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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Norwalk, CT to Danbury, CT |
| Dates of operation | 1852– |
Metro-North Railroad's Danbury Branch is a branch of their New Haven Line from downtown Norwalk, Connecticut north to Danbury. It opened in 1852 as the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, and was later connected to other lines at its north end.
The Cannondale Railroad Station, pictured at right, is one of the more scenic stations along the line.
Station stops
- Continues southwest to Grand Central Terminal on the New Haven Line
- splits from New Haven Line
History
The Danbury and Norwalk Railroad was chartered May 1849. The line opened in full, 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.
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 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.
Unlike the New Haven Line, trains that run on the Danbury Line are powered by diesel locomotives because the line is not electrified. The Danbury Line did operate electric-powered trains during the early part of the 20th Century, and 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 the early 1950s when diesel-powered locomotives resumed service on the line.
The NYNH&H merged into Penn Central in 1969. On January 1, 1971, the State of Connecticut leased the Danbury Branch from Penn Central.
The South Norwalk Switchtower Museum in Norwalk describes to visitors how railroad employees would switch the tracks for trains continuing on the Danbury line, then switch them back for trains traveling along the New Haven Line.
In connection with the planned redevelopment of the Gilbert and Bennet Company factory as a dense and walkable residential neighborhood, the reopening of the Georgetown station between the Cannondale and Branchville stations has been approved.
See also
- Connecticut Rail Commuter Council is the official state advocate for train commuters and brings station problems to the attention of officials.
References
- Railroad History Database
- Philip C. Blakeslee, A Brief History Lines West Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. (1953)
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