Naugatuck Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Naugatuck Railroad was a railroad that ran through south central Connecticut
from 1849 to 1887. In the latter year the line was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
and was wholly owned by the New Haven by 1906. At its greatest extent the Naugatuck ran from Bridgeport
north to Winsted
. Since 1996 the portion of the line north of Waterbury
has been leased from the Connecticut Department of Transportation
(CDOT) by the Railroad Museum of New England
, which operates excursion trains from Thomaston
station to the Waterville neighborhood of Waterbury. The museum operating subsidiary is named Naugatuck Railroad in honor of the line's original owner. Track currently ends in Torrington
. From Waterbury south to the New Haven Line, Metro-North Railroad
operates commuter service on the Waterbury Branch
.
The Naugatuck Railroad was chartered May 1845 and organized February 1848. On May 15, 1849, the first section opened, from a junction with the just-completed New York and New Haven Railroad
north to Seymour
. Extensions opened to Waterbury
June 11 and the rest of the way to Winsted
September 24, where the Central New England Railway
later passed through. On November 1, 1870 the Naugatuck Railroad leased the Watertown and Waterville Railroad, giving it a branch to Waterville. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
leased the Naugatuck on May 24, 1887, and merged it January 31, 1906.
In the mid- to late 1900s, the line was abandoned from Derby Junction north to Ansonia
in favor of the original New Haven and Derby Railroad on the other (west) side of the Naugatuck River
.
Passenger service north of Waterbury, to Torrington and Winsted, ended in December 1958, and the line was abandoned between Torrington and Winsted in 1963.
The NYNH&H merged into Penn Central in 1969; by then the line north of Waterbury was named the Torrington Secondary Track, and ended at Torrington
. On January 1, 1971, the State of Connecticut and the MTA
leased passenger and freight operations along the Waterbury Branch to Penn Central. By 1976 Penn Central operations were being handled by Conrail.
The CDOT
purchased the line between Devon
and Torrington in 1982 from Conrail. The line north of Waterbury was leased by CDOT to the Boston and Maine Corporation in 1982, and after B&M discontinued freight service north of Waterbury in 1995, CDOT leased the line to the new Naugatuck Railroad (NAUG). NAUG started operations in September 1996. Operated by the Railroad Museum of New England, NAUG is a heritage railway
, primarily an excursion and historic passenger operation, with an irregular freight service (as-needed).
The current heavyweight passenger cars used by the Naugatuck are retired Canadian National coaches. Coaches 4980, 4992, and 5046 are the regularly assigned ones with 4990 as the spare. As of 2010 coach 5805 is still undergoing a major restoration by the museum's volunteers. There are several original New Haven coaches owned by the museum/railroad but none currently restored to usable condition. Visitors can see and will pass by these cars during the train trip.
Motive power currently (2010) is rotated among Alco RS-3 529 (the only surviving New Haven RS-3), GE U23B 2203 (an ex-P&W unit, nee-Conrail 2798. It is the last "U boat" built, June 1977) and EMD FL-9 2019 (a retired CDOT unit that was rebuilt in 1985. Originally New Haven 2049).
Two other units stored that are close to operating with some repairs are EMD FL-9 2002 (another retired CDOT unit that was also rebuilt in 1985, originally New Haven 2005, it is the oldest surviving FL-9) and Alco RS-3 1508 (originally a Boston and Maine unit currently wearing a New York Central paint scheme. It has been through several owners in its life including Delaware and Hudson, Western Maryland Scenic and Cheasing Central and Owosso, a defunct Michigan tourist operation that put the unit in NYC paint in 1999.)
Other locomotives stored that can be seen during the train trip are:
Boston and Maine SW-1 1109 (built 1939, cosmetically restored in the early 1990s)
Maine Central RS-3 557 (the only surviving MEC RS unit, plans are to restore to operating condition in the future)
Metro North FL-9 2033 (the last F unit built, originally NH 2059, awaiting restoration)
New Haven U25B 2525 (awaiting repairs to be brought back into service)
Boston and Maine GP-9 1732 (currently having its prime mover rebuilt) New Haven FA-1 0401 (restoration started but on hold) and ex-CDOT (New Haven paint scheme) F7m's 6690 and 6691 (originally Southern Pacific units). Steam locomotives 1246 (a CP unit last in service in early 1986) and 103 (last in service in 1975) are also on the roster/property. There is also a GE 44-tonner (RMNE #42) and a 25-tonner.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
from 1849 to 1887. In the latter year the line was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
and was wholly owned by the New Haven by 1906. At its greatest extent the Naugatuck ran from Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
north to Winsted
Winsted, Connecticut
Winsted is a census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Winchester, Connecticut. The population was 7,321 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Since 1996 the portion of the line north of Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
has been leased from the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
(CDOT) by the Railroad Museum of New England
Railroad Museum of New England
The Railroad Museum of New England operates the Naugatuck Railroad between Waterville, CT and Thomaston, CT. The Railroad Museum of New England name and trademark was adopted in 1987, as a result of reassessing the...
