Looking to photograph trains this summer? Check out the oportunities in the train friendly state of Connecticut.
There are plenty of railfanning opportunities and train photography in Connecticut. Connecticut might not be a very large state but it does have a lot of train photography opportunities for train fans to get out and ride the rails on a steam train or trolley. Plus the states close proximity to major metro areas of New York and Boston means their are plenty of rail fans in day trip range of these attractions.
A Round Up of Connecticut’s Fine Railway Museums
Many of the following tourist attractions for rail fans are not too far from each other. In a getaway weekend rail enthusiasts should be able to take in several of these fine living museums.
Train Photography: Essex Steam Train and Steamboat
Connecticut’s best known and premiere rail attraction has to be theEssex Steam Train in beautiful Connecticut River Valley.
Located along the Connecticut River with connections to a steamboat near the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam as well as a hiking connection to the Gillette Castle, Dinner Trains plus special events like the Circus Train and Thomas the Train appearances, the Essex Steam train offers a variety of riding options for railfans.
Movie buffs would be excited to know that scenes from the last Indiana Jones movie were shot on the Essex location.
The Essex Steam Train has been a Connecticut Valley fixture for over forty years and offers mainly the excitement of a train ride due to its great location and available trackage. The organization offers less in terms of museum exhibits.
Train Photography: Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum is located off Bridge Street in downtown Willimantic, Connecticut, on the original site of the Columbia Junction Freight Yard. Our collection includes locomotives and rolling stock, as well as vintage railroad buildings and a six-stall roundhouse reconstructed on the original foundation.
Visitors can receive a guided tour of the museum and kids of all ages can operate a replica 1850’s-style pump car along a section of rail that once was part of the New Haven Railroad’s “Air Line”.
Future plans include extending track from the museum site to the Bridge Street entrance, reconstructing structures such as water towers on their original foundations, and erecting a Railroad Station/Visitor Center.
Train Photography: Danbury Railway Museum
The Danbury Railway Museum located at at 120 White Street in the old Danbury Train Station at the corner of White Street and Patriot Drive, houses plenty of hands off and hands on exhibits including a Lionel model railroad
You can ride an original New Haven RR operating turntable, explore the Boston & Maine 1455 Steam Engine and tour of the 6-acre Railyard with over 70 pieces of historic railroad equipment and artifacts. Train rides are available on weekends April – November.
Train Photography: Connecticut Trolley Museum
Located in East Windsor, Connecticut, the Connecticut Trolley Museum was founded in 1940 making it the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States.
Among the collections is the “Streetcar Named Desire”. The museums include exhibits and trolley rides around the track. The Connecticut Trolley Museum has over 70 pieces of rail equipment dating back to 1869. During your visit, you can see historic passenger and freight street “trolley” cars, interurban cars, elevated railway cars, passenger and freight railroad cars, service cars, locomotives, and a variety of other equipment from railways around Connecticut and from places like Brooklyn, Boston, New Orleans, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Springfield, Lynchburg, Montreal, and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Train Photography: The Shoreline Trolley Museum
Not the biggest transportation museum in the state but this museum located near New Haven is a lot of fun. There is a small museum with local historic trolley information and a fun trolley ride along the shoreline and salt marshes to the car barn where you get an informative tour of the trolley restorations.
The Shore Line Trolley Museum has been an important part of the community since its incorporation in 1945 as the Branford Electric Railway Association – it boasts a collection of nearly 100 vintage vehicles as well as artifacts and documents from the trolley era. The museum is easy to reach, its only 3 minutes from I-95 or US-1, just off the East Haven Town Green.
Train Photography: Railroad Museum of New England
Located in Thomaston, the Railroad Museum of New England is a great place to see vintage rolling stock including including locomotives of all types, passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses.
The RMNE is started in 1968 in the region of the Naugatuck Railroad. The members of the museum are currently restoring the Thomaston Station including several outbuildings including display tracks, and operating control tower and more.
Train Photograpy: Tourist Trains, Museums, Displays Around CT
- The Essex Steam Train & River Boat Ride 1 Railroad Avenue Essex, CT
- Shore Line Trolley Museum 17 River Street, East Haven, CT
- Danbury Railway Museum 120 White Street, Danbury, CT
- Railroad Museum of New England 242 East Main St, Thomaston CT
- Connecticut Trolley Museum 58 North Road, East Winsor, CT
- Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum Bridge St.Willimantic, CT
- Bonus: Porter at Westbrook Factory Stores Westbrook, CT
Copyright Edward M. Fielding