The Railroad Museum of New England is a railroad museum based in Thomaston, Connecticut. Through its operating subsidiary known as the Naugatuck Railroad, the museum operates excursion and freight trains on the Torrington Secondary between Waterville and Torrington. 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 had been founded in the mid-1960s). Home to one of the largest collections of preserved historic railroad equipment in New England, RMNE and its predecessor organizations have been active since the 1960s.[1]
History
Origins
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 opening the Valley Railroad in Essex, Connecticut in 1971. The volunteers of the non-profit CVRA established a relationship with the for-profit Valley Railroad allowing for a permanent home for the organization's growing collection. In exchange, volunteers contributed to the upkeep and operation of the Valley Railroad's trains.
Through the 1980s, more pieces were added to the collection, restored, and occasionally operated on the Valley Railroad. By the end of the decade, it was clear CVRA would need to find its own home if they were to continue their mission of preservation and grow their collection.
Search for a permanent home (1993-1996)
The volunteers wanted to remain in Connecticut if possible, as it provided a central location for most of the active members. Once Conrail sold off its local freight operations to the Housatonic Railroad in 1993, they abandoned the former New Haven freight yard in Danbury, Connecticut. The complex included a turntable and former roundhouse site, active rail connections, and frequent passenger service provided by Metro-North Railroad's Danbury Branch. The site was turned down as there was no guarantee the museum would be able to operate regular excursions, which they saw as critical to their survival. Instead, the Danbury Railway Museum was established there in 1994.
Another location considered was the site of the former New Haven Columbia Junction roundhouse and freight yard in Willimantic, Connecticut. While the site offered plenty of room, almost nothing of the original facility remained other than a few derelict foundations. The active rail of the New England Central Railroad ran along the site, but there was no way the museum would be able to secure permission to operate excursions. Instead, the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum was established there in 1995.
The Naugatuck Railroad reborn (1996-present)
Thomaston station in 2020
In early 1995, the RMNE was offered the opportunity to develop the ex-New Haven line from Waterbury to Torrington, owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT). RMNE chartered a "new" Naugatuck Railroad Company in June 1995 (150 years to the month after the original Naugatuck Railroad charter in 1845) and worked with CDOT Rail Operations to get the new railroad into operation during the 1996 season.
Efforts came to fruition in September 1996 when the current Naugatuck Railroad commenced a tourist scenic train over the 19.6 miles (31.5 km) of the Naugatuck Railroad's right-of-way that had opened for service in September 1849.[2]
The railroad is headquartered at Thomaston station, built in 1881 and last used by passengers in 1958. Disused for many years, it was set on fire by vandals in 1993. Ownership was transferred to RMNE in 1996. With a grant from a local bank, the roof was replaced in 1997. Volunteers have been steadily repairing and restoring the building to its mid-century appearance.[3]
Tourist excursions are run several days a week between May and December from the historic Thomaston Station. The 75-minute trip runs between Thomaston Dam and Waterville, covering about 18 miles (29 km) total. Occasional excursions run between Thomaston and Torrington.
Special event trains are run during fall and winter months.
RMNE has an extensive collection of locomotives and rolling stock of New England heritage, with over 60 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.
Acquired in 1987 from the Empire State Railway Museum and was moved to Thomaston from Essex in June of 2009.[4] In 2023, it was announced that the locomotive would return to operation.
New Haven #0401 operated in regular service on the New Haven Railroad until the merger with Penn Central, when the locomotive was renumbered to #1330. In 1974, the locomotive began operation on the Long Island Rail Road as #618. In 1985, the Railroad Museum of New England acquired the #618 and was renumbered to #0401. The #0401 was the first ALCO cab-type diesel locomotive to be preserved in the United States. #0401 was moved to the Railroad Museum of New England's property on the Valley Railroad in 1986 and was later moved to the RMNE's new property in 2008.
