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 >