Gorgeous day for a boat ride to Bridgeport to catch the train to Waterbury.  The Waterbury Branch is highly scenic and most underrated. It was a gorgeous day, but cold.
Catching up on your videos. Great job! The "spur" you refer to at 1:03:22 was the old New York and New England mainline west to Danbury and New York state. The point where that line merged with the line from Bridgeport was known as Bank Street Junction. There was a tower at that location (SS-202) until it was damaged during the 1955 flood. It was not replaced.
Thanks for this and the other video. This was my "home" route for many years as I lived in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Naugatuck and Waterbury. This route actually has 11 trains a day in each direction. The flood walls you saw in Ansonia were a result of the Great Flood of 1955 which did an enormous amount of damage the length of the river. Over the next year or so they will be building high-level platforms in Ansonia and Derby. Money has been allocated. Also, note Waterbury is still over 100,000 people. Great job by you as always. I rode this a couple weeks ago for the first time in a while.
Also, the factories you passed through in Ansonia are the former Anaconda American Brass and Farrell-Birmingham. Both employed thousands of workers in the brass and copper industry.
Naugatuck also used to be the home of US Rubber, which made Keds sneakers among other things and also Peter Paul Cadbury, which makes Almond Joy and Peter Paul mounds. Both have unfortunately moved elsewhere.
Tim, thanks for the ride. Good thing about this route is the only way you're on it is if you want to be on it. All the mills and factories are a time that was: skilled trades, machinists, brass copper, steel, and rubber.
What a cool video, I live in Danbury and know that branch well but never saw the Waterbury branch until now. When you pulled into the Waterbury station, and I saw all those tracks it brought me back to 1976 when my dad brought me there to see the Freedom Train. Wow, what a scenic ride !
Near the Derby-Shelton Station is where the lenses for the Hubble Telescope were ground. Such precision was required that grinding could not take place in daylight hours or commuting time, because the vibrations from trains, and even tractor-semitrailer trucks would be a problem. They ground at night, with spotters looking out for late-night trucks on Route 8.
GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU FOLLOWED YOU FOR A LONG TIME NOW ON ALL YOUR RIDES. I PUT FROM 1954 TO 1973 ON THE EL OUT OF HOBOKEN AND SCRANTON AS AN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND A ROAD FOREMAN OF ENGINES ON THE NY DIVISIION OLD M&E..SUPERINTENDENT GAVE ME THE GLADSTONE BRANCH AS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO RUN TRAINS...SAW YOUR TRIP ON THE GLADSTONE BRANCH I WOULDN'T KNOW IT AS I LIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TX AND THE LAST TIME I WAS IN NJ WAS 2006. MISS NJ BUT I WAS ON AMTRAK AS A TRANSPORTATION MANAGER WAS TRANSFERED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO WENT IN BUSINESS AS A RAILROAD CONSULTANT TEACHING ENGINEERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. RETIRED AT 82 SAND I AM 88 NOW LOVE YOUR TRIPS AND YOUR COMMENTS. PUT 2 MILLION MILES ON AMTRAK ON THE JOB TRAINING ON LOCOMOTIVES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK YOU A RE DOING...DO YOU REMEMBE R JOE VALDER SUPER AND WALTER SCHLEGER PRESIDSENT IN JAMICA ON THE LONG ISLAND I WORKED FOR THE MTA 1976 TO 77. AGAIN I LOVE YOUR RIDES KEEP THEM UP I WATCH THEM ALL I AM STILL A RAIL FAN ALWAYS HAVE SINCE 1934
The crumbling factory you mentioned between Naugatuck and Waterbury was, Bristol Flowed Gasket. Had a school buddy work there as a night shift guard back in the 70s
I remember riding that route as a kid in a Budd car NY NH and Hartford RR. My father was a conductor, back then we rode free. I remember riding up front one time.
There used to be a number of clockmakers in these areas. Waterbury Clock Company later became Timex. I have a clock made by the Ansonia Clock Company from the 1920's.
