scott Conti.........     147          2.1      12.375    01/04/09       $9.53

Robert J. Easton.......     346          4.9      12.375    01/04/09       $9.53

Deborah E. Sedares(d)..     0            0            0          0            0
</TABLE>


(a)  The options were all granted on January 4, 1999 and became  exercisable  on
     July 4, 1999.

(b)  Amounts  represent  fair value of each option and were  estimated as of the
     date of  grant  using  Black-Scholes  options  -  pricing  model  with  the
     following  weighted  average  assumptions:   expected  volatility  of  30%;
     expected life 7 years;  and risk free  interest rate of 6.3%.  Dividends at
     the rate of 1.21% per share were assumed for purposes of this estimate.

(c)  Under the terms of the Company's  Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, Mr. Eder
     is not eligible to receive a grant of stock options.

(d)  Ms.  Sedares  was not  eligible  to  receive  options  under the  Company's
     Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan in 1999.


               AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                        AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES

  The following  table sets forth  individual  exercises of stock options during
1999 and the  year-end  values of options to purchase  Common  Stock held by the
Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 1999.

<TABLE>

                                      Number of Securities
                                   Underlying Unexercised   Value of Unexercised
                                              Options at         In-the-Money at
                                         December 31, 1999  December 31, 1999(b)
                                         -----------------  --------------------
                       Shares
                      Acquired on     Value      Exercisable/       Exercisable/
             Name     Exercise   Realized($)(a) Unexercisable   Unexercisable($)
             ----    ----------- -------------- -------------   ----------------

<S>                      <C>           <C>         <C>   <C>              <C>
Robert H. Eder.......     0             0             0/0                 0/0

Orville R. Harrold...    608           1,510       1,882/0                0/0

P. Scott Conti.......    441           1,773         279/0                0/0

Robert J. Easton.....     0             0          1,313/0              351/0

Deborah E. Sedares...     0             0             0/0                 0/0
</TABLE>


(a)  Based on the last sale  price of the Common  Stock on the date of  exercise
     minus the exercise price.

(b)  Based on the  difference  between the exercise  price of each grant and the
     closing  price of the  Company's  Common  Stock on the AMEX on December 31,
     1999, which was $8.00.
<PAGE>
                                     III-6


Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  The table set forth below reflects the only persons  (including any "group" as
that term is used in Section  13(d)(3) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934)
who,  to the  best of the  Company's  knowledge,  were on  March  3,  2000,  the
beneficial owners of more than five percent of the Company's  outstanding Common
Stock,  $.50 par value,  or Preferred  Stock,  $50 par value.  Each share of the
Company's  outstanding Preferred Stock is convertible at any time, at the option
of the  holder,  into one hundred  shares of Common  Stock of the  Company.  The
footnote to the table below sets forth the percentages of the outstanding Common
Stock  which would be held by the  indicated  owners if such  owners'  Preferred
Stock were converted in whole into Common Stock.

<TABLE>
                                                                       Percent
Name and Address                    Number of Shares Owned             of Class
- ----------------                    ----------------------             --------
<S>                                 <C>                                <C>  <C>
Robert H. and Linda Eder            842,742 (Common)                   19.7%(1)
2441 S.E. Bahia Way                 500 (Preferred)                    77.3%
Stuart, Florida 34996

Cadence Capital Management          235,100 (Common)                    5.5%
One Exchange Place, 29th Floor
Boston, MA  02109

Franklin Resources, Inc.            232,200 (Common)                    5.4%
777 Mariners Island Boulevard
San Mateo, CA  94404
</TABLE>

     (1) Assuming no conversion of Preferred  Stock.  If their  Preferred  Stock
were  converted in whole to Common  Stock,  Mr. and Mrs. Eder would own 20.6% of
the outstanding Common Stock.

     Of the shares owned by Mr. and Mrs.  Eder,  768,162  shares of Common Stock
and 500 shares of Preferred  Stock were held  directly by Mr.  Eder,  and 74,580
shares of Common  Stock  were held  directly  by Mrs.  Eder.  By reason of their
ownership,  Mr. and Mrs. Eder may be deemed to be "control persons" with respect
to the Company.

  The following table reflects as of March 3, 2000, the beneficial  ownership of
the Common  Stock of the  Company  by  directors,  nominees  for  directors  and
officers of the Company.