New Haven #529 operated on the New Haven Railroad until the merger with Penn Central. The locomotive was renumbered to #5536 and was later sold to Amtrak and again renumbered to #1338, and again renumbered to #138. The locomotive was acquired in 1985 and was renumbered to #529, being the first former New Haven Railroad locomotive to ever be preserved. #529 returned to service in 1985 on the Valley Railroad and in 1986, the locomotive was returned to the classic 1959 New Haven Railroad paint scheme. The locomotive was moved to the RMNE's new property, when the RMNE collection was moved from Old Saybrook, and the #529 operated the first train on the new Naugatuck Railroad in 1996.[6]
Being the last FL9 to be built, #2033 operated with the New Haven as #2059 until the merger with Penn Central, when the locomotive became Penn Central #5059 and eventually Conrail #5059. When the Metro-North Commuter Railroad acquired the locomotive, it was again renumbered to #2033. In 2002, the locomotive was acquired by the Railroad Museum of New England and moved to the RMNE shops in 2003.[8]
Being the last U23B ever built, #2203 operated with Conrail as #2798 until it was sold to Providence & Worcester in the early 1990s and renumbered to #2203. Shortly after being retired from P&W in 2002, the #2203 was acquired by the RMNE, and was moved to their property in 2003.[9]
Being the final locomotive built for the New Haven Railroad, the #2525 ran in regular service on the New Haven until the merger with Penn Central and was renumbered to #2685, and eventually became Conrail #2685. The locomotive was retired from Conrail in 1982 and was acquired by the Railroad Museum of New England and was moved to the Valley Railroad in 1986. The locomotive was renumbered to #2525 and returned to service in 1986, eventually returning to an "as-built" look. The #2525 was moved to the RMNE's new property in Waterbury when the RMNE's collection was moved from Old Saybrook.
Built for the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a SPV-2000 commuter coach. The car was later depowered and converted into a conference car for the governor of Connecticut. The coach was acquired by a private individual and is currently leased to the NAUG and entered service at the end of the 2023 holiday season.
3659
Open Air/Crew Car
1945
Pullman
Built as a troop sleeper car and later converted to a baggage/mail express car. The car was donated to the RMNE 1976, and was restored in 1984, and a second restoration in 2019. [10]
4952
1920
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated to the RMNE in the 1990s. #4952 arrived at RMNE property in 1996.[11] Out of service.
4980
Coach
1924
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated the RMNE in the 1990s. #4980 arrived at RMNE property in 1997.[11] Used on the Naugatuck Railroad's passenger excursions.
5046
Coach
1923
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated to the RMNE in the 1990s. #5046 arrived at RMNE property in 1996.[11] In 2023, the coach was repainted to a Canadian National Railway inspired Naugatuck Railroad Paint scheme and is used on the Naugatuck Railroad's passenger excursions.
5084
Coach
1924
CC&F
Acquired from the Bytown Railway Society in 2024. Renumbered from 4977 to original CN number #5084. Entered service on 2024 holiday excursions.
5089
Lounge
1927
NSC
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated to the RMNE in the 1990s. #5089 arrived at RMNE property in 1997.[11] The coach was rebuilt to a lounge car in 2021 and in 2022 was repainted to a Canadian National Railway inspired Naugatuck Railroad paint scheme along with being renumbered from 4992 to its original CN number of 5089. The coach is used as a first-class lounge car on the Naugatuck Railroad's passenger excursions.
5114
Coach
1927
NSC
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated to the RMNE in the 1990s. #5114 arrived at RMNE property in 1997.[11] The coach is used on the Naugatuck Railroad's passenger excursions.
5805
1923
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was donated to the RMNE in 1990s. #5805 arrived at RMNE property in 1997.[11] Out of service.
6606
1923
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was acquired by the RMNE. #6606 arrived at RMNE property in 1996.[11] Out of service.
6608
1923
CC&F
Built for the Canadian National Railway for mainline service and were later used for commuter service in the 1969-1970s. Was acquired by the RMNE. #6608 arrived at RMNE property in 1997.[11] Out of service.
Two pieces of former Boston and Maine Railroad equipment – caboose C-472 and locomotive 1109 – at Thomaston in 2020
