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Danbury Branch
A passenger train at a train station
A train at the station in Danbury, Connecticut
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerConnecticut DOT
LocaleNorwalk, CT to Danbury, CT
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetro-North Railroad
Operator(s)Metro-North (passenger 1983–present)
PW (freight 1993 – present)[1]
Housatonic (freight 1983–present)
Rolling stockGE Genesis P32AC-DM
Brookville BL20GH
EMD GP40-3H
Shoreliner coaches
Technical
Line length23.9 mi (38.46 km)
CharacterCommuter rail / Branch line
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationNone (electrified 1925-1961)
Route map
Map
Legend
Housatonic Railroad
to Pittsfield
New Milford (proposed)
Housatonic River
Brookfield (proposed)
Housatonic Railroad
to Derby Junction
North Danbury (proposed)
Still River
Danbury Yard & Railway Museum
Beacon Line
to Southeast
64.9 mi
104.4 km
 Danbury
Still River
62.2 mi
100.1 km
 Bethel
58.5 mi
94.1 km
 Redding
Saugatuck River
54.0 mi
86.9 km
 Branchville
Zone 42
Zone 41
Georgetown (proposed)
50.2 mi
80.8 km
 Cannondale
48.5 mi
78.1 km
 Wilton
Kent Road (closed)
45.0 mi
72.4 km
 Merritt 7
Norwalk River
Wall Street (proposed)
end of electrification
New Haven to New Haven
Zone 41
Zone 17
Danbury Branch Dockyard & Norwalk River
41.0 mi
66 km
 South Norwalk
Shore Line East
Zone 17
Zone 16
39.2 mi
63.1 km
 Rowayton
37.7 mi
60.7 km
 Darien
36.2 mi
58.3 km
 Noroton Heights
36.2 mi
58.3 km
 Stamford
Amtrak Shore Line East
New Haven intermediate stops
Zone 16
Zone 1
0.0 mi
0 km
 Grand Central
This diagram:

The Danbury Branch is a diesel branch of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line in the U.S. state of Connecticut, running from downtown Norwalk north to Danbury. It opened in 1852 as the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Until the early 1970s, passenger service continued north from Danbury to Canaan, Connecticut, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Metro-North took over operation of the line from Conrail in 1983, and the modern-day branch is mostly single-tracked.

History

[edit]
Main article: Danbury and Norwalk Railroad
Original Georgetown station, circa 1919
The SoNo Switch Tower Museum in Norwalk

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 mainline 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.[2]

Starting 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 mainline 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 soon after, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the Housatonic.[2]

Long-distance passenger service operated on the line. The Berkshire ran on the line from Grand Central to Danbury, to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Many railroad bridges along the Danbury Branch were damaged or destroyed in the 1955 Norwalk river flood.[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] The last passenger train from Danbury north to Pittsfield, Massachusetts ran in April 1971, the day before Amtrak assumed passenger operations. 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][page needed] Conrail continued to provide freight service on the line until 1993. The Providence and Worcester Railroad now provides freight service along the Danbury Branch.

Upon renovation of the Merritt 7 station, Metro-North ceased stops at Kent Road on January 16, 1994, and instead provided service via shuttle bus to Merritt 7 for local employers. By the time of its closing, fewer than 15 passengers used the station daily.[5]

Electrification

[edit]

The Danbury Line operated electric-powered trains beginning in 1925. The catenary system on the Danbury Line was removed in 1961 when diesel-powered locomotives resumed service on the line.[6][7] Steel posts that once carried the overhead catenary system can still be seen along the line.[8] As of 2022, the Connecticut Department of Transportation was studying the feasibility of installing catenary wire on the Danbury Branch.[9]

Railway museums

[edit]

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 travelling along the New Haven main line.[10]

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 station. At the museum are examples of rolling stock retired from service as well as an indoor display of model trains.

Plans

[edit]
Former Solari display for the branch used at Grand Central Terminal; now at the Danbury Railway Museum.

