United States
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report: December 14, 2009


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

              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter

  Rhode Island                      0-16704                  05-0344399
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State of incorporation         (Commission                (IRS Employer Iden-
  or organization)                File Number)                tification No.)

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

  Registrant's telephone number:  508-755-4000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Officers.
          ---------


          On December 11, 2009, Robert J. Easton,  Treasurer and Chief Financial
          Officer of Providence and Worcester  Railroad Company (the "Company"),
          a named executive officer of the Company, resigned his position.



                                    Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereto duly authorized.

                                    Providence and Worcester
                                      Railroad Company

                                    By: /s/ Marie A. Angelini
                                        ---------------------
                                    Marie A. Angelini, Secretary
                                    and General Counsel


Date: December 14, 2009
                                        2
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/", "cik": "0000831968", "assigned-sic": "4011", "irs-number": "050344399", "state-of-incorporation": "RI", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-12761", "film-number": "091239015"}, "business-address": {"street1": "75 HAMMOND ST", "city": "WORCESTER", "state": "MA", "zip": "01610", "phone": "5087554000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO", "street2": "75 HAMMOND STREET", "city": "WORCESTER", "state": "MA", "zip": "01610"}}
United States
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                          Date of Report: December 14, 2009

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

              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter

  Rhode Island                      0-16704                  05-0344399
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State of incorporation         (Commission                (IRS Employer Iden-
  or organization)                File Number)                tification No.)

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

  Registrant's telephone number:  508-755-4000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Officers.
          ---------

          On December 11, 2009, Robert J. Easton,  Treasurer and Chief Financial
          Officer of Providence and Worcester  Railroad Company (the "Company"),
          a named executive officer of the Company, resigned his position.

                                    Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereto duly authorized.

                                    Providence and Worcester
                                      Railroad Company

                                    By: /s/ Marie A. Angelini
                                        ---------------------
                                    Marie A. Angelini, Secretary
                                    and General Counsel

Date: December 14, 2009
                                        2