The books are now at the Beacon Historical Society and I have been reading them in my spare time for over a year. I now have over 200 pages of notes about the ND&C

The ND&C connected Hudson River ferry service at Dutchess Junction to Hopewell Junction, Millbrook, Pine Plains, Millerton and State Line where it connected to roads in Connecticut. The tracks from Hopewell to State Line were torn up about 1938 but the section from Hopewell to Beacon is still owned by Metro-North and used ocasionally.

Bernie Rudberg VP and Newsletter Editor

Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.

Posted by: Don Austin on Tue, Sep 14, 99 at 16:48 NIMBYs at Town Council meeting again last night Today Town Staff,State DOT,Home Depot,and CNE people all will meet at Town Hall to DISCUSS the situation.

Don A

Posted by: Ron Musco Jr on Wed, Sep 15, 99 at 9:13

I wonder what the situation would be if the mass transit plan went through. Would the NIMBYs be upset if buses or trolleys went flying by every 15 minutes? Or howabout an F40PH with two amfleet coaches going to Bradley Airport at 40 to 50 MPH? Comments?

-Ron M.

Posted by: Don Austin on Wed, Sep 15, 99 at 14:47 RON IM 66 and mass transit aint going to happen in my lifetime ROY WENT OUT TO TWIN LAKES TODAY DROVE AROUND BOTH LAKES PLENTY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ROW ALMOST OBLIBERATED 12-16 CABOOSES LEFT DIAMOND STILL IN BUT HARDWARE IS EXPANDING GOING NORTH SIDING PARTLY WASHED OUT BUT WORK GOIN

Don AG ON

Posted by: Leroy Beaujon on Wed, Sep 15, 99 at 22:05 Don's comments about his visit to Twin Lakes brought back memories! My uncle had a cottage right next to the r-o-w on the big lake and my folks usually spent a week or two there each year. Back in the 40's the local out of Danbury would also serve Lakeville two or three days each week and the power that I remember from that period were K-1 2-6-0's although occasionally a J-1 2-8-2 would show up. The sound carried rather well over the lake and the "local" could be heard all the way over to Taconic while it was enroute back to Canaan and before it passed the cottage. The speed limit on this particular stretch of tracks was only 20 mph. On certain low overcast days even whistles on the NYC's Harlem trains could be heard at Twin Lakes and that was at least eight to ten "crow-fly" miles away. - - I know that a fair amount of the r-o-w just east of the former Twin Lakes Station site was taken over for the rerouting of the road around the lake shortly after the line was abandoned in 1965. It gave the "natives" a bit more privacy by a few extra feet. One home/cottage was built smack-dab on the r-o-w just to the east of the small bridge over the waterway that connects the two lakes and he uses the former line to get access to his place. When I was "a bit on the younger side than I am now", the Twin Lakes station building was still standing next to the track. It was removed sometime in the 40's and is now part of a nearby house.

If there are still that many "cabeese" left in Canaan, I am surprised. I thought all but a couple of them had been removed and shipped off to their new owners.

I will be in Connecticut for several days in early November (primarily to attend the NHRHTA Convention) so I will have an opportunity to "check things out" for myself.

Posted by: Dave Snow on Tue, Sep 21, 99 at 12:43 Lee's memories of Twin Lakes and the Caanan area are precious. Ah, the Good Old Days. I wish we could bring them back. These personal stories make up a lot of our history. It's great to hear about all these places and what happened , and what it looked like. I can sit back and visualize them.

A friend and I were over in Amenia and saw the work going on, strange way to do things, seems to be done piece meal, one section of track is redone, and bridges replaced. And then 100 yards up the track no work at all, then a couple hundres yards ahead more new track, then just the old track and ties. Stops seem to be placed at every pillar and post, some only 2 miles apart. For being so far up the line it seems funny to have the stops so close together.

Also we were on the west bank of the Hudson watching the CSX boys run their freight, came upon an old NYSW&B RR station. Can't for the life of me figure out what the "B" stands for. Hope someone can fill in the blank..

The Caanan Cabeese are almost gone, moved off to greener pastures, adn teh track is being removed. It was interesting to hear about the reversion of ownership of the property etc. Funny how they are on the tax rolls.

Posted by: Don Austin on Tue, Sep 21, 99 at 14:42 Except for Nimke,s books etc when Leroy and his companions are gone the history will just be local i e historical societies and erroreonus. My factory has been on CNE since 1898 or was it Hartford,Connecticut & Western then.

