Essex Steam Train and Riverboat...by Don Janes

The Station at Essex is in beautiful condition and has been decorated in an autumn theme.  This structure was actually the freight house in Essex.

     Ride a Steam Train and a Riverboat

       Back in October my friend Greg Stubbings and I took a trip to New England visiting layouts owned by Kip Grant, Jim Dufour and Chris Adams.  One other attraction we visited was the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex CT.  The whole week was perfect weather with temperatures pushing 80 and sunny skies.  We arrived in Essex about an hour before our 11am departures giving us plenty of time to wander the grounds and take lots of photos.  We boarded our car, a 1920's era Pullman Parlour car "Great Republic" that had been refurbished to it's original condition.  Travel back then by parlor car was truly luxurious.  After we departed we followed the Connecticut River until we came to the dock where we boarded our boat for a leisurely ride up the Connecticut River. After the boat ride we re-boarded the train for our trip back to Essex.  The sun had moved around a lot since morning so we got a lot more photos not possible in the morning.

     It was a very pleasant experience.  The railroad is kept in pristine condition and the grounds are very neat and clean. Staff went out of their way to help and give us information about the railroad and the riverboat ride.  One of the more interesting aspects of the railroad was 2-8-2 #3025 was built in China in 1989.  I never would have guessed that had I not seen the builders plate on the side of the boiler and the spoked wheels on the tender.  Like everything else at the railroad it was in excellent condition.

After coming from the shop 3025 backs towards our train at the station.

3025 is coupled to the train and ready to depart. Note the old steam roller in the background.

The Essex RR has a couple of these 70 Tonners on their roster, both in excellent condition and painted in New Haven colours.  Here 0903 rests outside the shop

0901 was an interesting locomotive.  I am not sure of its origin but it was busy woking around the shop moving steam locomotive #40, another 2-8-2

Another view of 0901 outside the locomotive shop

Inside the shop the railway is restoring an ex NH NE-5 steel caboose that had been an office at Landon lumber for many years. 

A view of the inside of our passenger car Great Republic during the train ride...Greg Stubbings photo

Further up the line we boarded the riverboat Becky Thatcher for a cruise along the Connecticut River

Back at the railway station Greg got a tour of the cab of 3025 as the fireman watches for signals from the conductor

A little 0-6-0T sits on a display track with a string of various freight cars

This photo of an old CV hopper will come in handy when I go to detail a few of my model hoppers

The PRR N5 caboose is in great shape but unfortunately the ex CNR sleeper Lindsay sittinganext to it is not so good.  Hopefully it will be restored like the other equipment..

When we returned from the train ride 340 had been fired up and was being readied for the next days steam runs

We hung around to watch the next train leave town.  It is hard to believe this locomotive was built in 1989

This old truck was on display next to the station.

Another view of the station and train order signal at the Essex Steam RR

     When we left the Essex RR we headed over to Old Saybrook to watch some trains on the busy Northeat Corridor.  Some shots of what we saw will be on a later post