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Connecticut Train Rides and Excursion Trains

Connecticut train rides feature quite a mix of excursions despite the fact that the state is not often known for such and only plays host to just a few tourist lines. There is the Essex Steam Train, which as its name implies features historic steam locomotives, while the Connecticut Trolley Museum offers visitors the chance to board a classic trolley car for short trips. As for the Naugatuck Railroad, it is a more traditional providing passengers a long excursion by train through the west-central part of the state. In any event, the information provided here offers just a brief description of each tourist train with each line's contact information. If you would like to find out more about Connecticut's railroad museums, a few of which are mentioned here already, please click here.

Connecticut's history with trains dates back to 1838 during the industry's infancy. It has never featured many miles of railroad although it was home of the famed New York, New Haven & Hartford system. The Naugatuck Railroad does a nice job of keeping alive this railroad's history, using one its former lines and some of its original equipment. Of all the Connecticut train rides you can take, the Naugatuck has the most to offer passengers. Please be aware that if you want to take one of the state's tourist trains they only operate during the warmer months given the the usual quite cold winters, late falls, and early springs. If you love New England, however, and want to experience it by train Connecticut is a great state to visit.

Connecticut Train Rides And Excursion Trains

Connecticut Trolley Museum

The Connecticut Trolley Museum, based in East Windsor, highlights the history of the region's long-gone interurban and trolley services. However, during their operating season between June and December they also host rides aboard their restored trolleys, which operate on a short stretch of trackage on their property. For more information about planning a visit to the museum please click here.

Danbury Railway Museum

The Danbury Railway Museum does not really offer an excursion train ride. However, it does feature its "Railyard Local" which operates on the museum's property during opening hours pulled by either their EMD SW8 or Alco RS1. For more information about planning a visit to the museum please click here.

Essex Steam Train

The Essex Steam Train has become one of the more popular tourist trains around the country offering a variety of different rides and special trips from its home base in Essex, including the ability to make riverboat charters. For more information about planning a visit to the railroad please click here.

Naugatuck Railroad

Operated by the Railroad Museum of New England the Naugatuck Railroad operates a 20-mile round trip excursion from its home base in Thomaston, Connecticut. Trains are boarded from the restored Thomaston Station and the railroad also offers wine tasting once a year in May and operates other special trains throughout the season. For more information about planning a visit to the railroad please click here.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Tourist Railroads Section

To learn more about Connecticut's rail history please click here. Also, for more information about Connecticut train rides you might want to consider the book Tourist Trains Guidebook, which is put together by the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The guide below is the latest, released in just April, 2011 that now includes more than 470 museums and tourist trains (it also lists all of Alabama's rail museums). In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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