A Winter Journey on CT Rail's Hartford Line - Hartford to Springfield

[@johnalder6028]

Snow on the tracks always looks appealing.

[@broyofroyo1207]

I know

[@LonestarTrips]

Agreed. It's always a beautiful sight.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Connecticut State Capitol lore: The current building is the third capitol building for the state since the revolution. The legislature met alternately in Hartford and New Haven since before the American Revolution. In Hartford, they met in the Old State House designed by Charles Bulfinch (who also designed the Massachusetts State House and Maine State House and helped build the US Capitol rotunda) in 1792, and in New Haven, in a State House designed by Ithiel Town in 1827. After the Civil War, they realized continuing to do this wasn't feasible, and so the two cities competed to be the sole state capital, with Hartford of course winning and so a new capitol building had to be built. They authorized a million-dollar project and there were two competitors, James G. Batterson and Richard M. Upjohn (who also designed Edwin A. Stevens Hall in Hoboken). Upjohn won, however, Batterson was awarded the role of building contractor. Because of this, he pulled a genius move of revising Upjohn's plan, so the capitol design looked more like his own design. Doing this ended up more than doubling the cost to over $2,500,000 (in 1871 money; in 2023 money, it's over 62 million dollars). It was built between 1871 and 1878, with the exterior made using granite from Westerly, Rhode Island and marble from East Canaan.

[@LonestarTrips]

Wow! I figured there was some incredible history behind the capitol, but I didn't know about the contractor swap, especially with Batterson adjusting Upjohn's plans to make it look more like his design. Thanks for the great insight!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

I just love how the two Union Stations in Connecticut, Hartford and New Haven, both had to be rebuilt after a fire...coincidence? I THINK NOT! Hartford Union is designed in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. This revival style, named after Henry Hobson Richardson, incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish, and Italian Romanesque characteristics. Richardson first used elements of the style in his Richardson Olmsted Complex in Buffalo designed in 1870. The station was designed by George Keller and executed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. George Keller also designed Cleveland's James A. Garfield Memorial, while Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge worked on Boston's South Station, Chicago Public Library, and Harvard Medical School. And here are some Connecticut River facts: The Connecticut River is the longest river in New England, flowing roughly southward for 406 miles (653 km) through four states. The word "Connecticut" is a corruption of the Mohegan word quinetucket and Nipmuc word kwinitekw, which mean "beside the long, tidal river". It produces 70 percent of the Long Island Sound's fresh water, discharging at 18,400 cubic feet per second. The word came into English during the early 1600s to name the river, which was also called simply "The Great River". It was also known as the Fresh River, and the Dutch called it the Verse River.

[@LonestarTrips]

It's quite peculiar that our Supreme Leader knows so much about American railroading and history in general...

[@magnusaugust8489]

@@LonestarTrips gotta know your enemy, to best them.

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

I use this line a lot and like it very much. My wife and I took Amtrak to Florida for our daughter's wedding a 2-3 weeks ago and the NE Regional arrived late to New Haven. Amtrak radioed ahead and CT rail held their train for a load of passengers to cross the platform onto the train. That was very thoughtful.

[@jabrown04]

Lonestar trip reports what date is this

[@stevenfrischling5908]

You missed the glory days of Connecticut's Shoreline East. The GP38s painted in New Haven colors were just fantastic.

[@samtrak1204]

I wanted to see Springfield station but I'll look elsewhere. Thanks for the video. I love to see or ride train dashing through the snow.⛄

[@LonestarTrips]

Don’t worry, it’ll be in another video 😉 I didn’t go that far just to not show y’all!

[@Thomas-yu2hw]

Before the fire Hartford Union Station platform 1 was the center Island platform. The outside track was on the Spruce Street side

[@grommit700]

Comment 1 of 2. I live in Connecticut and have used CT Rail and Amtrak more times than I can recall... It is so relaxing to take the train to New Haven, Hartford, or Springfield. I boarded at Windsor and got off a Hartford for the 2024 UConn basketball parade. It was so quick and easy to then walk around the corner to parade route. Interestingly, the Mafersa coaches are warmer inside than the Amtrak ones. However, Amtrak travels as > 100mph whereas CT Rail is limited to 80mph. Once Amtrak receives their new coaches, they should lease or loan a few to CT Rail for test runs so they see how they work until CTDOT receives their new coaches. During the November and December holiday schedules, it is recommended to use CT Rail tickets on on CT Rail trains. Same goes for Amtrak. Because Amtrak trains sell out quickly and it delays the trains when passengers have to get off to make way for Amtrak ticket holders. Plan ahead.

[@Achala-qh4ds]

Wow Scenery is stunning. Great job👍👌

[@LonestarTrips]

Thank you!