<TABLE>
Name                                                   Number       Percentage
- ----                                                   ------       ----------
<S>                                                   <C>            <C>
Richard W. Anderson(a) .........................        200,400       4.6%
Frank W. Barrett(b)..............................           860         *
P. Scott Conti(c)................................         1,338         *
John H. Cronin(d)................................         1,760         *
Robert J. Easton(e) .............................         2,992         *
Robert H. Eder(f)................................       892,742      20.6%
J. Joseph Garrahy(g).............................           580         *
Orville R. Harrold(h)............................        28,202         *
John J. Healy(i).................................         1,170         *
Charles M. McCollam, Jr.(j)......................         1,250         *
Deborah E. Sedares...............................           290         *
Merrill W. Sherman...............................           500         *
All executive officers and directors as a group
   (12 people)(k)................................     1,132,084      26.1%
</TABLE>

  *    Less than one percent

(a)  Includes  200,000  shares of common  stock  held by  Massachusetts  Capital
     Resource Company of which Mr. Anderson disclaims beneficial ownership.  Mr.
     Anderson  is  Senior  Vice  President  of  Massachusetts  Capital  Resource

<PAGE>
                                     III-7


     Company.  Includes 100 shares of Common Stock  issuable under stock options
     exercisable  within 60 days.
(b)  Includes  360  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable within 60 days.
(c)  Includes  279  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable within 60 days.
(d)  Includes  430  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable within 60 days.
(e)  Includes 118 shares of Common Stock held by Mr.  Easton's  wife in her name
     and 1,313 shares of Common Stock issuable  under stock options  exercisable
     within 60 days.
(f)  Mr. Eder's business address is 75 Hammond Street, Worcester,  Massachusetts
     01610.  Includes 74,580 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Eder's wife and
     assumes the  conversion  of the 500 shares of Preferred  Stock owned by Mr.
     Eder.
(g)  Includes  310  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable within 60 days.
(h)  Includes (i) 1,700 shares of Common Stock held by Mr.  Harrold's wife, (ii)
     2,600  shares  of  Common  Stock  held  by a  custodian  in  an  individual
     retirement account for the benefit of Mr. Harrold and (iii) 1,882 shares of
     Common Stock issuable under stock options exercisable within 60 days.
(i)  Includes  870  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable  within 60 days.
(j)  Includes  230  shares  of  Common  Stock   issuable   under  stock  options
     exercisable within 60 days.
(k)  Includes  50,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of
     Preferred  Stock and 5,774  shares of Common  Stock  issuable  under  stock
     options exercisable within 60 days.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
- -------------------------------------------------------

  The Company has entered into  agreements  with its executive  officers and key
management  personnel,  including the named  executive  officers  other than Mr.
Eder,  to provide  lump sum  payments  in the event of a "change in  control" as
defined in the subject  agreements.  The agreements are  automatically  extended
from  year to year  unless  terminated  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of the
agreements.  The agreements  also provide that if there is a "change in control"
as defined in the agreement, the terms will continue for 24 months thereafter. A
named  executive  officer  will be  entitled  to a lump sum  payment  equal to a
multiple of his or her base salary if his or her  employment  is  constructively
terminated  without cause in  anticipation  of or within two years following the
"change in control"  or if within two years of the "change in control  event" he
or she voluntarily terminates employment due to a "material change" in the terms
and conditions of the named executive  officer's  employment as is defined under
the  agreements.  The multiplier is determined  based upon years of service with
the  Company.  Mr.  Harrold is entitled  to a lump sum payment  equal to two (2)
times his annual base salary.  Mr. Conti and Mr.  Easton are each  entitled to a
lump sum payment  equal to one and one- half  (1-1/2)  times  their  annual base
salary. Ms. Sedares is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one (1) times her
annual base salary. A lump sum payment may be reduced to the extent necessary to
avoid any  liability  for federal  excise tax levied  under  section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
<PAGE>
                                      IV-1


                                     PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

          (a) (1)  All financial statements: An index of financial statements is
                   included in Item 8, page II-10 of this annual report

              (2)  Financial  Statement  schedules:  Schedule II Valuation  and
                   Qualifying Accounts .........................Page IV-3

                   All  other  schedules  are  omitted  because  they  are  not
                   applicable  or  not   required,   or  because  the  required
                   information  is shown either in the financial  statements or
                   the notes thereto.

