Metro-North's 28-mile long Waterbury Branch is a former New Haven route that follows the Naugatuck River Valley from the mainline at Devon (Naugatuck Junction) through to Waterbury, Connecticut. Originally the Naugatuck Railroad chartered in 1849, the New Haven acquired control of the line in 1906. The route continued on north to Winsted, but tracks were cut back to Torrington in 1964. The Boston & Maine took control of the line north of Waterbury in 1983, but abandoned all service on the state-owned route in 1993. The Railroad Museum of New England moved in and the new Naugatuck Railroad began operations in 1996. Boston & Maine (now Pan Am Railways, formerly Guilford Transportation) continues to have a presence in the area, providing freight service based out of Plainville, Connecticut, and coming down to Seymour to service Kerite, makers of specialty cable products. The Waterbury Branch has flown the flag of several operators, from New Haven to Penn Central in 1969 to Conrail in 1976 (under contract with CDOT) to Metro-North (as operator for CDOT) in 1983. The Waterbury Branch is different from other Metro-North operations as most of the stations retain low-level platforms (except for Waterbury) and none feature ticket machines (which means fares can be sold on the train without penalty). Unlike the Danbury Branch and the Upper Harlem Line, there is no diesel through service to Grand Central Terminal. What the Waterbury Branch may lack in service, it more than makes up for it with spectacular scenery and interesting locations. In the 1950s, a devastating flood wiped out most of the Naugatuck Valley, prompting the construction of a system of levees, floodwalls, and control dams by the Army Corps of Engineers. From gritty urban areas to beautiful mountain valleys, the Waterbury Branch is scenic and diverse. Photos by Otto M. Vondrak
A Waterbury Branch train departs Birdgeport, Connecticut, framed by Long Island Sound and the downtown city backdrop.
One morning and one evening train make a station stop at Stratford, Connecticut. Evening train 1946 shoves away from Stratford with two FL9m's on the south end.
A morning train arrives at Ansonia, Connecticut, with an FL9m on the south end. Ansonia is protected by a system of floodwalls and levees.
Charging through Naugatuck State Forest outside of Beacon Falls, Connecticut, two FL9's lead this Waterbury Branch train south at midday.
Brookville Equipment Corp. BL20-GH's entered revenue service for the first time on June 9, 2008, seen here crossing the Naugatuck River at Bank Street in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Pan Am freight train PL-1 based out of Plainville prepares to leave Metro-North territory with a single flatcar picked up from Kerite in Seymour.
