Since 1971, the Valley Railroad
Company has operated in the Connecticut River Valley with one very
clear purpose: Keeping steam alive. Connecticut has a rich
railroading history, and the Essex region, in particular, has been
served by numerous rail lines since the 1800s.
The original Valley Railway
Company built the first railway here in 1868. Since the valley
offered a relatively easy canvas for the tracks, the initial
45-mile route opened for business in July of 1871. The line changed
hands several times in the next 25 years, until 1968, when the
popularity of vehicular and air travel overshadowed the railway
industry, and it was sold to Penn
Central. The line was abandoned
that same year and nearly destroyed; however, a group of volunteers
stepped in and worked to save this significant piece of Connecticut
history. Eventually, the line's owners turned the railway over to
the State of Connecticut, and the new Valley Railroad Company was
formed by those concerned volunteers that first stepped in.
Since that fateful day,
the Essex Steam
Train has continued to
serve visitors and railroad enthusiasts in New England, offering
several distinct route offerings to entice travelers, as well as a
variety of seasonal railway experiences.
The Train & Riverboat
Excursion, and the solo Steam Train journey, take place between May
and October each year. Because Connecticut is cool in the late
spring and early fall, the steam train's carriages are heated. The
Dinner Train typically operates during the summer months, between
May and August. Steady breezes of fresh forest air negate the need
for air conditioning.
Aboard beautifully
maintained rolling stock and along routes that recall the heyday of
railroading in New England, the Essex Steam
Train offers a timeless
experience aboard the rails.