              (3)  Listing of Exhibits.

                   (10A)  Material  Contracts  (incorporated  by  reference  to
                   Exhibit 10 to the  registration  statement of the Registrant
                   on Form  10,  to the  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Plan and
                   Employee  Stock Purchase Plan of the Registrant on Forms S-8
                   and to the registration statements of the Registrant on Form
                   S-1).

                        Change in Control Agreement

                   (23) Independent Auditors' Consent

          (b)  A report on Form 8-K was filed under date of December  14,  1999.
               In it the  Registrant  reported  that it had  advised the general
               public  through a press release  dated  December 13, 1999 that it
               had reached  agreement  with Bestfoods with respect to payment of
               the Registrant's 10% share in the recovery  obtained by Bestfoods
               from  its  insurance  carrier  for  remediation  expenses.   This
               settlement  resulted in a final payment to the  Registrant in the
               amount of $947,088.

          (c)  Exhibits (annexed).

          Financial Statement Schedules. See item (a) (2.) above

<PAGE>
                                      IV-2


                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                    PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY

                               /s/ Robert H. Eder

                                By Robert H. Eder
                                -----------------

                             Chief Executive Officer

                              Dated: March 29, 2000

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

     Signature                Title                                 Date
     ---------                -----                                 ----
/s/ Robert H. Eder
- -----------------        Chief Executive                          March 29, 2000
Robert H. Eder           Officer and
                         Chairman (Principal
                         Executive Officer)

/s/ Orville R. Harrold
- -----------------        President and Director                   March 29, 2000
Orville R. Harrold       (Chief Operating
                         Officer)

/s/ Robert J. Easton
- -----------------        Treasurer and Director                   March 29, 2000
Robert J. Easton         (Principal financial
                         officer and principal
                         accounting officer)

/s/ Frank W. Barrett
- -----------------        Director                                 March 29, 2000
Frank W. Barrett

/s/ John H. Cronin
- -----------------        Director                                 March 29, 2000
John H. Cronin

/s/ J. Joseph Garrahy
- -----------------        Director                                 March 29, 2000
J. Joseph Garrahy
<PAGE>
                                      IV-3


                                                            SCHEDULE II

                    PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY

                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, 1998, AND 1997
                              (IN THOUSAND DOLLARS)


<TABLE>

         Column A        Column B    Column C Additions    Column D   Column E
         --------        --------    ------------------    --------   --------
                                      (1)        (2)
                         Balance   Charged to Charged to              Balance
                            at     costs and    other                  at end
       Description      beginning   expenses   accounts   Deductions     of
                        of period            describe(B)     (A)       period

Allowance for doubtful
accounts:

<S>                       <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
Year ended December 31,   $ 125                                        $125
 1999                     =====                                        ====
Year ended December 31,
 1998                     $ 125      $ 15                   $(15)      $125
                          =====      ====                   ====       ====
Year ended December 31,
 1997                     $ 125                  $ 43       $(43)      $125
                          =====                  ====       ====       ====
</TABLE>

(A) Bad debts written off.

(B) Recovery of bad debts previously written off.


<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT 10A

                           Change In Control Agreement

     THIS AGREEMENT  made this 28th day of April 1999 by and between  Providence
and Worcester Railroad Company, a Rhode Island  corporation,  with its principal
office  and  place  of  business  at 75  Hammond  Street,  Worcester,  MA  01610
(hereinafter  called "Employer") and (TITLE) an individual residing at (ADDRESS)
(hereinafter called "Management Employee").

                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS,   Management   Employee  has  been  employed  by  Employer  as  of
(HIRE_DATE); currently in the position of (POSITION); and

     WHEREAS,  if Employer receives any proposal from a third party concerning a
possible  business  combination with, or acquisition of the equity securities of
or a  substantial  portion of the assets of Employer,  the Board of Directors of
Employer  believes it is important  that  Employer and its Board of Directors be
able to rely upon the  Management  Employee to  continue  in his/her  management
position, and that they be able to receive and rely upon his/her advice, if they
request it, as to the best interests of Employer and its  shareholders,  without
concern that  Management  Employee might be distracted by the personal risks and
uncertainties created by such a proposal; and

     WHEREAS,  the terms and  provisions of this Agreement were duly approved by
action of  Employer's  Board of  Directors  at a meeting held on the 28th day of
April, 1999.

