Biking

"In the field" railroad history adventures...

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Farmington Canal Trail (Avon South)

Today I decided to taake an easy ride and drove up to Avon, CT to road bike a section of the Farmington Canal trail that I hadn't ridden yet. It was a cool crisp autumn ady (past peak colors) and the sun was shining brightly.


I started in Avon (off Arch Street).

Crossing over Farmington Ave

Google Street View

This industrial building intrigued me - it s now a Midas Shop but it started as a grist mill. See info and link below)

Crossing over the Farmington River

Short 360° Video

Once back where I started, I hiked north to check out the abandoned Arch Street Railroad Bridge.

Google Street View

Finally I drove down to the Wood-n-Tap in Farmington and had a delicious burger and brew.

About the Grist Mill Structure

A prominent industrial/rail structure along the route is the large fireproof concrete grain storage and mill complex erected in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist Winchell Smith. The building featured an elevated railroad siding directly tied to the adjacent rail line (now the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail). Railcars could roll onto the elevated spur or siding to dump grain and fertilizers directly into concrete hoppers and multi-level storage bins inside the structure. The building later transitioned to the Farmington Grain Company, served as an auto parts warehouse (such as McCallum Auto Parts), and was sold for potential residential/mixed-use redevelopment.

 Grist Mill History >

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Retracing the former CNE railroad - Part Four

 Winsted-Norfolk-NorthCanaan

I have wanted to do this trek since last November (see Parts One, Two and Three) and I finally had a free day today. It was fairly decent weather as well - yay!

Winsted

This time in Winsted I  sniffed out where the historical railroad signs were (thanks to the Historical Marker Database) and hiked on the short rail trail built on the former CNE ROW, It was right off Prospect street but kinda hidden.

Old Factory near Depot Street
Refurbished Apartments (where the trail starts)
Footbridge at the end of the short trail
View from the footbridge
Returning to my car
West of Winsted
This appears to be the ROW

Norfolk

It was impossible to see any remnants of the CNE ROW until I arrived in Norfolk. Lots of greenery all aong the highway...

- Lidar Maps of the Norfolk area -
Norfolk!

Stony Lonesome 

Finding the start of this was a bit difficult but the hike was rewarding - lots of rock cuts! I thought about biking it but I heard it was wet so I'm glad I hiked it instead...
great info on the crash
Enlarged from the kiosk
Rock Cut #1
Rock Cut #2
Rock Cut #3
Rock Cut #4
It was very muddy and wet so I took the "high road"
I turned around here
The way back...
The "high road"
I sat on the huge rock in the middle and relaxed for a bit

Whiting River Viaduct

I did not trek here - lots of overgrowth - I may return in the late fall or winter to check it out...

North Canaan

The station looked great!
Trackside - looking north
Trackside - looking south
of course... :-)
The museum was closed but I peaked in the window
Peaking in the window of the accordion shop!

Sadly the old diner looks done for...

How cool is this?
A Taco Restaurant in a refurbished caboose!

the tacos were good!