, which operates excursion trains from Thomaston
Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,503 at the 2000 census.-History:The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled in the early 18th century. The town is known for clock making, which...
station to the Waterville neighborhood of Waterbury. The museum operating subsidiary is named Naugatuck Railroad in honor of the line's original owner. Track currently ends in Torrington
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
. From Waterbury south to the New Haven Line, Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
operates commuter service on the Waterbury Branch
Waterbury Branch
Metro-North Railroad's Waterbury Branch is a branch of the New Haven Line, running north from a junction east of Stratford to Waterbury. Originally built as the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted...
.
History
New York and New Haven Railroad
The New York and New Haven Railroad was a railroad connecting New York City to New Haven, Connecticut along the shore of the Long Island Sound. It opened in 1849, and in 1872 it merged with the Hartford and New Haven Railroad to form the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad...
north to Seymour
Seymour, Connecticut
Seymour is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. The population was 15,454 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. Extensions opened to Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
June 11 and the rest of the way to Winsted
Winsted, Connecticut
Winsted is a census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Winchester, Connecticut. The population was 7,321 at the 2000 census.-History:...
September 24, where the Central New England Railway
Central New England Railway
The Central New England Railway was a railroad from Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts west across northern Connecticut and across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Bridge to Maybrook, New York...
later passed through. On November 1, 1870 the Naugatuck Railroad leased the Watertown and Waterville Railroad, giving it a branch to Waterville. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
leased the Naugatuck on May 24, 1887, and merged it January 31, 1906.
In the mid- to late 1900s, the line was abandoned from Derby Junction north to Ansonia
Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, on the Naugatuck River, immediately north of Derby and about northwest of New Haven. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North railroad...
in favor of the original New Haven and Derby Railroad on the other (west) side of the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
.
Passenger service north of Waterbury, to Torrington and Winsted, ended in December 1958, and the line was abandoned between Torrington and Winsted in 1963.
The NYNH&H merged into Penn Central in 1969; by then the line north of Waterbury was named the Torrington Secondary Track, and ended at Torrington
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
. On January 1, 1971, the State of Connecticut and the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
leased passenger and freight operations along the Waterbury Branch to Penn Central. By 1976 Penn Central operations were being handled by Conrail.
The CDOT
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
purchased the line between Devon
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
and Torrington in 1982 from Conrail. The line north of Waterbury was leased by CDOT to the Boston and Maine Corporation in 1982, and after B&M discontinued freight service north of Waterbury in 1995, CDOT leased the line to the new Naugatuck Railroad (NAUG). NAUG started operations in September 1996. Operated by the Railroad Museum of New England, NAUG is a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
, primarily an excursion and historic passenger operation, with an irregular freight service (as-needed).
The current heavyweight passenger cars used by the Naugatuck are retired Canadian National coaches. Coaches 4980, 4992, and 5046 are the regularly assigned ones with 4990 as the spare. As of 2010 coach 5805 is still undergoing a major restoration by the museum's volunteers. There are several original New Haven coaches owned by the museum/railroad but none currently restored to usable condition. Visitors can see and will pass by these cars during the train trip.
Motive power currently (2010) is rotated among Alco RS-3 529 (the only surviving New Haven RS-3), GE U23B 2203 (an ex-P&W unit, nee-Conrail 2798. It is the last "U boat" built, June 1977) and EMD FL-9 2019 (a retired CDOT unit that was rebuilt in 1985. Originally New Haven 2049).
Two other units stored that are close to operating with some repairs are EMD FL-9 2002 (another retired CDOT unit that was also rebuilt in 1985, originally New Haven 2005, it is the oldest surviving FL-9) and Alco RS-3 1508 (originally a Boston and Maine unit currently wearing a New York Central paint scheme. It has been through several owners in its life including Delaware and Hudson, Western Maryland Scenic and Cheasing Central and Owosso, a defunct Michigan tourist operation that put the unit in NYC paint in 1999.)
Other locomotives stored that can be seen during the train trip are:
Boston and Maine SW-1 1109 (built 1939, cosmetically restored in the early 1990s)
Maine Central RS-3 557 (the only surviving MEC RS unit, plans are to restore to operating condition in the future)
Metro North FL-9 2033 (the last F unit built, originally NH 2059, awaiting restoration)
New Haven U25B 2525 (awaiting repairs to be brought back into service)
Boston and Maine GP-9 1732 (currently having its prime mover rebuilt) New Haven FA-1 0401 (restoration started but on hold) and ex-CDOT (New Haven paint scheme) F7m's 6690 and 6691 (originally Southern Pacific units). Steam locomotives 1246 (a CP unit last in service in early 1986) and 103 (last in service in 1975) are also on the roster/property. There is also a GE 44-tonner (RMNE #42) and a 25-tonner.