There have been proposals to re-electrify the Danbury Branch, along with a plan to extend service north from Danbury to New Milford.[11]

In connection with the planned redevelopment of the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill as a residential neighborhood, reopening a Georgetown station between the Cannondale and Branchville stations has been approved, though not yet scheduled or funded.[12][13] The previous station was abandoned in the 1970s due to low ridership.

Over $60 million was allocated to the Danbury Branch, approximately half from the economic stimulus package of 2009, to improve current stations, build siding tracks, and install a new signal system. 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 late 2009 and finish in 2011.[14] The new signal system finally began operation in 2013, but extensive work was still ongoing in 2014 because of unresolved problems with the drop gates at grade crossings.[15][16]

In fall 2012, the focus of the plan was only on improving the corridor as far as Danbury, with no extension.[11]

In May 2015, Governor Dannel Malloy's five-year plan for transportation improvements called "Let's Go CT" only mentioned one point for the Danbury Branch.[17] This is a new small rail yard called the Danbury Line Dock Yard Improvements. This area in South Norwalk will include electrification of the southern end of the branch. This was to enable work to commence on the Walk Bridge.[18] However, at the same time a 30-year plan was published that does envision electrification of the Danbury Branch, extending service to New Milford and electrifying that extension. Electrification of the portion to Danbury would cost $400 million; the extension to New Milford would cost $450 million, and the electrification of the extension would cost $540 million.[19]

On February 1, 2017, the Connecticut State Bond Commission authorized $21 million in borrowing for upgrades at the Merritt 7 station as well as for the addition of a station on the New Haven Line. The Merritt 7 station would have a footbridge added, a raised platform, and an expanded shelter.[20]

Plans to reopen the long-closed Wall Street station are under consideration in wake of new housing developments in Norwalk Center.[21]

Stations

[edit]

West of South Norwalk, the New Haven Line continues southwest to Grand Central Terminal and northeast to Union Station in New Haven.

All trains stop at all seven stations on the branch. The trip from Danbury to South Norwalk currently (2018) takes about 54 minutes. All peak trains and some off-peak run to Stamford on weekdays, and limited service runs to Grand Central Terminal as well. Limited through service from Danbury to Grand Central takes about 2 hours. Two weekday trains serve the intermediate stations (Rowayton, Darien, and Noroton Heights) in peak direction.

The following services that connect to the Danbury Branch are Amtrak,[22] Metro-North Railroad,[23] Norwalk Transit District,[24] and HARTransit.[25]

Zone Location Station Miles (km)
from GCT 		Date
opened 		Date
closed 		Connections / notes
17 Norwalk South Norwalk Disabled access 41.0 (66.0) Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
Norwalk Transit District: 10, 11, 12, Evening Shuttle, Sunday Shuttle, Norwalk Commuter Shuttle[24]
41
Wall Street 1860 1956 Station house was at 47 Wall St. Norwalk, CT right over the tracks.[26]
Merritt 7 Disabled access 45.0 (72.4) 1985[27] Norwalk Transit: Route 7 Link, Norwalk Commuter Connection
Wilton
Kent Road January 12, 1976 January 16, 1994
Wilton Disabled access 48.5 (78.1) 1852 Norwalk Transit: Route 7 Link
Cannondale Disabled access 50.2 (80.8) 1852 Norwalk Transit: Route 7 Link
Georgetown 1970s
42 Ridgefield Branchville Disabled access 54.0 (86.9) 1852 Norwalk Transit: Route 7 Link
Redding Sanford 1852 1938
Redding Disabled access 58.7 (94.5) 1852 Norwalk Transit: Route 7 Link
Bethel Bethel Disabled access 62.2 (100.1) 1852 Housatonic Area Regional Transit: 5
Danbury Danbury Disabled access 64.9 (104.4) 1852 Housatonic Area Regional Transit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Route 7 Link, Danbury–Brewster Shuttle, Newton Road Loop

Rolling stock

[edit]

Unlike the New Haven main line or the New Canaan Branch, the Danbury Branch is not electrified, and uses diesel locomotives in push-pull operation. Usually, the diesels push trains toward Grand Central Terminal, and pull toward Danbury. All of the passenger cars used are Shoreliner series cars, powered by GE P32AC-DM Genesis, Brookville BL20GH, or EMD GP40-3H locomotives.