Next year you'll be able to take a train directly from the Long Island Railroad into Grand Central. Should make it faster to get to Metro North territory.
@@ghostengineer Oh Thank You for telling me. The dual modes are GE P32 GENESIS LOCOMOTIVES. Those are the ones that go into Grand Central Station on 3rd rail power.
Hi. Cool video! I live in Connecticut. As someone who is familiar with CT traffic on all roadways (state and local), I believe there is opportunity for Amtrak and the state of CT to repurpose the old Waterbury yard into a new mid-distance Autotrain or new freight hub for the region of New England. This part of the nation sees a lot of seasonal traffic. I believe that since fuel prices have exceeded $4.00/gallon for the NE region since the turn of the millennium, both people and companies using fuel for their vehicles are ready for a second option. CT is a through state for all traffic going into and leaving the NE region. Whether its people or commerce, I believe there is an opportunity to expand the logistics and transportation industries since the railroad station in Waterbury (and yard) is immediately under I-84 there.
Catching up on your videos. Great job! The "spur" you refer to at 1:03:22 was the old New York and New England mainline west to Danbury and New York state. The point where that line merged with the line from Bridgeport was known as Bank Street Junction. There was a tower at that location (SS-202) until it was damaged during the 1955 flood. It was not replaced.
Wow, brings back memories. Back in 2004-05, I can remember they were running New Haven FL9s up down that route. Was quite a sight to behold!
Thanks for this and the other video. This was my "home" route for many years as I lived in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Naugatuck and Waterbury. This route actually has 11 trains a day in each direction. The flood walls you saw in Ansonia were a result of the Great Flood of 1955 which did an enormous amount of damage the length of the river. Over the next year or so they will be building high-level platforms in Ansonia and Derby. Money has been allocated. Also, note Waterbury is still over 100,000 people. Great job by you as always. I rode this a couple weeks ago for the first time in a while.
Also, the factories you passed through in Ansonia are the former Anaconda American Brass and Farrell-Birmingham. Both employed thousands of workers in the brass and copper industry.
Naugatuck also used to be the home of US Rubber, which made Keds sneakers among other things and also Peter Paul Cadbury, which makes Almond Joy and Peter Paul mounds. Both have unfortunately moved elsewhere.
@@bossf51 Yup; the US Rubber UniRoyal Division was there, making car and truck tires.
Tim, thanks for the ride. Good thing about this route is the only way you're on it is if you want to be on it. All the mills and factories are a time that was: skilled trades, machinists, brass copper, steel, and rubber.
What a cool video, I live in Danbury and know that branch well but never saw the Waterbury branch until now. When you pulled into the Waterbury station, and I saw all those tracks it brought me back to 1976 when my dad brought me there to see the Freedom Train. Wow, what a scenic ride !
Near the Derby-Shelton Station is where the lenses for the Hubble Telescope were ground. Such precision was required that grinding could not take place in daylight hours or commuting time, because the vibrations from trains, and even tractor-semitrailer trucks would be a problem. They ground at night, with spotters looking out for late-night trucks on Route 8.
GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU FOLLOWED YOU FOR A LONG TIME NOW ON ALL YOUR RIDES. I PUT FROM 1954 TO 1973 ON THE EL OUT OF HOBOKEN AND SCRANTON AS AN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND A ROAD FOREMAN OF ENGINES ON THE NY DIVISIION OLD M&E..SUPERINTENDENT GAVE ME THE GLADSTONE BRANCH AS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO RUN TRAINS...SAW YOUR TRIP ON THE GLADSTONE BRANCH I WOULDN'T KNOW IT AS I LIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TX AND THE LAST TIME I WAS IN NJ WAS 2006. MISS NJ BUT I WAS ON AMTRAK AS A TRANSPORTATION MANAGER WAS TRANSFERED HERE TO SAN ANTONIO WENT IN BUSINESS AS A RAILROAD CONSULTANT TEACHING ENGINEERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. RETIRED AT 82 SAND I AM 88 NOW LOVE YOUR TRIPS AND YOUR COMMENTS. PUT 2 MILLION MILES ON AMTRAK ON THE JOB TRAINING ON LOCOMOTIVES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK YOU A RE DOING...DO YOU REMEMBE R JOE VALDER SUPER AND WALTER SCHLEGER PRESIDSENT IN JAMICA ON THE LONG ISLAND I WORKED FOR THE MTA 1976 TO 77. AGAIN I LOVE YOUR RIDES KEEP THEM UP I WATCH THEM ALL I AM STILL A RAIL FAN ALWAYS HAVE SINCE 1934
EL was a great railroad.
