List of Connecticut railroads

This is a list of railroad companies which currently or formerly operated at least partially in the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Active railroads

Common freight carriers
Freight carriers
Name Mark Image Founded Predecessor(s) Description Owner Reference
Branford Steam Railroad BRFD 1903 Hauls stone from a Tilcon quarry in North Branford. Tilcon Connecticut [1]
Central New England Railroad CNZR 1995
Operates two branch lines in and around Hartford. Independent [1]
Connecticut Southern Railroad CSO 1996 Conrail Operates along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line via trackage rights, along with several branches. Hauls freight between Cedar Hill Yard and West Springfield, Massachusetts, for CSX. Genesee & Wyoming [1]
CSX Transportation CSXT 1980 Conrail Assumed Conrail's Connecticut operations in 1999, chiefly on the New Haven Line and at Cedar Hill Yard. CSX Corporation [1]
Housatonic Railroad HRRC 1983
Operates a north-south line in western Connecticut, along with several branches. Independent [1]
Naugatuck Railroad NAUG 1996 Guilford Rail System Primarily a heritage railroad, but also provides freight service between Waterbury and Torrington. Railroad Museum of New England [1]
New England Central Railroad NECR 1995 Central Vermont Railway Operates a main line between New London and the Massachusetts state line, via Willimantic. Genesee & Wyoming [1]
Pan Am Southern PAS 2009 Pan Am Railways Joint venture between NS and PAR, operates all former PAR trackage in the state.
[1]
Providence and Worcester Railroad PW 1847 (original company) Penn Central Separated from Penn Central Transportation Company in 1973, operates across central and western Connecticut. Genesee & Wyoming [1]

Passenger carriers
Name Mark Image Founded Predecessor(s) Description Owner References
Amtrak AMTK 1971 Penn Central Transportation Company National intercity passenger railroad of the United States. Operates on the Northeast Corridor, owns and operates the New Haven–Springfield Line. Federal government of the United States [2]
CT Rail CNDX 1990 N/A Brand for commuter rail services operated by the State of Connecticut. Includes the Hartford Line, run under contract by TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts, and Shore Line East, run under contract by Amtrak. Connecticut Department of Transportation [3][4][5]
Metro-North Railroad MNCW 1983 Conrail Operates commuter service along the New Haven Line, New Canaan Branch, Danbury Branch, and Waterbury Branch, under contract with the state of Connecticut. Metropolitan Transportation Authority [6]

Heritage railroads
Name Mark Image Founded Predecessor(s) Description Owner References
Connecticut Trolley Museum 1940 Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Company
Danbury Railway Museum DRMX 1994 Metro-North Railroad Independent
Naugatuck Railroad NAUG 1996 Railroad Museum of New England
Shore Line Trolley Museum 1945 Connecticut Company Branford Electric Railway Association
Valley Railroad VALE 1971 Penn Central Transportation Company

