Rockport was opened as the terminus of the Rockport Railroad (an independent extension of the Eastern Railroad's Gloucester Branch) in November 1861.
The only loop on the entire Boston & Maine system was built at Rockport in the early 1900s, just west of the station around what is now Loop Pond.
Although most trains did not need to be turned, private and parlor cars run in the summer months needed to be reversed before the return trip.

Double-ended Budd RDC railcars took over service in 1955, though the loop was in regular use until 1962.
The loop tracks were removed in 1965.
An unpaved trail, connected to Tarrs Lane and Applecart Road, now follows the path of the loop.

Initially, Rockport trains were operated by the Eastern Railroad and met Eastern mainline trains at Beverly.
In 1864, trains began to be through-routed to Boston to increase frequencies on the inner part of the trunk line.
The Eastern bought the branch in 1868; by the 1870s, regular commuter service was available.
The Eastern was leased by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1885 and merged into it in 1890.
Rockport service continued in the same fashion for decades, with 13 inbound round trips in 1906, 14 trips in 1950, and 11 trips in 1962.

The former station building is no longer extant, having been torn down around the 1950s.
However, the original freight house, built between 1861 and 1884, is still in place east of the layover yard.
It has long been used for storage by an animal feeds dealer, but may be rehabilitated for MBTA office and storage use.
Rockport was opened as the terminus of the Rockport Railroad (an independent extension of the Eastern Railroad's Gloucester Branch) in November 1861. The only loop on the entire Boston & Maine system was built at Rockport in the early 1900s, just west of the station around what is now Loop Pond. Although most trains did not need to be turned, private and parlor cars run in the summer months needed to be reversed before the return trip.
Double-ended Budd RDC railcars took over service in 1955, though the loop was in regular use until 1962. The loop tracks were removed in 1965. An unpaved trail, connected to Tarrs Lane and Applecart Road, now follows the path of the loop.
Initially, Rockport trains were operated by the Eastern Railroad and met Eastern mainline trains at Beverly. In 1864, trains began to be through-routed to Boston to increase frequencies on the inner part of the trunk line. The Eastern bought the branch in 1868; by the 1870s, regular commuter service was available. The Eastern was leased by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1885 and merged into it in 1890. Rockport service continued in the same fashion for decades, with 13 inbound round trips in 1906, 14 trips in 1950, and 11 trips in 1962.
The former station building is no longer extant, having been torn down around the 1950s. However, the original freight house, built between 1861 and 1884, is still in place east of the layover yard. It has long been used for storage by an animal feeds dealer, but may be rehabilitated for MBTA office and storage use.
Rockport station