Danbury Branch

Metro-North Railroad's Danbury Branch is a diesel branch of the New Haven Line from downtown Norwalk, Connecticut north to Danbury. It opened in 1852 as the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Metro-North took over operation of the line from Conrail in 1983.

The Cannondale station, pictured at right, is one of the more scenic stops along the line.

Station stops

From north to south

proposed location for new stations at North Danbury, Brookfield, and New Milford^[2]

• Danbury current northern terminus
• Bethel
• Redding
• Branchville

proposed location for rebuilt Georgetown station^[2]

• Cannondale
• Wilton
• Merritt 7

splits from New Haven Line

• South Norwalk

Continues southwest to Grand Central Terminal northeast to Union Station New Haven on the New Haven Line

Main line stops for the Danbury Branch on the New Haven Line (AM:2 trains southbound, PM:2 train northbound)

• Rowayton
• Darien
• Noroton Heights

All peak trains and some off-peak run to Stamford on weekdays

Continues southwest to Grand Central Terminal northeast to Union Station New Haven on the New Haven Line

Rolling stock

Unlike the New Haven Line or New Canaan Branch, the Danbury branch is not electrified and uses diesel locomotives in push-pull operation. Usually, the diesels push the trains towards Grand Central Station, and pull towards Danbury. All of the rolling stock cars are Shoreliner series cars, powered by GE Genesis or Brookville BL20-GH locomotives.

History

The Danbury and Norwalk Railroad began operating its line from Norwalk north to Danbury, on February 22, 1852. In July 1872 a branch from the main line at Bethel northeast to Hawleyville opened. At Hawleyville, the branch connected to the Housatonic Railroad, continuing north into Massachusetts. Also at Hawleyville connections with the Shepaug Railroad to Litchfield were possible.

On May 1, 1874 that connection was supplemented by the New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad, running from Danbury northeast to the Housatonic. In 1881 the New York and New England Railroad was completed, giving another connection at Danbury and at Hawleyville.

A short branch from Branchville on the main line west to Ridgefield opened July 1, 1870. In July 1882 an extension was built in Norwalk to docks at Wilson Point. The Housatonic Railroad leased the D&N on July 21, 1887, and on July 1, 1892 the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the Housatonic.

The Danbury Line operated electric-powered trains beginning in 1925. Steel posts that once carried the overhead catenary system can still be seen along the line. The catenary system on the Danbury Line was removed in 1961 when diesel-powered locomotives resumed service on the line.^[3]

The NYNH&H merged into Penn Central in 1969. On January 1, 1971, the State of Connecticut leased the Danbury Branch from Penn Central.^[4] From 1976 until 1983 freight and passenger service on the line was provided by the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) under a contract with Connecticut. In 1983 the newly formed Metro-North Commuter Railroad took over operation of passenger service along the line.^[1] Conrail continued to provide freight service on the line until 1993. The Providence and Worcester Railroad now provides freight service along the Danbury Branch.

The Switchtower Museum in South Norwalk describes to visitors how railroad employees would switch the tracks for trains continuing on the Danbury branch line, then switch them back for trains traveling along the New Haven main line.

The Danbury Railway Museum is located in the former Union Station of the D&N and NY&NE in Danbury. It lies just north of the current Danbury Metro-North passenger station. At the museum are examples of rolling stock retired from service as well as an indoor display of model trains.

Future plans

There have been proposals to re-electrify the Danbury Branch along with a plan to extend service north from Danbury to New Milford.^[2]

In connection with the planned redevelopment of the Gilbert and Bennet Company wire factory as a dense and walkable residential neighborhood, the reopening of the Georgetown station between the Cannondale and Branchville stations has been approved.^[5]

$30 million has been set aside from the economic stimulus package of 2009 to improve stations and install a new signal system along the line. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell held a press conference with local politicians at the Cannondale station on July 28, 2009 to announce that construction was scheduled to start in autumn 2009.^[6]

Preliminary construction work has begun on the new signal system to move cables out of the way. Construction is expected to be completed in 2011 with trains using the extension in May 2012 after testing is finished.

See also

• Connecticut Rail Commuter Council is the official advocate for train commuters, bringing station problems to the attention of officials.

References

• http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Construction-under-way-on-Danbury-rail-line-442497.php (Construction Underway on Danbury Rail Line)
• http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Improved-scheduling-in-future-for-Danbury-line-442502.php (Improved Scheduling in future for Danbury Rail Line)

External links

• Railroad History Database
• Philip C. Blakeslee, A Brief History Lines West Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. (1953)