Retracing the former CNE railroad - Part One

 Satan's Kingdom to Winsted

 Today I decided to retrace the former CNE railroad between Satan's Kingdom  up to Winsted, CT. It was a beautiful autumn day and a fun and productive trek!

Most of the ROW has been obliterated in the towns due to redevelopment but along the rural forested areas, the railroad bed is still intact.

 I have divided the trek into three sections: 

1. Satan's Kingdom
2. New Hartford to Winsted
3. Winsted

Satan's Kingdom

I started my adventure from the area aptly named “Satan's Kingdom” - the spot where Rt 44 crosses the Farmington River. Ages ago it was the site of a former railroad bridge. It’s amazing how nature has reclaimed the area - it’s strewn with huge fallen boulders and the railroad beds are barely recognizable.

I was expecting lots of hard-to-penetrate undergrowth but hiking in was easy as there was a slightly overgrown trail.

- Click on any image to enlarge -

The trail leads under the Rt 44 bridge

Looking south on the west side of the river

The CNE Bridge Abutment

On the west side of the river. the boulder-strewn trail (former NH RR) continues southward

Short Video - Pan across river

Heading back (northward)

Historical Photos of the Railroads

Digitally enhanced from a Facebook post by John DeCarolis

Digitally enhanced from a Facebook post by John DeCarolis

Digitally enhanced from a Facebook post by John DeCarolis

Digitally enhanced from Wikipedia
Photographed by Alan M. Perrie, March 22, 2016

Next: New Hartford to Winsted >

Retracing the former CNE railroad - Part Two

 New Hartford to Winsted

New Hartford

Not much left to see of the CNE in New Hartford but the abutment, although I  scrambled up the overgrown slope behind Dunkin’ and managed to rretrace a bit of the embankment.

- click any image to enlarge -

Near Old North Road

As you drive along Rt 44, the CNE RR embankment parallels much of the highway and its easy to see (of course when there is less tree foliage).  I pulled over on the parking spot by Old North Road (which is now private) and one again scurried up the slope to take these shots.

Looking south

Looking north

Off Old County Road

This was a nice trek. The ROW was a local hiking trail. It abruptly ended at a large grassy hill which could be a huge town garbage mound (see the lidar map)

Side view of embankment

(Kens Wine & Spirit)
Across from and a little bit east of Ken's Wine & Spirit there's remnant of a small rr bridge visible from the road. I noticed this on the way back but didn’t stop to document it - ah... maybe next time :-)  

Previous: < Satan's Kingdom | Next: Winsted >

Retracing the former CNE railroad - Part Three

 Winsted

Winsted is a pretty big town but sadly most traces of the railroads through here have been obliterated. 

- click any image to enlarge -

Depot Street

 I drove to Depot Street and snapped this photo of where the ROW once was…

Trestle?

But just outside the town (south of the cemetery) I found these stone piers and abandoned structure built into the slope. Perhaps it was a spot for coal dumping?

The 1892 Sanborn Insurance map indicates there was a lot of trackage there but no further details were available.

Hike to the former Bridge

Knowing the Still River was just a bit east - I was curious and found a path to the eastward ROW from the cemetery. Once I hiked to the actual ROW there were railroad ties all along the tread and the abutments to the former bridge were mighty impressive!

Capping it off!

Although I had plans to stop at for lunch at Brewery Legitimus, they weren’t open until 3 PM so I drove to one of my favorite spots for a burger and beer - the former railroad station at Collinsville!!  Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub.

Previous: < Winsted