[@grommit700]

Last comment... CTDOT should keep the Mafersa coaches if passenger service is activated on the lines in western and eastern CT. My guess from studying those routes is that those lines have too many corners and turns to reach high speed like the Hartford line does. The Mafersa coaches would be great for these two low to moderate speed lines. Maybe send them out to be rebuilt once the new Alstom coaches arrive. I would also recommend that as part of the I-84 highway rebuild one day, the line from Manchester to Waterbury receives funding to activate it. This way the highway is relived of some congestion it continues to face. The line essentially parallels the highway. So it makes perfect sense to reactivate the line for a temporary basis while construction takes place. Otherwise traffic will worsen than what it already is. And those Mafersa coaches would be ideal for this Waterbury-Manchester route as there are also quite a few corners limiting high speed towards each terminus.

[@stephenkeever6029]

Another great combo shot of the train, arriving from a rail camera and your shot from inside the same train!

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks! I'm doing my best to add shots like that whenever I can.

[@RailfanJourneys]

Nice video. I have to take a ride on this line soon myself.

[@LonestarTrips]

It’s a great ride, winter or summer.

[@marciaharder1647]

Can you do metrolink impire builder santa ana to oceanside

[@LonestarTrips]

I'd have to get back out to LA to film it, and with a metrolink video coming out next week, it's not really a priority for me at the moment. Plus there's a ton of much cooler videos in the works, so another ride on Metrolink will have to take a back seat for now.

[@faengelm]

Great video work and narration. Is there a stop near the airport BDL?

[@ehosack.rocketlad]

The closest stop is Windsor Locks, but the airport connection is a CTtransit bus that doesn't run super consistently.

[@stevetalkstoomuch]

They are currently constructing a new station in downtown Windsor Locks. Will include bus shuttle service to BDL airport with more frequent service.

[@faengelm]

@@stevetalkstoomuch Thank you. Would you happen to have a link that points me to news on this station construction?

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks! I personally don't know if there's a stop near BDL, but it looks like the other comments have you covered.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

No. The easier way to get to BDL is by taking the 30X bus from Hartford Union Station.

[@kevinhoward9593]

Riding through snow is always so much fun.

[@LonestarTrips]

Agreed. It's always a beautiful ride.

[@OfficialETandM]

Hello

[@LonestarTrips]

Howdy!

[@OfficialETandM]

@@LonestarTrips You should take the SMART train! It’s up here in Northern CA!

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video

[@LonestarTrips]

Thanks!

[@BobGeogeo]

Great to see this, thanks. I spotted my old workplace just east of the tracks in Windsor.

[@LonestarTrips]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@martincruz8319]

The Hartford Line is also great for visiting the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, only a short walk [referee's whistle: TRAVELING] from the train station. I took a ride on the Hartford Line on the CT Rail on the system's opening weekend (Father's Day weekend 2019). That weekend, the ride was free; but the fares for the single line system is affordable, whether going between New Haven and Hartford or further north to Springfield, Massachusetts. (Only a few commuter rail lines go to multiple states like CT Rail: Metro-North via New Haven Line running between New York City's Grand Central Terminal and the Connecticut suburbs, New Jersey Transit [NJ Transit] also from New York to many parts of the Garden State, SEPTA [Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority] has lines serving Philadelphia to nearby communities including Trenton, New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware, the South Shore Line runs between Chicago and a few points in Northern Indiana all the way to South Bend , and METRA has the UP-N Line running between Chicago and Kenosha, Wisconsin.)

[@CaradhrasAiguo49]

MBTA Providence Line (MA and RI), and the MARC Brunswick Line (MD and some trains terminating at Martinsburg WV), too theoretically, the commuter rail system in Portland OR could run to Vancouver WA, too (like the Amtrak Cascades service), but that's a topic for another day...

[@marciaharder1647]

Well I'm new to the channel and this fall I'm taking Amtrak heartland flyer Norman to ftw and they have seat upgrade

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

We went on that train a few years ago. There is some excellent scenery.

[@marciaharder1647]

@@ScottPalmer-mp1we they do especially the Arbuckle mountains

[@MatthewHall-e4o]

If we can have multiple rail operators to the same destinations on this line why not on the Northeast corridor. Let Brightline operate a service to compete with Amtrak acela.

[@straighft]

I went to NH the other day but I didn’t really know how go to Hartford lol bcuz I thought it was like CT rail .. idk lol

[@LonestarTrips]

Haha yeah it's always a little weird picking Amtrak vs CT Rail when you first learn about the line.

