Naugatuck Railroad - History

History

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) and New Haven FA-1 0401 (restoration started but on hold) . 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.