Railroad Museum of New England
Encyclopedia
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
Connecticut Valley Railroad Museum's
goals and visions (CVRM was originally founded in the mid 1960's).
The CVRM (and predecessor organization - The Connecticut Valley Railroad Association [CVRA]) was responsible for organizing steam train excursions within Connecticut during the late 1960s and was instrumental in founding the Valley Railroad
(Essex Steam Train) in Essex, Connecticut
.
In early 1995, the RMNE was offered the opportunity to develop the ex-New Haven line from Waterbury to Torrington line, owned by Connecticut DOT.
Efforts came to fruition in September 1996 when the current Naugatuck Railroad commenced a tourist scenic train over the 19.6 miles of the original Naugatuck Railroad's right-of-way that had originally opened for service in September 1849.
Tourist excursions are run several days a week between May and October from the historic Thomaston Station. Thomaston Station was built in 1881. The 75-minute trip runs between Thomaston Dam and Waterville, covering about 18 miles total. Occasional passenger shuttles operate from East Litchfield to Torrington
.
Special event trains are run during Fall and Winter months. The railroad participated in the Day out with Thomas
program before the 2010 season.
RMNE has an extensive collection of locomotives and rolling stock of New England heritage, with over 80 pieces of full-sized railroad equipment. The New Haven
, Boston & Maine
, Maine Central
, Rutland
, and Bangor & Aroostook
railroads are represented. Numerous smaller items, from signals to railroad corporate records, are also part of RMNE's artifact holdings.
Volunteers operate the trains and maintain the locomotive
s and other rolling stock
. The Museum has a program called Engineer For an Hour, which for a fee allows members of the public to operate a locomotive under the guidance of a qualified engineer.
Naugatuck Railroad
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...
between Waterville, CT and Thomaston, CT
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...
. The Railroad Museum of New England name and trademark was adopted in 1987, as a result of reassessing the
Connecticut Valley Railroad Museum's
Valley Railroad (Connecticut)
The Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut originally founded in 1868. It is best known for operating the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.-Essex Steam Train and Riverboat:...
goals and visions (CVRM was originally founded in the mid 1960's).
The CVRM (and predecessor organization - The Connecticut Valley Railroad Association [CVRA]) was responsible for organizing steam train excursions within Connecticut during the late 1960s and was instrumental in founding the Valley Railroad
Valley Railroad
The following railroads have been called Valley Railroad:*Valley Railroad , a tourist line*Valley Railroad , 1869-1945, predecessor of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad*Valley Railroad , Westline to Kushequa...
(Essex Steam Train) in Essex, Connecticut
Essex, Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.- History :- The Great Attack :...
.
In early 1995, the RMNE was offered the opportunity to develop the ex-New Haven line from Waterbury to Torrington line, owned by Connecticut DOT.
Efforts came to fruition in September 1996 when the current Naugatuck Railroad commenced a tourist scenic train over the 19.6 miles of the original Naugatuck Railroad's right-of-way that had originally opened for service in September 1849.
Tourist excursions are run several days a week between May and October from the historic Thomaston Station. Thomaston Station was built in 1881. The 75-minute trip runs between Thomaston Dam and Waterville, covering about 18 miles total. Occasional passenger shuttles operate from East Litchfield to 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....
.
Special event trains are run during Fall and Winter months. The railroad participated in the Day out with Thomas
Day out with Thomas
Day Out With Thomas is a trade name, licensed by HiT Entertainment, for tourist events that take place on heritage railways and feature one or more trains decorated to look like characters from the children's TV series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
program before the 2010 season.
RMNE has an extensive collection of locomotives and rolling stock of New England heritage, with over 80 pieces of full-sized railroad equipment. The New Haven
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...
, Boston & Maine
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
, Maine Central
Maine Central Railroad
The Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
, Rutland
Rutland Railroad
The Rutland Railway was a small railroad in the northeastern United States, primarily in the state of Vermont but extending into the state of New York. The earliest ancestor of the Rutland, the Rutland & Burlington Railroad, was chartered in 1843 by the state of Vermont to build between Rutland...
, and Bangor & Aroostook
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad is a defunct United States railroad company, that brought rail service to Aroostook County, Maine. Brightly painted BAR box cars attracted national attention in the 1950s. First-generation diesel locomotives operated on BAR until they were museum pieces...
railroads are represented. Numerous smaller items, from signals to railroad corporate records, are also part of RMNE's artifact holdings.
Volunteers operate the trains and maintain the locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s and other rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
. The Museum has a program called Engineer For an Hour, which for a fee allows members of the public to operate a locomotive under the guidance of a qualified engineer.