Defunct railroads
Name Mark System[nb 1] From[nb 2] To[nb 3] Successor Description References
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad NH 1863 1874 New York and New England Railroad
Boston and Maine Corporation BM 1983 Still exists as a lessor of Pan Am Railways operating subsidiary Springfield Terminal Railway
Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad NH 1875 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Boston and New York Central Railroad NH 1853 1858 Midland Railroad
Boston, Norwich and New London Railroad NH 1832 1836 Norwich and Worcester Railroad
Branch Company NH 1845 1850 Hartford and New Haven Railroad Built a short spur between the H&NH main line in Hartford, and the Connecticut River. [7]
Central New England Railway CNE NH 1899 1927 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Central New England and Western Railroad NH 1889 1892 Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad
Central Vermont Railroad CN 1873 1899 Central Vermont Railway
Central Vermont Railway CV CN 1899 1995 New England Central Railroad
Colchester Railroad NH 1876 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Connecticut Central Railroad[nb 4] CCCL 1987 1998 Providence and Worcester Railroad Shortline railroad that operated former Conrail trackage in and around Middletown, Connecticut. [8][9]
Connecticut Central Railroad NH 1871 1887 New York and New England Railroad
Connecticut Valley Railroad NH 1868 1880 Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad
Connecticut Western Railroad NH 1868 1881 Hartford and Connecticut Western Railroad
Consolidated Rail Corporation CR 1976 1999 CSX Transportation
Danbury and Norwalk Railroad NH 1850 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Danbury Terminal Railroad DTRR 1993 1996 Housatonic Railroad
East Granby and Suffield Railroad NH 1901 1908 Central New England Railway
East Thompson Railroad NH 1853 1858 Boston and New York Central Railroad
Fairfield County Railroad NH 1835 1850 Danbury and Norwalk Railroad
Farmington Valley Railroad NH 1852 1862 New Haven and Northampton Railroad Built an extension of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad from Granby to the Massachusetts state line, leased by the NH&N soon after completion. [10]
Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad NH 1879 1892 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Hartford and Connecticut Western Railroad NH 1881 1947 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Hartford and New Haven Railroad NH 1833 1872 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Hartford and Providence Railroad NH 1847 1849 Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad
Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad NH 1849 1879 New York and New England Railroad
Hartford and Springfield Railroad NH 1835 1847 Hartford and New Haven Railroad
Housatonic Railroad NH 1836 1898 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Manchester Railroad NH 1833 1847 Hartford and Providence Railroad
Manufacturers' Railroad[nb 5] NH 1893 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Meriden and Cromwell Railroad NH 1882 1888 Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad
Meriden and Waterbury Railroad NH 1887 1888 Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad
Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad NH 1888 1896 Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad
Middletown Railroad NH 1844 1850 Hartford and New Haven Railroad Formed by citizens of Middletown to connect their city to the H&NH main line in Berlin. Built in 1848, purchased by the H&NH in 1850. [7]
Middletown Extension Railroad NH 1857 1861 Hartford and New Haven Railroad Formed to build an extension of the Middletown Railroad to the Connecticut River. Built in 1860, consolidated into the Hartford and New Haven Railroad the following year. [11][12]
Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad NH 1897 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Midland Railroad NH 1858 1862 Midland Land Damage Company
Midland Land Damage Company NH 1861 1863 Southern Midland Railroad
Naugatuck Railroad NH 1845 1906 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New Britain and Middletown Railroad NH 1852 1868 Hartford and New Haven Railroad Formed by citizens in New Britain to construct a short branch to the H&NH in Berlin. Constructed in 1862, it was operated by the H&NH until that company absorbed it in 1868. [7]
New Canaan Railroad NH 1866 1883 Stamford and New Canaan Railroad
New England Railroad NH 1895 1908 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New Haven and Derby Railroad NH 1864 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad NH 1867 1875 Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad
New Haven and New London Railroad NH 1848 1865 Shore Line Railway
New Haven, New London and Stonington Railroad NH 1858 1864 New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
New Haven and Northampton Railroad NH 1846 1910 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New London Northern Railroad CN 1859 1951 Central Vermont Railway
New London and Stonington Railroad NH 1852 1864 New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad CN 1849 1861 New London Northern Railroad
New London, Willimantic and Springfield Railroad CN 1847 1849 New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad
New York and Boston Railroad NH 1846 1865 Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad
New York and Hartford Railroad NH 1845 1849 Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad
New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad NH 1864 1882 Housatonic Railroad
New York and New England Railroad NH 1873 1895 New England Railroad
New York and New Haven Railroad NH 1844 1872 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad NH NH 1872 1969 Penn Central Transportation Company
New York, Providence and Boston Railroad NH 1833 1893 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York and Stonington Railroad NH 1832 1833 New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
Norwich and Worcester Railroad NH 1836 1976 Consolidated Rail Corporation
Penn Central Transportation Company PC 1969 1976 Consolidated Rail Corporation
Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad NH 1892 1899 Central New England Railway
Rockville Railroad NH 1863 1907 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Rockville Branch Railroad NH 1857 1863 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad[nb 6] NH 1866 1898 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Shore Line Railway NH 1864 1897 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
South Manchester Railroad NH 1866 1976 Consolidated Rail Corporation
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad NH 1849 1853 Boston and New York Central Railroad
Southern Midland Railroad NH 1863 1863 Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad
Stamford and New Canaan Railroad NH 1882 1890 New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Thompson and Willimantic Railroad NH 1857 1863 Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad
Vermont Central Railroad CN 1871 1873 Central Vermont Railroad
Watertown and Waterbury Railroad NH 1869 1893 Naugatuck Railroad Chartered in 1869 to connect Watertown to the Naugatuck Railroad in Waterbury. Was leased by the Naugatuck Railroad upon opening in the fall of 1870, which absorbed it in 1893. [13][14]
Windsor Locks and Suffield Railroad NH 1868 1871 Hartford and New Haven Railroad Formed in 1868 to construct a branch between Suffield and Windsor Locks, where it met the H&NH. Built in 1870, it was absorbed by the H&NH in 1871. [7]
Electric
Not completed

Bibliography
  • Karr, Ronald Dale (2017). The Rail Lines of Southern New England (2nd ed.). Pepperell, Massachusetts: Branch Line Press. ISBN 978-0-942147-12-4.

Notes
  1. This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.
  2. This date refers to the year in which the railroad company was chartered or formed, and may be earlier than when the company ran its first train, if ever.
  3. This date refers to when the railroad company formally ceased to exist. Many railroads were leased by other companies, de facto becoming part of them, but remained separate on paper for some time. If this date differs from when the railroad last operated independently, this will be noted in the description section.
  4. No relation to the identically named company which existed 1871-1887.
  5. Known as the Manufacturers' Street Railway 1893-1897.
  6. Known as the Shepaug Valley railroad 1866–1873, Shepaug Railroad 1873-1887.

References
  1. Connecticut Department of Transportation (2012). "Connecticut State Rail Plan" (PDF). CT.gov. pp. 69–76. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  2. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017, State of Connecticut" (PDF). Amtrak. 2017.
  3. Burns, J. William (June 22, 1990). "Clamdigger's Successor a Success". The Day. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  4. "SLE". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  5. Templeton, Dan (2017-07-26). "Connecticut chooses Hartford Line operator". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  6. Frishman, Paul (2014). "Questions About Metro North And Commuter Rail". Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  7. "The Hartford and New Haven Railroad Company". Hartford Weekly Times. April 4, 1878. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  8. Zebora, Jim (March 3, 1991). "All-freight railroad keeps chugging". Record-Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  9. Waters, Martin J. (April 8, 2001). "Here's a switch: Derelict rail line is back on track". Record-Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. Karr 2017, p. 78.
  11. Connecticut (1857). Resolutions and Private Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut. Press of Elihu Geer. pp. 248–249.
  12. Connecticut Board of Railroad Commissioners (1893). Annual Report of the Railroad Commissioners of the State of Connecticut, for ... Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company. p. 262.
  13. Karr 2017, p. 70.
  14. Connecticut General Assembly (1893). Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New-England. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company. p. 31.
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