As for the bridge, I'm sure it's fairly new but the abutments look as if they could be original. Same general look as the stone walls around the elevated track near Hartford station. The most impressive sign was that the bridge area is SO wide! There must've been at least four tracks under it once upon a time. There's only one there now.

All in all, a very enjoyable walk. I actually had never tracked down the CNE in Hartford and it was neat to see part of it. Is this the "Griffen's Line" I keep hearing about? Where does this track end?

Chris

Here is a link that might be useful: New Haven RR Historical Assn.

Posted by: DON AUSTIN on Fri, Oct 15, 99 at 13:22 THIS IS GRIFFIN LINE ENDS IN NORTH BLOOMFIELD AT THE WINDSOR BORDER WHERE THE GRIFFINS HAD INTERESTS TWO BROTHERS FRED AND ???? STILL AROUND HERE THAT IS FRED GRIFFIN AND HENRY GRIFFIN FRED LOVES TO TALK AND IS RETIRED WALNUT ST BRIDGE IS NEW WAS GONE FOR 2-3 YRS UNSAFE AND RE OPENED 2-3 YRS AGO I WORK ON CNE 2 MILES WEST AT WOODLAND AND HOMESTEAD SOUTHEAST QUADRANT BUT ONLY FOR 49 plus years

Posted by: DONALD B AUSTIN on Fri, Oct 22, 99 at 13:04

This thread is getting long.

This week the Griffin Line has new power. Green and Orange with New Naven script lettering. Just all kinds of traffic.Will wonders never cease BTW I am #4577 in NHRHTA Thanks to Lee & Cris

Don

Posted by: winston on Wed, Nov 3, 99 at 11:23 New track work being done at griffins. Siding and mainline really looks neat a great place to spend your lunch hour. most of the work is being done at the Day Hill Rd crossing at the Windsor Bloomfield Townline.

Posted by: KimG on Wed, Nov 3, 99 at 13:05 What are the typical schedules for HartfordGriffins turns and switching activities at Griffins? Would like to pay a visit sometime and would prefer to do so when there is action to observe/photograph. Thanks...

--KimG

Posted by: DONALD B AUSTIN on Wed, Nov 3, 99 at 20:07 Kim

Train is often at Hartford end NOON TIME. Some days runs 3 trips. Home Depot is just shy of Griffins siding

Will you be in New Haven next weekend?

Don

Posted by: Tim Satterlee on Sun, Nov 7, 99 at 23:39 I just got through reading last six months worth of discussions on CNE. You guys are a wealth of info! It made for fascinating reading.

By the way, I recently purchased an 1896 atlas of the city of Hartford that shows in detail all the lines, freight buildings, roundhouse etc. in downtown Hartford. If anybody is interested, let me know; I expect to be at the NHRHTA show and would be happy to bring it along.

Tim S.

Posted by: DONALD B AUSTIN on Mon, Nov 8, 99 at 7:33 Yes bring the Atlas. My Co moved on to the line in 1898 Y1K and id love to see it .can you buy them,reprints ? See you Sat. in New Haven

Don Austin

Posted by: DONALD B AUSTIN on Mon, Nov 8, 99 at 14:24 Mr CNE Himself Leroy Beaujon is here in person and gazed upon his beloved CNE today

Don Austin

Posted by: Don Austin on Thu, Nov 11, 99 at 12:49 The passing track at end of line GRIFFINS is just about 100% rebuilt.Today highway was shoo-flyed around tracks at crossing.Someone is putting big $$$$$$$ into this project.

Don

Posted by: Eric S Strohmeyer on Sun, Nov 21, 99 at 22:44 I found this thread fasinating. I learned alot. A quick question, does anybody know where the Canaan cabooses went and who owns them now?

Thanks in advance,

Eric

Posted by: Leroy Beaujon on Sun, Nov 21, 99 at 23:22 I just returned home (Cal.) from Connecticut a few days ago and Canaan just happens to be my hometown. While there, I made a survey of the existing cabooses (or is it "cabeese?")and found that there were still fourteen (14) of them sitting on former CNE trackage west of the station. On my departure date (Mon.,15th) there were a couple of large trucks on the right-of-way and I am assuming that some of them were about to be hauled away. Several of the already departed cabooses were owned by a party in Maine and I am assuming that they were transported up there or other areas in Northern New England. I understand that most of the remaining cabooses are owned by a person affiliated with the Cape Cod Central RR.

The good news regarding the departure of the cabooses is that I have heard that the C.A. Lindell Company who have a very large lumber and hardware facility adjacent to the former CNE line west of the station in Canaan is looking to restore a siding to receive building supplies by train once more. This means that the diamond in front of station will once more see trains in both directions as it once did "in the good old days" when I worked there for the New Haven.

