We aren’t just busy getting ready for the upcoming autumn excursions…we’re also expanding! We recently received a donation of a fully restored coach, and can’t wait to introduce it to our regular excursions. Check out the full story of how this car came to our collection below.

There are plenty of chances to ride with us in the coming months, so be sure to book your tickets today! Visit our website to see a full schedule of upcoming trips.

Our final Naugatuck River Scenic Train rides depart at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, September 27th. Don't miss this breathtaking ride! 

The Naugatuck River Scenic Train offers a scenic 20-mile ride through the Naugatuck River Valley and over the Thomaston Dam. Enjoy a cooling breeze in a historic passenger car as a vintage locomotive pulls the train over bridges and around curves while following the river from Thomaston to Waterbury. All trains stop at Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, giving you the opportunity to visit and pick up some delicious treats.

Kick off the autumn season with the Harvest Fest Express. Trains for this one-day special event depart at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 28th.

Enjoy a scenic ride to Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, where you’ll have the option to make your own chocolate bar and have a free mini tour. Thomaston Station will host a variety of family-friendly activities, including a bounce house, hay bale toss, ladder ball, and cornhole. You can also browse locally made goods from vendors at Fascia’s.

Tickets are now available for our popular Christmas trains, some of which have already sold out. Sales begin to pick up as we get closer to the holiday season, so reserve your seats now to beat the rush!

CNR 4977 bearing the banners of the Bytown Railway Society and the Railroad Museum of New England prior to its move. Next to the coach is the Bytown Railway Society's restored 1958 Pontiac Hy-Rail inspection car.

The Railroad Museum of New England recently expanded its collection of Canadian National Railways coaches with a generous donation from the Bytown Railway Society of Ottawa, Canada.

CNR 4977 arrived on the afternoon of Friday, September 13th after a careful journey from Ottawa, Canada. The coach is in excellent condition, requiring only some minor maintenance and upgrade work, and will join the heritage train service on the Naugatuck Railroad.

Built by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1924 and originally numbered 5084, this coach is similar to seven Canadian National heavyweight coaches and lounges in RMNE’s collection, many of which are already in active service on the Naugatuck Railroad. These cars regularly served on trains between Montreal and New England cities before they were replaced by lightweight coaches and transferred to Montreal commuter service. 

The Bytown Railway Society acquired 4977 in 1989 and briefly used it for excursion service at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. It then leased the coach to the York Durham Heritage Railway in Uxbridge, Ontario for several years before it was returned to the museum’s grounds in 2005.

Over a period of 15 years, volunteers with the “Dirty Hands Club” worked to bring new life to 4977, including restoration of the roof, windows, exterior, and paint. This project was completed in October 2023. Unfortunately, with the Canada Science and Technology Museum reducing the space allotted for the Bytown Railway Society’s collection, the group reluctantly decided to find a new home for 4977.

Some of the Bytown Railway Society volunteers who helped restore CNR 4977 pose with the coach before its departure from the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

Bytown leaders Dave Stremes and Den Jakupi selected RMNE as the best candidate for 4977’s future preservation and operation, based on our experience with our fleet of identical CNR coaches. After enthusiastically accepting the donation, RMNE was faced with an important question — “How do we get this to Connecticut?”

The museum had lost its railroad connection years ago, isolating all railroad equipment on site. Since this would already necessitate moving 4977 by truck, we quickly concluded, “Why not keep going to Connecticut?”

After many phone calls and emails between RMNE, Bytown, the Museum, heavy hauling companies, crane operators, and customs brokers over a five-month period, moving day finally arrived on Tuesday, September 9th.

The journey to Connecticut commenced at 9:36 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10th. Shortly after noon, all three trucks were across the St. Lawrence River — and the U.S.-Canada border. The two smaller trucks arrived at Chase Yard in Waterbury by sunset.

The coach required a more circuitous route through New York and Pennsylvania. 4977 crossed into Connecticut on I-84 on Friday, September 13th, and arrived in Waterbury at about 1:30 p.m. Using two cranes provided by Summit Crane of Plainville, the car was lifted and reassembled, back on the rails, by 3:45 p.m.

The coach includes original mahogany interior panels as well as a concession area, which the Bytown crew fabricated and installed based on the outline of the original smoking room. 4977 seats 62 passengers.

RMNE is honored to be the new home of CNR 4977. The efforts of Bytown’s dedicated and talented volunteers will be appreciated by passengers on the Naugatuck Railroad for many years to come.

Please consider supporting the restoration efforts of the Railroad Museum of New England by making a donation or joining our team of volunteers.