     NOW THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions set
forth hereafter, and other good and valuable consideration,  the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

I. Change in Control Protection
   ----------------------------

     A. Termination
        -----------

          In the event that Management  Employee's  position with Employer,  its
          successors  or  assigns  is   terminated   other  than  for  cause  as
          hereinafter  defined ("Cause") as a result of the change in control of
          Employer as hereinafter  defined ("Change in Control  Event"),  within
          two years of the  effective  date of Change in Control  Event then the
          Management  Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits to be
          determined  as of the date of  termination  as  adjusted  based on the
          Change in Control Event and the date of termination:

          Years of  Service
          At Date of               Severance
          Termination              Benefit
          -----------              -------

          0-9 years            One (1) times Annual Base Salary
          10-19 Years          One and one-half (1-1/2) times Annual Base Salary
          20-29 Years          Two (2) times Annual Base Salary
          30 Years or More     Two and one-half (2-1/2) times Annual Base Salary

          Annual Base Salary shall mean the Management Employee's annual rate of
          base pay in  effect  immediately  prior to the  effective  date of the
          Change in Control Event.

          The Management Employee shall be entitled to a pro rata portion of the
          Severance  Benefit as determined in Section  I.A(1) if the  Management
          Employee  is  terminated  other than for Cause by the  Employer at any
          time within the Management  Employee's  Severance  Benefit time period
          following a Change in Control Event.
<PAGE>

          Examples:
          ---------

          Management  Employee  entitled to 1-1/2 times  annual base rate of pay
          Severance   Benefit   based  on  length  of  service  as  of  date  of
          Termination. Termination occurs six (6) months after Change in Control
          Event.  Management  Employee  shall be entitled  to .75 times  his/her
          Annual Base Salary as a Severance Benefit.

          Management  Employee  entitled  to 1 times  annual  base  rate of pay;
          termination occurs 12 months after Change in Control Event; Management
          Employee  is  entitled  to .50 times  his/her  Annual Base Salary as a
          Severance Benefit.

     B. Material Change

          The Management  Employee shall be entitled to the Severance Benefit as
          determined in Section I.A(1) upon a Change in Control Event if:

          1.   Within two (2) years following a Change in Control Event Employer
               (a) significantly reduces the Management Employee's annual salary
               unless there is a general reduction in management  salaries,  and
               (b)  Management  Employee  resigns  his/her  employment  for such
               reason.

               The  Management  Employee shall be entitled to a pro rata portion
               of the Severance  Benefit as determined in Section  I.A(1) if the
               Management  Employee  experiences  a material  change at any time
               within the Management  Employee's  Severance  Benefit time period
               following a Change in Control Event.

     C. Management Employee

          1.   Benefits  payable  hereunder  in the event of a Change in Control
               Event shall be payable  only to a  Management  Employee  who is a
               Management  Employee  as of the  Change  in  Control  Event.  For
               purposes of this Agreement, Management Employee shall not include
               any employee of the Company who is a "beneficial  owner" directly
               or   indirectly,   of  securities   representing   a  controlling
               percentage  of the voting power of  Employer's  then  outstanding
               preferred stock  regardless of said  employee's  ownership of the
               Common  Stock  ,  or  in  the  event  of  a  recapitalization  or
               restructuring of the Employer's  capital,  the result of which is
               the  preferred  stock does not elect a majority of the members of
               the board of Directors,  then the  beneficial  owner  directly or
               indirectly of securities representing more than 50% of the voting
               power of the Employer's stock.


II. Definition of Change in Control Event
    -------------------------------------

     A.   For purposes of this  Agreement,  a "Change in Control Event" shall be
          deemed  to have  occurred  as of the first day that one or more of the
          following conditions shall have occurred.