The crumbling factory you mentioned between Naugatuck and Waterbury was, Bristol Flowed Gasket. Had a school buddy work there as a night shift guard back in the 70s
Thanks for this. As a rail fan, next time we visit CT. We'll take this from WTBY to Bridgeport and back just for a scenic ride!
I remember riding that route as a kid in a Budd car NY NH and Hartford RR. My father was a conductor, back then we rode free. I remember riding up front one time.
There used to be a number of clockmakers in these areas. Waterbury Clock Company later became Timex. I have a clock made by the Ansonia Clock Company from the 1920's.
Enjoyed the boat ride. Wish the big old wooden ferries to/fro Hoboken were still running.
That long layover in Waterbury used to be a thing almost 20 years ago. It just came back only for Weekdays just this past July....
Thanks for the video!
also nice catch of the M8 Burn In.!
Great to see this... I am also catching up on your last couple of videos... "Salamat" & Happy New Year!!!
and what's even better is, both the PT Barnum AND Grand Republic are powered by the EMD 710, obviously the same engine as the DE/DM, PL42AC, etc.
Next year you'll be able to take a train directly from the Long Island Railroad into Grand Central. Should make it faster to get to Metro North territory.
If you ever drive up to Connecticut there is along the US-7 Corridor, Kent Falls and Great Falls. Great Falls is the Housitonic River.
I hope you were able to see the giant cross at Holyland up on the hill in Waterbury.
I think the BL20 DIESEL is a dual mode locomotive that can switch between diesel and 3rd rail power in one locomotive.
It’s not a dual mode. It’s just a diesel locomotive
@@ghostengineer Oh Thank You for telling me. The dual modes are GE P32 GENESIS LOCOMOTIVES. Those are the ones that go into Grand Central Station on 3rd rail power.
@@albertcarello619Grand Central Terminal!!!!
You passed my car at East Bridgeport Yard
Hi. Cool video!
I live in Connecticut. As someone who is familiar with CT traffic on all roadways (state and local), I believe there is opportunity for Amtrak and the state of CT to repurpose the old Waterbury yard into a new mid-distance Autotrain or new freight hub for the region of New England. This part of the nation sees a lot of seasonal traffic. I believe that since fuel prices have exceeded $4.00/gallon for the NE region since the turn of the millennium, both people and companies using fuel for their vehicles are ready for a second option.
CT is a through state for all traffic going into and leaving the NE region. Whether its people or commerce, I believe there is an opportunity to expand the logistics and transportation industries since the railroad station in Waterbury (and yard) is immediately under I-84 there.
Paul will be mad at you complementing the brokeville.
Where it was deserving like the horns
I heard you talk about the fares and the discount for seniors and I was wondering if any railroads offer a deal for veterans?
Not sure
the building at 57:13 just burned down a few weeks ago
Honestly surprised this isn’t an Acela stop, and that it doesn’t have 4 platforms
Wait I didn’t know they were getting new M8s I wonder how many they are getting
What's that little platform at 12:30?
Employee platform for East Bridgeport Yard
4:41 um is that safe? just randomly open the doors right off to the tracks?
It was a test train. Has NO passengers
Great video but couldn't you have moved to a different car away from those annoying kids?
I thought about it, but all my stuff was put away and I didn’t feel like moving it again