Posted by: Don Austin on Mon, Nov 22, 99 at 21:55 The NIMBY people went before the Town Council in Bloomfield again tonite to ask for an ordinance re working hours and noise Don

Posted by: Don Austin on Fri, Nov 26, 99 at 20:25 Today it looks like a small "yard" is being created east of the Edwards St. bridge. Who pays the $$ State of CT or CNE ?? Rebuilding of North end Griffins passing track is complete.

Posted by: Chris on Mon, Nov 29, 99 at 12:17 Leroy -- Got your email today -- thanks for such a quick reply! I was down at Griffin's on Friday, a day after coming across this thread, and had a look around. Very impressive. I drove down 187 and over to 218 (near Copaco). I figured a four-lane-divided would be most likely be the first to be targetted for automated protection. But a good visual scan of both sides of the crossing yielded no evidence of any efforts to even survey the location for conduit runs, mast footings, etc. Maybe early 2000... Here's a question for the floor: If, in Bloomfield, you travel south on 187 from Wintonbury Rd (Ave? It's that main drag that runs north/south past the big church on the corner w/ the red LED marquee) you can see a r-o-w paralleling the road about 300 feet west of the roadway. It's especially visible from where the high-tension wires cross over the road in an east/west orientation. I've always wondered what that r-o-w was for. Guesses include a spur off one of the main lines, or maybe an old trolley r-o-w..

Posted by: Don Austin on Mon, Nov 29, 99 at 19:47 Cris, Not a trolley,not a RR ROW.North of Copaco running E W was trolley ROW

I live here 242-5301 Give me a yell and Ill give you the grand tour and ill throw in the firehouses

Don

Posted by: Ron Musco on Wed, Dec 1, 99 at 9:06 Chris, Rt218 was surveyed in the spring of this year. I watched the survey crew do it! Even saw a northbound train. Sometime in Y2K crossing protection will be re-installed. Funny thing is, there was crossing protection there for many years, then that was ripped out prior(?) to the widening of 218. I think 218 was modified two times but I don't remember. Even more shocking is that when they did remove the signal towers, they ripped out the concrete fondations too! A similiar type of tower exists on the Armory Brand in Scitico, but that situation is another story... -Ron M.

Posted by: Don Austin on Wed, Dec 1, 99 at 18:00 Ron I guess you mean Cottage Grove Road went from 2 to 4 lanes I dont remember signals ever but maybe a senior moment.

Next crossing south Tobey road had I think gates new road at the time off Granby St when LPG was going thru to Griffins the cars were placed and unloaded on other side of Griffins Road .Neat move by my Fire Chief Jacobsen to get any problems into the next town.Ive been a Bloomfield Fireman since 1951 Present health puts me on in active status Don PS TELL US ABOUT PROGRESS OR LACK OF ON ARMORY BRANCH

Posted by: Ron Musco on Thu, Dec 2, 99 at 8:22 Political things. The crossing of at 190 in Scitico needs to be completely rebuilt partly due to the fact, the CT DOT paved over the crossing. Route 190 is a very busy commuter road. To rebuild the crossing, RT 190 would basically have to shut down and vehicle traffic be re-routed via detour. The Town of Enfield balked at this idea (1) because of traffic rerouting which won't be easy, and (2) The CNE never informed them! Bear in mind it is a state road. There have been several town meetings about this, but nothing in the way of a "go ahead". Also another crossing at RT191 at Botticello Construction (south of 190) also needs to be reconstructed. This has the same problem. With this being the off season for business on the line (Which is why the RS-1 is still at Griffins)no priority on the Armory branch. The line is clear, but Hallmarks not pressing the issue for rail service. There is alot of potential on this line, it passes through many established industrial parks with industries that could use rail (fuel dealers, chemicals plants, construction firms, industrial machining, agricultural, wow look at the potential!) lets hope for the best. Who in there right mind ever shut it down? Some good marketing people could have kept this going. I doubt the line will be re-laid to Longmeadow.

-Ron M.

Posted by: Chris on Thu, Dec 2, 99 at 9:39 Ron --

With regards to Armory, isn't there a provision somewhere saying that if sufficent potential for passenger or freight service exists on a corridor that's been broken up & sold to private entites (ie, NOT railbanked), that the corridor can be reclaimed by eminent domain and put back into service?

Posted by: Ron Musco on Thu, Dec 2, 99 at 11:35 Chris, I don't know how to answear that. It sounds reasonable. I was 'on the soapbox complaining about how things like that could happen. There was talk at one time of keeping the line servicable as an alternate route to Springfield in case the Hartford-Springfield line ever had a disaster. Five to six years later, the H-S line was scaled back to single-track operation. Though it is still double is some areas. The Armory Branch is a very nice railroad in my opinion. It doesn't interupt a lot of traffic with the exception of Enfield, go through a lot of residential areas, exception Broad Brook. The State DOT has to work with the town of Enfield to resolve this. I also forgot to mention that police/fire protection was a major concern,but again Enfield has very sizable fire/police protection.

