Despite growing up close to the Danbury Branch, I was never a passenger on it. I was always one of the people that made the slightly longer trek to Brewster and the Harlem Line. It was enjoyable to explore a line that is so close to my home-town, especially since most of the stations have their historical station buildings present.
Wilton is our final stop to check out on the Danbury Branch. The station is located not far from Route 7, and is 48.5 miles from Grand Central Terminal. Surrounded by trees and small stream, the area around the station is relatively peaceful. Like many of the other Danbury Branch stations, there is little that is particularly noteworthy here, besides the small station building which was closed at the time of my visit. In fact, on the day of my visit a busing schedule was in effect, making the platform exceptionally quiet. I could have made a sound recording for you, and titled it “The Sounds of Wilton.” On that day it would only contain the sound of the stream, unpunctuated by the normal wail of a train horn and the rumble of a diesel engine.
Without any further rambling from me, here are a few photos from Wilton…
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Hooray!
You've been of no help to me on this endeavor… :(
Hi C-G;
I have signal diagrams fron the NYC Signal Dept. which are diagrams of the signal system at Millerton which is where the tracks of the New York and New England crossed the tracks of the New York and Harlem.
Have you ever seen photos of this x-ing ?
You may know that the New York , Housatonic , and Northern RR was a plan to form a “short-cut” between the Housatonic RR and NYC . The North end of the H & N was a juction at Brookfield with the Housatonic , and the South end was a junction at White Plains with the New York and Harlem.
I recently viewed a 1865 track chart of the White Plains section of the H & N showing the juction between the H & N and the NY & H. The H & N would have crossed over Westchester Ave approx a 1/2 mile East of where the W & B terminal was located , and then in a large semi-circle was routed South around the city to the NY & H junction South of the White Plains station.
Please know your slendid accomplishments are much appreciated.
Thanks, Al B.
If you would be interested in viewing the very first photo of the very first electric locomotive in the World designed to operate on alternating-current , it’s in the “West Conn Manifest” –
http://www.westctnrhs.org/manifest0406.pdf
you never ask! ;)
“The Husking Bee Train”
At one time all I knew about the New Haven RR was that it was a commuter line between Stamford and GCT ; until I purchased tickets to ride “The Husking Bee Train” , which the NH advertised as “Connecticut’s Fall Foliage Spectacular”, which indeed it was , the HB train running on a Saturday in late October to Kent . For me, the “fun” part was I had no idea where Kent was , and had no idea how the HB train got there.
My GF and I boarded the train in Port Chester , 1st stop after departing GCT , and we were “on our way” to an unknown destination!.
The Fall trip along the Norwalk river was most enjoyable , and when the train reached a place that was a rail-yard , I asked someone where we were, and it was Danbury.
I was enchanted by the last “leg” of the journey to Kent beacuse of the brilliant Fall foilage , the scenic Housatonic river, the “we are out in the country!” feeling , and the quaint and vintage stations at New Milford and Kent.
At the Kent Grange Hall we enjoyed a Harvest Dinner , all the cider from a barrel that you wanted , and dancing to a C & W band.
That , friends , was a most enjoyable 1st-time “exposure” to the NH , and for me the “trip” continues to today.