Railway Technologies

Vintage railways in Connecticut offer scenic excursions through the beautiful New England countryside and a step back into a past era. Historic steam locomotives, diesel engines and electric trolley cars power vintage passenger coaches.
Excursions on the historic railways are a terrific family outing, that fun as well as educational. Historic rail lines are an integral part of America’s transportation history. Vintage railways in Connecticut include the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat and the Connecticut Electric Railway.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is centrally located in the Connecticut River Valley. For over 35 years, hundreds of volunteers have worked tirelessly to operate the museum built on a defunct train line and retired railroad equipment.
This historic steam train offers excursions during the spring, summer, fall, fall foliage and holiday seasons. Special events include dinner trains, Day Out with Thomas, Hot Steamed Jazz Festival, Laugh Tracks and Your Hand on the Throttle. Christmas holiday trains include the North Pole Express and Santa Special.
The Gillette Castle Connection is a 30 minute train ride through the Connecticut River Valley. Passengers get off the train at the Ferry, which transports hikers to the Gillette Castle State Park in Halyme. The hiking adventure is recommended for fit people, who are in good health and able to hike. Gillette Castle was once the home of William Gillette, a turn of the century Broadway actor known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
Visitors are encouraged to visit River Valley Junction, an interactive museum which is located next to Essex Station.
Connecticut Electric Railway Association
The association is a non-profit institution that operates a three mile round trip streetcar ride with educational narrative. The trolley museum is located 14 miles north of Hartford Connecticut.
Connecticut Electric Railway Association runs excursions during the spring, summer and fall months. In December the railway operates excursions for Winterfest. Special events during the ear include an Easter Bunny Train, Pumpkin Patch Train, Rails to the Darkside, Night of the Haunted and Winterfest.
The Connecticut Trolley Museum features a collection of trolley cars, interurban cars, electric locomotives, fire engines and motor coaches. Visitors can spend hours studying the vintage equipment, that is a part of transportation history. The museum was founded in 1941 and dedicated to preserve the historic era of the trolley.
The association owns over 70 pieces of rolling rail stock, dating back to 1869. The collection consists of passenger street cars, freight cars, interurban cars, elevated railway cars, service cars, locomotives, passenger railroad cars and freight cars.