In August 2023, CTDOT approved a contract with Alstom for 60 single-level passenger cars. The cars will replace the existing Shoreliner coach fleet on the Waterbury Branch and the Danbury Branch, as well as Mafersa coaches on the Hartford Line. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.[28][29]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Karr, Ronald Dale (1995). The Rail Lines of Southern New England, A Handbook of Railroad History. Branch Line Press. ISBN 0-942147-02-2.
  2. ^ a b Blakeslee, Philip C. (1953). A Brief History Lines West of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Norwalk, River. "The 1955 flood". norwalkriver.org. NRWA. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "PRR Chronology 1971" (PDF). The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society. June 2005. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  5. ^ "Trains Will End Stops at Kent Road Sunday". The Wilton Bulletin. January 12, 1994. Retrieved April 29, 2014 – via Google News.
  6. ^ "Danbury Branch Rail Line History". Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "DANBURY BRANCH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TASKS: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM: STATE PROJECT 302-008" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation and Washington Group International. October 22, 2010. p. 10-4. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023. Other major railroad developments included the electrification of the New Haven line and many of its branches, including the Norwalk / Danbury branch, although the line extending from Danbury to New Milford was never electrified. The electrification of the New Haven contributed to its history of financial difficulties, and the company was nearly insolvent or bankrupt, consolidated, and reorganized several times. The southern Danbury branch was de-electrified in 1961, and by 1969 the New Haven was consolidated with the Penn Central system.
  8. ^ Danbury Branch Improvement Program Task 7 | Existing Conditions – Rail Infrastructure Draft Final Report (PDF) (Report). Connecticut Department of Transportation. April 2009. pp. 38–40. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Brone, Abigail (May 24, 2022). "CT's Shore Line East shifts to all-electric trains; 'It's faster, it's a lot more comfortable'". CT Insider. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "SoNo Switch Tower Museum". Visit CT. June 8, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Danbury Branch Electrification Feasibility Study". Connecticut Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  12. ^ Prevost, Lisa (January 30, 2005). "A Mill Town Writes Its Next Chapter". The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  13. ^ "State Approves $2 Million Bond For Redding Mill Redevelopment". The Weston Daily Voice. February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  14. ^ O'Connor, Kara (July 29, 2009). "Rell unveils $30M Danbury rail project". The Hour. Vol. 138, no. 210. p. A1. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  15. ^ "Update on the Danbury Branch Grade Crossings". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  16. ^ "Metro-North's New Spring Schedule Enhances Reliability". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 28, 2014. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  17. ^ "Connecticut's 5 Year Transportation Ramp-Up Plan FEBRUARY 2015" (PDF). The Connecticut Department of Transportation. February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  18. ^ Koch, Robert (August 15, 2015). "Connecticut Department of Transportation prepares to rebuild Metro-North 'Dock Yard'". The Hour. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  19. ^ "Connecticut's Bold Vision for a Transportation Future" (PDF). The Connecticut Department of Transportation. February 2015. p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  20. ^ Soule, Alexander (February 1, 2017). "Connecticut OKs funds for Norwalk, Orange stations". The Hour. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  21. ^ Koch, Robert (April 27, 2018). "DOT considering Wall Street train stop in Norwalk". The Hour. Retrieved January 26, 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ "Amtrak System Timetable - Updated June 2018" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "New Haven Line Monday-Friday Schedule" (PDF). Metro-North Railroad. September 30, 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Norwalk, CT". Norwalk Transit District. September 1, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  25. ^ "System Map". HARTransit. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  26. ^ Koch, Robert (September 19, 2016). "A brief history of the train station that once served Wall Street". The Hour. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  27. ^ Charles, Eleanor (July 28, 1985). "RAIL STATION FOR CORPORATE PARK". The New York Times.
  28. ^ "Alstom to supply 60 single-level coach cars to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for its statewide rail system" (Press release). Alstom. August 9, 2023.
  29. ^ "Governor Lamont Announces Purchase of 60 New Rail Cars to Modernize Commuter Rail Lines" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. August 9, 2023.
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