http://rmne.org/steam/

Flagg Coal #75 will be visiting Thomaston in May. Info is at the link posted above. The RMNE crew is looking forward to #75's visit. To get out in front of the inevitable comments, yes, there will be a real tank engine in Thomaston this spring.

The New Haven finished with steam out of the Waterbury roundhouse in April 1948; the Naugatuck line was dieselized in a matter of weeks that spring, using Alco RS-1s and RS-2s.

The last live steam locomotive to operate through Waterbury after that was 2-8-0 #97 (now at Valley Railroad), used on at least two fantrips over the New Haven through Waterbury in 1967 and 1968.

Howard P.
Cinders, CT

Very cool! I will be there.

Do you know of anything special going on other then the Steam train Howard? The steam train is enough to keep me happy though :D

This will be cool, no diesels on the Naugy.

Anthony

I am planning to be there also. I grew up in the Torrington area and the branch line from New Haven to Winsted was the only railroad I knew as a kid. As I recall, passenger service extended only as far north as Waterbury. All of the trains we saw in Torrington were local freights, powered by RS-3s. I remember seeing pix of 97 running on this line in the newspapers, but I never got to ride the steam excursions. How incredibly cool that a steam engine would run there in 2010.

The website shows hourly departures from 12-4 on the operating days. Looks like multiple short trips instead of the regular run....no doubt due to water/fuel constraints. Does anyone know which section of the line they'll run?

Looking forward to it!

The Flagg Coal 75 will be operating four trips each day, at 10, 12, 2 and 4 (sounds like the old Dr. Pepper ad). We expect to coal and water the engine between trips.

All trips will operate south from Thomaston Station, as we are not planning to attempt the 1.2% grade 2 miles up to Thomaston Dam. So, the FC 75 will not be covering the regular runs.

The line we operate was opened between Bridgeport-Milford-Waterbury-Winsted in September 1849 as the (original) Naugatuck Railroad. The New Haven (which took over in 1887) operated passenger service to Winsted until December 1958 (one RDC). Waterbury-Bridgeport service has continued since then as a shuttle train, by NH, PC, CR, and Metro-North/CDOT. The Torrington-Winsted tracks were pulled up in 1964. More detailed history is on our website.

RS-3s were the regular power from about 1950 on for freight and non-RDC passenger trains; our own 529 was a regular here for many years in NH and PC days.

We invite RyPN readers stop in for a visit during FC 75's time with us.

Howard P.

Sounds like a great event. Unfortunately I'll have to miss it, but I'm sure you'll pack them in!

One of these days I'd love to get the 75 to Scranton, as Flagg Coal was located a few miles south of here in Pittston and the unit was built in Wilkes-Barre, about 15 miles south of Scranton.

Dave Crosby

Who will be running the locomotive?

A properly-qualifed engineer.

Howard P.

I diden't know we had someone who could run steam at the RMNE.

John or his son will run it. They always come with it. However, they will let others try their hand at it under their supervison. They are really great to deal with.

Really looking forward to this...hope my schedule cooperates!

Stephen

Flagg Coal 75 arrived at RMNE's Naugatuck Railroad today and was unloaded in a cold rain (authentic railroad weather). Familiarization trips and Media Day will take place on Thursday, and the public operations commence on Saturday May 22.

During part of her visit to the Naugy, FC 75 will be carrying a whistle with special significance to some RMNE people--- the whistle used on our 2-6-2 #103 when that engine operated on the M&NJ at Middletown, NY between 1962 and 1966. There are probably a few RyPN regulars who heard that "Sound of the 103" when they were younger.... It has not been heard since late 1966.

Whistles from a CV 2-8-0 and a B&M P-2 4-6-2 may also be used during the two-weekend visit of the engine.

Tickets and schedule are available at our website, www.rmne.org.
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Howard P.

Well, the first day of steam operation on the Naugatuck Railroad has finished up. Clear blue skies and 70 degree temps only were the icing on the cake for a great day of steam railroading.

FC 75 is one powerful and gutsy little locomotive!!! She took 3 CNR 80-foot, 72-ton heavyweight coaches up the 1.2% grade to Thomaston Dam, including a couple of starts right on the grade (after letting off this foaming photographer and a few others).

75 was the first steam locomotive ever to traverse the "new" line north of Thomaston, up and across the dam, as the 9 mile line relocation was built in 1960.

And 103's whistle produced spine-chiiling echos across the valley from the dam.

One bit of humor (at least to me): during the return trip to Thomaston shop, the move stopped on the shop lead track to line and lock the mainline switch. That spot is right next to a road, and here comes the TPD patrol car, blue lights flashing, and TFD a few hundred feet behind the cop. The smoke had been called in as a "fire". The cop proceeds to ask one of the crew "Do you have a fire in that thing?" "It's a steam locomotive", was the crewman's reply. "I know that, but is there a fire in there?" the cop demanded. A few shakes of head and rolls of eyes and we continued down the lead track.

Some photos will be posted here soon, possibly on Friday or Monday. Not of the cop car though.

Howard P.
Old Dirty Shirt, CT

it just goes to show how out of touch the real world has become,

I think it to be truely sad

Thanks for sharing Howard.

Some photos:
First steam locomotive into Thomaston since April 1948-- FC 75 arriving at Thomaston on first NAUG run


After arriving, John Gramling and NAUG fireman Dave Manning at Thomaston (Dave's first trip firing a steam locomotive)


FC 75 and a appropriate red-brick industrial background-- the Plume and Atwood Brass mill at Thomaston