No other business from that date exists on those tracks today. The foundry SPENCER just shut down,thr dairy changen its name and others ie EMHART have spread their wings. Even in my company much history has been lost Then we have a young railfan who refers to N/S as NAZI S. God help us,id rather use 4 letter words. A toast to Leroy,may you live long and prosper

Don A

Posted by: Leroy Beaujon on Wed, Sep 22, 99 at 2:38 To answer "two messages in one"; the "B" in the NYWS&B is for "Buffalo." The NYWS&B was built primarily by Pennsylvania money as competition to the New York Central. This was in retaliation for the New York Central's attempt to build a line in Pennsylvania as competition to the Pennsy and much of their efforts are now part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

As for the progression of names on the old CNE main line in Connecticut; first was the Connecticut Western Railroad that was completed in December, 1871. The CW was succeeded by the Hartford and Connecticut Western Railroad in 1881 and lasted as such until 1889 when Pennsylvania interests that built the Poughkeepsie Bridge took over and called the line the Central New England and Western Railroad. The Philadelphia & Reading took control in August, 1892 naming the road the Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad. The P&R lost control of the PR&NE after the financial crash of 1893 and the road operated under receivership until January, 1899 when the CNE itself came in to being. The New Haven bought the CNE in 1904 but operated it as a separate company until June, 1927 when it became just another piece of the New Haven itself. Of course by then there wasn't much left of the CNE anyway. The last through freights between Maybrook and Hartford (actually East Hartford) ran in January, 1919 although some semblance of through freights operated between Maybrook and either Canaan or Winsted until 1925. In 1925 the line between Pine Meadow and Simsbury was taken out of service altogether and what was left of the passenger service was routed via the Canal Line out of Pine Meadow down to Plainville and in to Hartford. This too finally died altogether on Saturday, December 17, 1927 when the last CNE passenger service in Connecticut ended. The train that day (as told to me by a first generation CNE fan - one who actually saw the CNE in operation - George Phelps who was formerly from Winsted and who just passed away this past May out here in California) was handled by New Haven 4-4-0 #1594 and two coaches. Once the train reached Millerton that day, it deadheaded back over to Canaan and down the Berkshire to Danbury and that was that! Hope I haven't bored anyone with all the gory details.

Posted by: Dave Snow on Wed, Sep 22, 99 at 15:26 Great information, Thanks for the Info on the NYSW & B Ry. I can now sleep at night.

Posted by: ed on Fri, Sep 24, 99 at 14:42 The mention of the West Shore got me to thinking. What ever happened to the keystone from the south end of the tunnel which used to be just after the turnout in Newburgh NY. This was just north of the Steel Style boatyard. The tunnel was removed by ConRail in the 80's. It was inscribe NY West Shore and Buffalo as I remember. Any one have any clues?

Thanks

ED

Posted by: pc on Sat, Sep 25, 99 at 22:49 Just a note of sincere thanks to Mr. Beaujon and the others who share their immense knowledge and memories of how things were before many of us were aware of trains and tracks, or even born. You are doing a wonderful service and it is truly appreciated.

Posted by: DON AUSTIN on Thu, Oct 14, 99 at 13:56 C N E INSTALLING NEW REPEAT NEW SIDING OR PASSING TRACK IN HARTFORD BETWEEN THE GARDEN STREET LEVEL CROSSING AND THE EDWARDS STREET BRIDGE (best view here) NOT TOO FAR FROM END OF LINE AT AMTRAK

NIMBY PEOPLE STILL COMPLAINING AT BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS.THEIR WALLS AND FOUNDITATIONS ARE GOING TO CRACK WOE IS ME I LOVE IT

Don

Posted by: Leroy Beaujon on Thu, Oct 14, 99 at 21:07 Glad to hear of this new CNE activity! Looks like they are here to stay. As for the Edwards Street Bridge in Hartford; I have photographs taken back in the late 1890's of locomotives from the then Philadelphia, Reading & New England RR with this bridge in the background. I am guessing that it has been updated a bit since then. - - - If anyone can pinpoint the exact location (what's there now?) of the former CNE roundhouse and shops in Hartford, I would be most pleased to hear about it.

Posted by: DON AUSTIN on Fri, Oct 15, 99 at 8:17 NOTHIHG THERE !! SOMETIMES IN PHOTOS EDWARDS ST N_S AND WALNUT ST E_W ARE NOT IDENTIFIED PROPERLY

Don