          2.   any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
               the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the "Act"),
               other than the present controlling owner Robert H. Eder, ("Eder")
               his heirs, executors,  administrators,  legal representatives, or
               trustee of a trust for the benefit of the heirs of Eder,  becomes
               the  "beneficial  owner" (as  defined in Rule 13-d under the Act)
               directly or  indirectly,  of  securities  representing  more than
               fifty  (50%)  percent  of the  voting  power of  Employer's  then
               outstanding preferred stock regardless of said person's ownership
               of the Common  Stock , or in the event of a  recapitalization  or
               restructuring of the Employer's  capital,  the result of which is
               the  preferred  stock does not elect a majority of the members of
               the board of Directors,  then the  beneficial  owner  directly or
               indirectly of securities representing more than 50% of the voting
               power  of the  Employer's  stock.;  or

          3.   the  sale  of all or a  substantial  portion  of  the  assets  of
               Employer; or

          4.   a   merger,   consolidation,   business   combination   or  other
               transaction in which the Employer is not the surviving entity; or
<PAGE>

          5.   Employer adopts and the  shareholders  approve,  if necessary,  a
               plan of complete liquidation.

III. Cause
     -----

     Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this  Agreement,  Employer  may
     terminate  this  Agreement  at any time for  cause.  For  purposes  of this
     Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

     (i)  a  material  breach  by the  Management  Employee  of  the  Management
          Employee's obligations under this Agreement (other than as a result of
          incapacity due to physical or mental  illness)  which is  demonstrably
          willful and deliberate on the  Management  Employee's  part,  which is
          committed in bad faith or without  reasonable  belief that such breach
          is in the best  interest  of Employer  and which is not  remedied in a
          reasonable  period  of time  after  receipt  of notice  from  Employer
          specifying such breach; (ii) the conviction of the Management Employee
          for  committing  an act of  fraud,  embezzlement,  theft or other  act
          constituting  a felony or the  guilty or nolo  contendere  plea of the
          Management  Employee to such a felony;  (iii)  insubordination  or the
          willful  engaging by  Management  Employee in gross  misconduct or the
          willful  violation of an Employer policy which results in material and
          demonstrable injury to Employer;  or (iv) a material act of dishonesty
          or breach of trust on the part of the Management Employee resulting or
          intending  to  result  directly  or  indirectly  in  material  gain or
          enrichment  at the  expense of  Employer.  Any act, or failure to act,
          based upon authority  given  pursuant to a resolution  duly adopted by
          the  Board of  Directors  or based  upon the  advice  of  counsel  for
          Employer shall be  conclusively  presumed to be done, or omitted to be
          done,  by the  Management  Employee  in  good  faith  and in the  best
          interests of Employer.

IV. Confidential Information
    ------------------------

     A.   The  Management  Employee  shall hold in a fiduciary  capacity for the
          benefit of Employer all secret or confidential information,  knowledge
          or data relating to Employer or any of its affiliated  companies,  and
          their  respective  businesses,  which shall have been  obtained by the
          Management  Employee  during the Management  Employee's  employment by
          Employer or any of its affiliated  companies and which shall not be or
          become public knowledge (other than by acts of the Management Employee
          or  representative  of the  Management  Employee in  violation of this
          Agreement).  After termination of the Management Employee's employment
          with Employer,  the Management  Employee shall not,  without the prior
          written consent of the Employer or except as may otherwise be required
          by law or legal process,  communicate or divulge any such information,
          knowledge or data to anyone other than  Employer and those  designated
          by it.

     B.   All records, files,  memoranda,  reports, price lists, customer lists,
          drawings,  designs, proposals,  plans, sketches,  documents,  computer
          programs, CAD systems, CAM systems,  disks, computer printouts and the
          like  (together with all copies  thereof)  relating to the business of
          Employer,  which Management Employee shall use or prepare or otherwise
          have in his/her possession in the course of, or as a result of his/her
          employment hereunder shall, as between the parties hereto,  remain the
          sole  property  of  Employer.   Management  Employee  shall  use  such
          materials solely for the benefit of Employer and shall not divulge any
          such  materials  other than in  furtherance  of Employer's  interests.
          Management  Employee  hereby  agrees  that he/she will return all such
          materials,  including  copies to  Employer  upon  demand,  or upon the
          cessation of his/her employment.

     C.   Any termination of the Management  Employee's  employment hereunder or
          of this Agreement shall have no effect on the continuing operations of
          this Section IV under this Agreement. The parties acknowledge that any
          violation of Section IV can cause  substantial and irreparable harm to
          Employer.  Therefore, Employer shall be entitled to pursue any and all
          legal  and  equitable  remedies,  including  but  not  limited  to any
          injunctions.

