On a recent hot and sunny morning, the first Litchfield County Clipper excursion traveled from Torrington to Thomaston and back again, shuttling visitors on a vintage passenger train for a scenic ride.
The train, owned and operated by the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston and its partner, the Naugatuck Railroad, is overseen by a crew of conductors, narrators and operators.
In the bar car, Trish Gallucci wore a bright red blouse under her black uniform and greeted passengers as they found a seat.
The first train excursions were on July 12, and continue through the summer.
RMNE and Naugatuck Railroad members Scott Ornstein, Kevin J. Meehan, Ted Gallucci, Orion Newall, Alex Formanek, Craig Czarsty, Ethan Mandolfo and Stuart Crouse, waited on the platform for last-minute passengers to arrive.
Meehan, a member since 1996, was resplendent in a crisp black uniform and white shirt, with brass buttons and a conductor’s cap. He said he’s loved trains since the age of 9.
“My father bought me my first train set,” he said. “This is a dream come true, to work here and be around them. I enjoy it.”
Craig Czarsty was the station agent for the day; he also coordinates volunteers for the railroad museum.
“The passengers enjoy hearing about the railroad, and we’re always looking for more people to volunteer with us,” he said. “Just give us a call.”
“We’re all actors on the train, portraying different characters who worked on the railroad,” Meehan said.
The train cars, with wide leather seats and rows of tall windows for scenic viewing, were carrying about 55 passengers on the Clipper’s first round trip of the day, heading out to Thomaston, where it turns around and comes back to Torrington.
Three round trips offer a window of time at each stop, giving passengers a chance to explore, eat and shop. In Thomaston, the train stops at the station, where passengers can also explore, eat and shop. A schedule is available on the RMNE’s website, rmne.org. The Torrington stops are at Market Street Creatives, 100 Lawton St., and Railroad Square Platform (Downtown Torrington), 99 Railroad Square. The Thomaston stop is at Thomaston Station, 242 East Main St.
According to rmne.org, the original Naugatuck Railroad was chartered in 1845, and opened in 1849 between Bridgeport and Winsted, adjacent to the Naugatuck River.
“Changing economic climates over the years led to a number of ownership changes until regular service north of Waterbury ended in 1995,” members wrote on the website. “Around the same time, after three decades of preserving and restoring New England’s railroad heritage, we were looking for a new home, and we chose Thomaston.”
The old Naugatuck Railroad name was restored by state charter, and the new Naugatuck Railroad was incorporated June 7, 1995 as a wholly owned subsidiary of RMNE.
Their first passenger trains ran in October of 1996 and continue to be a popular attraction, with Christmas train rides for children and families, scenic autumn trains and other events. The railroad’s Chocolate Decadence Tour, for example, takes passengers to Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, a longtime candymaker.
City officials, in a statement, said the Sunday train trips mark “a significant milestone for Torrington and the region, bringing renewed passenger rail service to the city after more than six decades and building on recent downtown infrastructure investments, including the completion of the new $4.2 million Railroad Square Platform.
By connecting visitors directly with Torrington’s downtown arts district and small-business community, the Litchfield County Clipper is expected to serve as both a tourism experience and an economic development driver in both communities.
“We are thrilled to welcome the return of passenger boarding in Torrington for the first time in decades,” said Torrington Mayor Molly Spino, in a statement. “The Litchfield County Clipper represents more than just a train excursion … With stops at Railroad Square and Market Street Creatives, passengers will experience the creativity, culture, and energy that make Torrington such a unique destination in Northwest Connecticut.”
On the Sunday trip, Mandolfo, a younger member, was assigned to be the trip narrator.
“I describe the scenery, things people are seeing as we go by,” he said. “I also help out with ticket sales.”
The Sunday train travels along the Naugatuck River, through Litchfield County, and across the historic Thomaston Dam.
Formanek, the RMNE’s general manager, said he hoped people would take advantage of the Sunday train rides.
“Hopefully the weather will be nice on Sundays, and we’ll have passengers,” he said.
Suddenly, the train came to life with a long and short hoot.
On cue, the conductors and officials climbed aboard. Passengers were already settled in two cars, including the bar car. Then the train was off, and everyone seemed to be smiling.
“There’s something about trains,” Ornstein said. “People love to ride them, to look at them. It does something to them.”
Tickets and additional information about the Litchfield County Clipper and the other train trips offered at the RMNE are available at www.rmne.org/excursions/countyclipper.