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

Simsbury Train Station

While up visiting the Flower Bridge, I had to stop and snap a few photos of the former Simsbury Railroad station. The old locomotive and caboose were out back.

About the Station and Locomotive

Simsbury Station (Wikipedia)

Locomotive Details

Airline Trail (Chaplin to Pomfret)

Today I decided to head north on the Airline Trail starting from where I had turned around back in 2023 and ride up to Pomfret. I didn't get started until late afternoon but it was nice and sunny and not brutally hot (for a change!).

At The Start

I started in the middle of nowhere near Chaplin. The reason? This spot was close to where I rode to and turned around on a previous airline trail ride back in 2023. Details >

Ths was the site of the Hampton Train Station

^ Source: Tyler City Station

Nice scenery!

At Pomfret

Informative!!

Where I turned around

Truth be told, I could have kept going on to Putnam but I was really bored at this point! :-)

The ride back....

Stonework

I thought for a second this was an old abandoned caboose, but on closer examination it appeared to be an old horse trailer :-(

Back to where I started

Rhode Island Rail Trail

Today I decided to take a break from mountain biking and road biked instead. I drove up to the rail trail that crosses Rhode Island and started at Summit and rode all the way to Anthony. It was sunny and hot but there was a breeze.

There were a good number of informative kiosks along the way detailing the history of the former railroad line. Originally chartered as the Hartford, Providence, & Fishkill Railway, it was subsequently absorbed into New York and New England Railroad and eventually swallowed by the New Haven Railroad. The section of the rail trail I rode consists of two segments: the Trestle Trail and the Coventry Greenway.

Summit

The paved trail ends here at Summit

Coventry

Anthony Mill

I turned around here

Heading Back

The 3 1/2 mile climb was relentless!

The General Store in Summit is so cool - like a trip back in time inside!

Westerly Rhode Island - Train Station

While vacationing nearby, a visit to the train station was of course for me a "must do"!

Station History - Details

In 1912–13, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad constructed the present station as part of a curve straightening project. The station building was in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, as were several other New Haven Railroad stations built around the same time. Resembling the “great house” of a Mexican hacienda with its arcades and roofs of Spanish tile, the looks out of place in the cool climate of Rhode Island, but is representative of a period in American architecture when designers felt free to draw on a myriad of inspirations from across history and cultures. Interest in the country’s colonial Spanish ties was strong due to the admission of Arizona and New Mexico as states that same year.

Amtrak closed the Westerly ticket office on October 1, 2016, ceasing all ticketing and passenger assistance services. The building was reopened on August 17, 2018; the waiting area serves as an art gallery and is open on certain days of the week, and for special events.

Under state law, when state funds are used to construct or rehabilitate a building, 1% of the total funds must be devoted to the creation and installation of public art. Therefore, the station site received a new sculpture at the corner of Canal Street and Railroad Avenue. Designed by local artist Kam Ghaffari, it incorporates three smooth granite boulders that recall the town’s former quarries and carving workshops.

Further Info

Amtrak - Great American Stations