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Along the Valley Line
The History of the Connecticut Valley Railroad
Series: Garnet Books
Sales Date: 2017-08-15
The first book on the history of the Connecticut Valley Railroad
The Connecticut Valley Railroad once carried both passengers and freight along the west bank of the Connecticut River between Hartford and Old Saybrook. Completed in 1871, today the railroad is known throughout New England for the nostalgic steam-powered excursion trains that run on a portion of the line between Essex and Chester. Until now the history of this popular tourist attraction has been the stuff of local lore and legend. This book, written by railroad historian and former vice president and director of Valley Railroad, Max R. Miller, provides the first comprehensive history of the Connecticut Valley Railroad through maps, ephemera, and archival photographs of the trains, bridges, and scenery surrounding the line. Offering tales of train wrecks, ghost sightings, booms and busts, Along the Valley Line will be treasured by railroad enthusiasts and historians alike.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Events leading up to the Construction of the Railroad
Chapter 2
The Business of Building the Railroad
Chapter 3
Operation of the Conneticut Valley Railroad
Chapter 4
Conneticut Valley Railroad's Locomotives and Rolling Stock
Chapter 5
The Springfield to Old Saybrook Route
Chapter 6
The End of the Conneticut Valley Railroad and on to the Hartford & Connectcut Valley Railroad
Chapter 7
Train Wrecks and Accidents
Chapter 8
The Competition: Boats, Cast Iron Wheels and Rubber Tires
Chapter 9
Abandonment of Service and New Charters
Chapter 10
Washouts
Chapter 11• The Valley Railroad's Chinese Locomotive No. 1647
Chapter 12
The Valley Line on the Big Screen
Epilogue
Appendix 1
Along the Conneticut Valley Line: Timeline and Track Stats
Appendix 2
Conneticut Valley & Springfield Railroad Schedule, 1876
Endnotes
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
MAX R. MILLER is a historian of the Connecticut Valley Railroad and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and a collector of documents, photographs and memorabilia. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1936 and moved to Connecticut as a teenager. Mr. Miller was in railroad construction and worked as a diesel machinist while serving 38 years in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Senior Railroad Sergeant in the Army Reserves. He worked for the Valley Railroad from the 1970s to the 1990s, serving as vice president and director of the line, and for Amtrak and Conrail in the 1970s. He currently lives in Higganum, Connecticut.
"From Wesleyan's excellent Connecticut-themed Garnet Books series comes a history of the mostly extinct railroad from Max Miller. Beautifully presented with maps and photographs, the book will be of interest to those passionate about both local history and transportation, as well as those with an eye toward the transportation systems of the future."
~Michael Lee-Murphy, Connecticut Magazine
""Max R. Miller takes readers on a ride through the business and politics, problems and successes, and wrecks and revival""
~Maine Antique Digest
""[T]his book is a must have and it really deserves a place in the library of anyone that's a fan of railroad history.""
~Chris Adams, The New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Shoreliner Magazine
""[T]he first comprehensive history of the Connecticut Valley Railroad through maps, ephemera, and archival photographs of the trains, bridges, and scenery surrounding the line.""
~Railfan & Railroad Magazine
""From Wesleyan's excellent Connecticut-themed Garnet Books series comes a history of the mostly extinct railroad from Max Miller. Beautifully presented with maps and photographs, the book will be of interest to those passionate about both local history and transportation, as well as those with an eye toward the transportation systems of the future.""
~Michael Lee-Murphy, Connecticut Magazine
""Along the Valley Line does not just provide a glimpse of state history. It provides a crystal ball for a glimpse at a possible future.""
~Alan Bisbort, The Republican-American
"Max Miller's mastery of the topic of the Connecticut Valley Railroad was honed through almost a lifetime of extensive analysis of original primary sources, the result of which is this book, the definitive study of this railroad's crucial role in Connecticut transportation history."
~Laura Smith, Railroad History Archives, University of Connecticut
"Along the Valley Line fills a gap in the published history of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Connecticut railroad history or local Valley history. It deserves a place in your collection.""
~Charles O. Dunn, editor emeritus of the SpeedWitch, New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association, Inc.
"Along the Valley Line tells the story of one of New England's most scenic and beloved railroad lines. Railroad historians, enthusiasts, and the many who have taken a ride on the Valley Railroad's wonderful steam powered time machine, will find this book an engaging and comprehensive read.""
~William G. Dulmaine, Jr. President of the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association, Inc.
"An exhaustively researched and detailed illustrated history of this line along the Connecticut River, the lower section of which is now operated for excursion trains as the Valley Railroad.""
~J.W. Swanberg, author of New Haven Power, 1838-1968
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