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|---|---|
| Headquarters | Danbury, CT |
| Locale | Fairfield County, Connecticut |
| Successor | D&N (1850) |
The Fairfield County Railroad was chartered May 1835. Its goal was to give Danbury, Connecticut, a rail link with the outside world. It became the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad by 1850 which in turn did not operate until 1852.
Prior to the railroad era routes from Danbury to Norwalk were opened along at least two toll roads. In October 1795 the Danbury and Norwalk Turnpike was opened (which mostly followed present day Route 53) and then in May 1801 the Danbury-Ridgefield Turnpike was opened (it followed the present day U.S. Route 7 and Connecticut Route 35). The turnpikes provided only limited capacity freight and passenger transportation.
The Fairfield County Railroad was formed by Danbury leaders to provide better transportation in a charter granted by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1835. At first a route was sought towards Long Island Sound. The survey was conducted by Professor Alexander C. Twining of Yale University. Next a line north along the Housatonic River was surveyed. This would bring in the much needed money for the railroad. Due to lack of financing the railroad was not built at first. The Housatonic Railroad offered to connect Danbury if the town would subscribe for a bond of $100.000 in said company. Danbury declined. The Housatonic built northwards along the route that the Fairfield County Railroad had surveyed. The Housatonic started service between Bridgeport and New Milford by February of 1840. The Fairfield County Railroad would now only be limited to build south towards Long Island Sound. In 1850 the Charter was renewed, and the company was renamed the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad which started operation in 1852. The line would eventually be known as the Danbury Branch of several successor railroads.
References
- List of turnpikes in Connecticut
- "HISTORY OF RAIL LINES IN THE HOUSATONIC VALLEY, CT REGION". Retrieved 2008-03-19.
- Housatonic Railroad