Posted by: Ron Musco on Fri, Dec 3, 99 at 10:57 Just found out that the Depot Attic in Strasburg PA has one set of the CNE books by Nimke. Phone number is (717)687-9300. This is information only. I have nothing to do with this!!

-Ron Musco JR.

Posted by: Ron Musco on Fri, Dec 3, 99 at 11:02 Forgot to add the above listing is AS A SET ONLY. Will not be separtated.

Posted by: Chris on Wed, Dec 8, 99 at 12:36 Somewhere along the CNE, (I think it was in Bloomfield), there was an old wooden-plank high-arched vehicular bridge over the line. The eastbound approach to it was so steep that a tiny, two-section traffic signal was hung over the approach. It was timed in such a way that if approaching vehicles were travelling too fast, the signal would change from a flashing yellow to steady red for about 15 seconds, and then revert back to flashing yellow. The idea was to keep the speeding cars from becoming airborne and sailing over the sharp left turn that was located immediately after the bridge. Where was that? Are the bridge and the little signal still there?

Posted by: Donald Austin on Wed, Dec 8, 99 at 14:31 Ron re Enfield Fire Dept etc i believe there are 5 seperate fiee taxing districts all with different mill rares.The Vol. firemen cam be very vocal and sometimes all powerfull. Ive been one in Bloomfield since 1951 Cris a life of 66 years in Bloomfield never gave me a Glimpse of your bridge.Maybe Lee knows 29 cars in northbound loaded train today,2 engines,2 drivers,and flagmen in automobiles.not all crossings flagged ie not Tobey Road.

Don

Posted by: Leroy Beaujon on Wed, Dec 8, 99 at 19:43 Sorry, I haven't a clue as to just where that bridge might have been located but it makes an interesting story anyway. I wonder how many people may have "gone airborne" there before it was decided to put in a light?

Posted by: Winston on Thu, Dec 9, 99 at 8:54 There was a bridge closely fitting that discreption in Windsor on the main line. The bridge was on what is now Old Kennedy Road, and was replaced in the '80's' if you drive down Old Kennedy Rd or Kennedy Rd (both of which are off Palisado Ave Rte 159) you can probably find the location of the original bridge. It was very steep and there was a sharp curve off of it. I don't however recall the traffic light.

Posted by: Ron Musco on Thu, Dec 9, 99 at 9:05 It sounds like Chris is talking about "barrel crossing" bridges. There were a couple of these on the Springfield Branch. Hatchet Hill Road at the western most part in the Town of east Granby, Sheldon Street in Suffield. There was a picture of the Hatchet Hill Bridge in its final days in the East Granby Town paper in the seventies. I saw it at the East Granby Public Library many years ago. I have never heard of a signal on the Kennedy Road Bridge, but that was before my time. Maybe Simsbury had one. We consult Bob Lord?

-Ron

Posted by: Bill Siebert on Sat, Jan 8, 00 at 10:51 Returning to the West end of the CNE, the Hopewell Junction Model Railroad Club has built an HO scale modular layout of Hopewell Junction as it was in the 1920's. We have scratchbuilt the Borden's Cremery, the Hopewell passenger stations (union (nee NDC)and NY&NE), one of the original Hotels, the coal pockets and the Hopewell Freight station. We have a scaled back version of the freight yards as well as a module of Towner's Bridge. We will be showing at the GATS show in Danbury (Oneil) on April 8 & 9.

We also set up at the Poughkeepsie show in the fall, have our own 2-day open house in December, and set up for the summer at a seasonal rail museum in Clinton Corners.

We welcome new members. We can be contacted at the above e-mail address.

Posted by: Chris on Wed, Jan 12, 00 at 10:23 Went out to the Route 218 crossing in Bloomfield this morning to see if any progress made on crossing protection. Was pleasantly surprised to see that a brand-new pre-cast concrete footing for a flasher mast had been installed sometime in the past month. Also saw rail bonds had been installed for the track circuit north of the crossing, complete with an insulated joint about 150' north of the crossing. Looked to see if similar progress had been made south of the crossing, but hard to tell from my vantage point inside my car. Nothing on the median, yet, either, but these these things don't usually move as quickly as they do when the weather's warmer...

Posted by: Chris on Thu, Apr 20, 00 at 0:15 I don't know if its much help, but NYNH&HRR had a line running north and south out of Pittsfield, Mass. known as "The Berkshire Line"

Posted by: KimG on Thu, Apr 20, 00 at 11:26 South, yes. North, no. The line to North Adams was B&M, not NH. Most of it was ripped up within the last 10 years.