Railroad Museum of New England


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. 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.
WWW Official Site

History

Origins

The CVRM 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)

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. RMNE chartered a "new" Naugatuck Railroad Company in June 1995 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 of the Naugatuck Railroad's right-of-way that had opened for service in September 1849.
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. The station also houses historic railroad displays, and a display track that houses historic railroad equipment is also located at the Thomaston Station.
Tourist excursions are run several days a week between May and December from the historic Thomaston Station. The length of the railroad is about total. Excursions operate between Waterbury and Torrington.
The railroad's restoration shop and storage yard are located in Thomaston, Connecticut.
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.
Museum volunteers and Naugatuck Railroad employees operate the trains and maintain the locomotives and other rolling stock.

Recent Restorations

  • In 2024, the RMNE cosmetically restored former 1936 MEC Snowplow #70. The plow was used by the Maine Central, before being sold to the Green Mountain Railroad in 1981, and later being sold to the RMNE in 1996. The plow was vandalized in 2023, which included graffiti along with a breaking of a window.
  • In 2024, ex-Bangor and Aroostook "State of Maine" potato car #2569 was restored.