V. Dispute Resolution
   ------------------

          Any dispute or  controversy  arising under or in connection  with this
          Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration,  which shall be the
          sole and exclusive method of resolving any questions,  claims or other
          matters  arising  under  this  Agreement.  Such  proceeding  shall  be
          conducted  by final and binding  arbitration  before a panel of one or
          more arbitrators under the administration of the American  Arbitration
          Association,  and in a location  mutually  agreed to by the Management

<PAGE>

          Employee and  Employer.  The Federal and State  courts  located in the
          United  States of America  are  hereby  given  jurisdiction  to render
          judgment upon, and to enforce, each arbitration award, and the parties
          hereby  expressly  consent  and  submit  to the  jurisdiction  of such
          courts.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  in the event that a violation
          of the  Agreement  would cause  irreparable  injury,  Employer and the
          Management  Employee  agree that in addition  to the other  rights and
          remedies  provided in this Agreement (and without waiving their rights
          to have all other  matters  arbitrated  as  provided  above) the other
          party may  immediately  take  judicial  action  to  obtain  injunctive
          relief.

VI. Successors
    ----------

          A.   This Agreement is personal to the Management Employee and without
               the prior  consent of  Employer  shall not be  assignable  by the
               Management Employee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
               and distribution to the extent any benefits payable hereunder are
               due at the time of Management  Employee's  death.  This Agreement
               shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  and  be  enforceable  by  the
               Management  Employee's  legal  representative  to the  extent any
               benefits  payable  hereunder  are due at the  time of  Management
               Employee's death.

          B.   This Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
               Employer and its successors and assigns.

          C.   Employer will require any successor  (whether direct or indirect,
               by  purchase,  merger,  consolidation  or  otherwise)  to  all or
               substantially  all of the business  and/or  assets of Employer to
               assume  expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
               manner and to the same extent that Employer  would be required to
               perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
               Agreement, "Employer" shall mean Employer as hereinbefore defined
               and any  successor  to its  business  and/or  assets as aforesaid
               which  assumes and agrees to perform this  Agreement by operation
               of law, or otherwise.

VII.     Reduced Payment in the Event of Excise Tax
         ------------------------------------------

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, any payments to which
         the Management Employee would be entitled hereunder shall be reduced to
         the extent  necessary to avoid any liability for the federal excise tax
         levied on certain "excess parachute payments" under section 4999 of the
         Internal Revenue Code.

VIII. Miscellaneous
      --------------

          A.   This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance
               with the laws of the State of Rhode Island,  without reference to
               principles  of conflict of laws.  The captions of this  Agreement
               are not part of the provisions  hereof and shall have no force or
               effect.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified  otherwise
               than by a written  agreement  executed by the  parties  hereto or
               their respective successors and legal representatives.

          B.   Notice:  Any notice  required or given under this Agreement shall
               be  sufficient  if in writing and sent by registered or certified
               mail to his/her  residence in the case of Management  Employee or
               to Attention Secretary, Providence and Worcester Railroad Company
               in the case of Employer,  at the addresses hereinabove set forth,
               or to such  addresses as may be  designated  subsequently  by the
               parties  hereto.  Any such notice  shall be deemed  given when so
               addressed and mailed.

          C.   Waiver of Breach: A waiver by Employer or Management  Employee of
               a breach of any  provision  of this  Agreement by the other party
               shall not operate or be construed  as a waiver of any  subsequent
               breach by the other party.

          D.   Employer  may  withhold  from  any  amounts  payable  under  this
               Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required
               to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first hereinabove written.

                                   Providence and Worcester Railroad Company

                                   By:__________________________

                                   Title:_______________________



                                   By:__________________________
                                           (Print Name)

                                   Signature:___________________





<PAGE>


                                                                 EXHIBIT 23

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in  Registration  Statement  Nos.
333-65937 and 333-65949 of Providence and Worcester Railroad Company on Form S-8
of our report dated March 3, 2000 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company for the year ended December 31, 1999.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 27, 2000


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000

<S>                                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                           4,626
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    3,376
<ALLOWANCES>                                       125
<INVENTORY>                                      2,107
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                10,223
<PP&E>                                         105,504
<DEPRECIATION>                                  29,497
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  86,371
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            2,997
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                         32
<COMMON>                                         2,141
<OTHER-SE>                                      64,510
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    86,371
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                25,845
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   21,129
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,716
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,690
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,026
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,026
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .70


</TABLE>


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