Armchair Exploration - New Haven & Derby Railroad

Its amazing these days just how productive it is to use online mapping tools to research and discover old railroad right of ways (ROWs). Comparing Google Aerials (and Street Views at crossings), Acme Topo Maps and Bing Bird’s Eye Views to ITO World’s wonderful interactive Historic Railways map yields a treasure trove of info.

While browsing online the other day, I came across this street view photo of a railroad crossing sign and immediately wondered: Where are the rails? Sure enough... just a few minutes using the mapping tools mentioned above and I was off on an exploration toggling back and forth between maps; retracing the now defunct railroad ROW I discovered that crossed at this spot!

Orange Center Road

What's The Big Deal About Tyler City?

If any of you have even the slightest interest in old railroads and railroad stations in Connecticut (I confess, I am somewhat obsessed with this subject :-) ) - the TylerCityStation site is an amazing repository of info. Its an unusual name for a site but the story behind the chosen name is a great story that warrants explaining. Story Details >

Quick Synopsis:
Tyler City was supposed to be a suburban metropolis nurtured by the New Haven & Derby Railroad but this 1870s railroad boom town billed as a “Gateway to the West' never really materialized. The promising two-story station burned down in 1936 and all that remains of this “dream city” is the in naming of small road in the vicinity:- Tyler City Road (location >)

My online "aerial sweep" of this ancient ROW includes the Tyler City area.

About The Line

The New Haven and Derby Railroad was chartered in 1864 to run from New Haven west to Derby, Connecticut and north to Ansonia. It opened in 1871. On November 14, 1888 a 3.79-mile extension from Derby Junction to a point in Shelton was opened. Stops included Orange, Derby, West Haven, Alling’s Crossing and Turkey Hill.

The Housatonic Valley Railroad took over the line in 1887; the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad took control of the Housatonic Valley Railroad in 1892. Final passenger service on the line was on June 13, 1925. Track was abandoned and ripped up starting in 1938.

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Aerials, StreetViews and Maps

Starting near the edge of New Haven on the west--as mentioned--it is easy using aerials maps (in conjunction with the ITO map) to retrace the entire ROW.

The Tyler City Station was located near the far left of the is aerial

The Railroad crossing sign in the GoogleStreet View below prompted this posting :-)

Google Map URL >

Orange Center Road
Note: RR Sign

Moving Westward...

Google Map URL >

Arrowhead Drive

Google Map URL >  

Turkey Hill Road

The embankments northwest of Turkey Hill Road are noted in the Topo map

Acme Topo >

Source

It appears this was a bridge (or trestle) abutment where the ROW crossed over the Derby Milford Road.

Google Map URL >

Derby-Milford Road Abutment

Further Info

New Haven & Derby Railroad (History and Timeline)
http://www.newhaven-derbymodelrailroadclub.org/nhdrr_hist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housatonic_Railroad

Housatonic Rail Trail - Riding Video

Yes it's been ages since I posted here - I have been mountain biking instead (see Mountain Biking Blog) but today I had a really bad time on the mountain biking trails and opted finally to ride the rail trail across the river instead.

a.k.a. the Pequonnock River Valley

Heading south from the Whitney Ave parking lot - the weather was gorgeous (not too hot!) and there were quite a few people on the rail trail.

After a frustrating hour or so on the mountain biking trails across the river (details), riding the rail trail was super easy--even though I was on my mountain bike (rather than my much lighter road bike).

I took a one-handed video on my iPhone while bike riding! Normally when rail trail riding, I have a Canon camera that's easier to hold while riding with one hand but since I came straight from a mountain bike ride, I only had the iPhone. Thankfully it turned out OK!

Remnants of the old ice house are visible along the rail trail

This looks like an old carriage road that descended to the ice house

Right before your get to the Whitney parking lot ,
remnants of the Radcliffe Mill ruin are visible across the river
(Highlighted digitally)

Of all the Rail Trails I have ridden, this still is one of the most scenic!!

Housatonic Rail-Trail

(a.k.a. Pequonnock Valley Greenway)

Map Link >

Saturday started out dark and cloudy but by noon - it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day so I headed over to Trumbull with my road bike (for a change!) and rode the Rail Trail.

I started out at Tait Rd -- the same spot I used to start out with my son Greg when we first started riding here years ago. The lot was packed so I had to park on a lower road.

The ride along the picturesque river valley was--as always--awe-inspiring. The rugged granite cliffs and deep cuts looked wonderful with the vibrant fall tree colors all around. I didn't take any photos (although I should have) but cruised straight on up thru Parlor Rock, ducking under Route 25 to Old Mine Park, then waiting for traffic to clear before zipping across Route 111.

+++++++++++++++++

For a while the paved surface turned to dirt and got a little confused. I stopped at this little bridge to check my location with my iPhone and Google maps and once I realized I was fine, I  continued on...

...passing the old Stepney Depot

 ...then riding by a lovely view of Great Hollow Lake. 

Further up north, the trail turns to dirt again and cuts through a marshy area. 

  Where riders are soon treated to a view of the old rails still in place!

Finally, the trail got rough -- there were a lot of roots to ride over. Yikes - that got me a little paranoid thinking I would pop a tire. On the mountain bike it would be easy and fun but on my thin-tired lightweight road bike I gingerly rode on until I came to where the trail had to pass over 2 sets of tracks.

Checking on my iPhone, Google maps indicated I was near the end so I opted to turn around at that point and head back south.

Videos

I took a couple of short videos while riding to show the railroad tracks and railroad ties I paralleled. 

Heading North on the Newtown Trail Section

Heading back south again - riding along the exposed tracks and railroad ties