The Naugatuck Railroad is in line to receive $4.8 million in federal stimulus funds to restore more than 19 miles of track between Waterbury and Torrington.  Local rail officials expect to learn whether their funding is approved by early next year.

“The railroad has not received major work in over 50 years now,” according to Ralph Harris, president of the Railroad Museum of New England, Inc. in Thomaston.  Harris was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s meeting of the Litchfield Area  Business Association at the Litchfield Firehouse.  

The museum group is a non-profit organization that leases the line from the state and runs antique trains on it for special events. Beginning Nov. 28, the museum group will offer Northern Lights Express rides, featuring trains decorated inside and outside with Christmas lights, Harris said.  Reservations are required.

The funding would upgrade the Naugatuck line to the upper level of Class 2 track, permitting trains to operate at 35 miles per hour, compared to 15 miles per hour, Harris said.  Faster trains would make it easier to offer round-trip events in a reasonable time frame.  Bathrooms were removed from the trains in the 1960s, he said.

The proposed repairs include: redecking bridges, installing thousands of new ties, and building a new siding off Albert Street in Torrington, Harris said.  The new siding would allow access to the North End of Torrington without disturbing the downtown area.

“All of the things that we need done can be done instantly,” Harris said.  “We can hire the people right away.”

The museum group is negotiating with the owner of a Watertown construction firm to haul construction debris out of state on railroad cars.  Crews would be hired for that work, Harris said.  Each freight car can carry as much as four trucks, according to state transportation figures.  That reduces traffic and carbon emissions on roadways.

The group continues to offer wine-tasting tours to the Haight-Brown Vineyard in Litchfield.  Last weekend’s tour sold out, Harris said.  More tickets could have been sold, if the vineyard was allowed to receive more than one busload of tourists at a time.  Visitors take the train from Thomaston to East Litchfield, then travel by bus to the vineyard.

In 1849, the Naugatuck Railroad began operating from Bridgeport along the shoreline and up the Naugatuck River.

“It has been in continuous use all that time,” Harris said.  The railroad museum signed a 30-year lease for the tracks about 12 years ago.  Volunteers are responsible for all maintenance work that costs up to $25,000, he said.
More information about the Northern Lights Express rides and the Railroad Museum of New England is available at http://www.rmne.org/trainrides/northernlightsexpress/index.htm  or by calling (860) 482-3240.

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