[@marciaharder1647]

Next week

[@Liamflynnphoto]

Hartford used to have 4 tracks

[@sylvanapaul]

I missed your video 😢

[@LonestarTrips]

This one wasn't a premiere, as I am out gathering more footage for the channel. Next week we should be back to doing premieres, so hopefully I'll see you then!

[@brandonholloman6835]

How to I apply to CT rail???

[@JRPGGUY]

This line opened the year I graduated from college smh

[@willgibson9718]

Any video today?

[@LonestarTrips]

Had to move it to tomorrow because I've been out of town gathering footage for the channel.

[@willgibson9718]

@@LonestarTrips see you tomorrow

[@AlexanderPerez-hv4nu]

1:36 Grand Central😮. BUT HOW????????

[@mitchbart4225]

Connect to Metro North at New Haven.

[@willgibson9718]

Does the Vermonter train go to Springfield by the same ine 0:31 See you next week

[@LonestarTrips]

Indeed it does! I actually took the Vermonter back to NYC from Springfield. Not sure when that’ll make it into a video, as there’s a lot of cool stuff that I’m working on, but it’ll happen eventually.

[@willgibson9718]

Thank you I am going to Glastonbury with my mom today

[@kevinb8881]

I thought CT Rail trains terminated at Hartford!!

[@LonestarTrips]

Nope! They continue all the way to Springfield, though it's understandably confusing with the name "Hartford Line."

[@kevinb8881]

@@LonestarTrips Wow, ok, just like Amtrak!!

[@SirKenchalot]

Is the aisle side head rest missing in order to allow passengers to more easily enter and egress or maybe they're short of headrests. Let me check if People in Connecticut all have heads because if 1 in 5 doesn't that might be why. Google says they do. I'm out of ideas.

[@josefstalin9068]

Either the Shoreliners or M1/3s (can’t remember which, maybe both) used by MNR has them missing too, but they put a handrail in the space that would’ve been filled by the headrest. This was replaced on the M7/8s by a handhold on the side of the seat instead, but I don’t know why they’re missing here.

[@LonestarTrips]

Dang, I didn't notice any headless horsemen while I was up there, and your research just supports my findings. Guess we'll have to find an alternative explanation. Either that or we start chopping heads...

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Little in common with Comet cars. Most Comet cars were built by Pullman Standard or Bombardier from the 70s to the 90s. They have aluminum car bodies and much smaller windows than these cars. Just 38 of these cars were built by Mafersa in Brazil for the Japanese company that got the order from VRE. They're more akin to MARC's single level fleet than much bigger fleets at NJ Transit, MTA or MBTA. Ps may not expect these cars on trains to New York. They have too much underbody equipment to clear the third rail into Grand Central or Penn Station.

[@archimedesxxicentury]

SOS SOS SOS 😢The transport infrastructure disaster in US. The infrastructure project "The bee honeycomb model of the conglomerates" solves the problem 🐝. Archimedes XXI century 😇.

[@97nelsn]

I’ve taken the bus from Hartford Union Station but not the train. I really wish the state would do a full renovation of this station by restoring the 3 extra tracks plus modernizing the platforms and waiting room for the train and bus. Would definitely help if there were direct service from Hartford to GCT for some trains.

[@stevetalkstoomuch]

They are waiting until they make a decision on improving or rerouting I-84 thru the city, which may involve rerouting the tracks and station platforms as well. Hartford 400 project, if it gets funded.

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

Unfortunately, I've heard that it is hugely expensive.

[@TracksideKitchener]

First

[@LonestarTrips]

❤️❤️❤️

[@grommit700]

Comment 2 of 2. It will be awesome once the 2024 double tracking project finishes. This will allow northbound trains going towards Hartford (and more north) to maintain their top speeds for another minute or two rather than slow down at Newington Junction. I really wish that a project breaks ground by the end of the decade (or sooner) to make Hartford a double track station. I know that there is some conflict and debate because of the plan to rebuild the elevated section of I84 and make Hartford Union more efficient one day. Underground I hear. But this is absolutely nonsense and a poor reason to not see the importance of improving passenger train service ASAP. Because 5 passenger trains (plus __ freight trains) use the single track into and out of Hartford. This continues to cause backups and bottlenecks. No wonder passengers wait nearly 4 hours between 12pm and 4pm to go north from New Haven to Springfield. Anything underground will cost Billions upon Billions and be behind schedule. The construction to put a second track on the current elevate station is not rocket science nor unreasonable. I understand that there is bus service immediately below it. But it's just a bunch of steel beams holding up the station. Just relocate bus service temporarily away from the work site, support one side, work on the other, and go back to normal when finished. The key for the Hartford station platform upgrades is to be temporary so costs are kept to a minimum. The wood and concrete platform at Northampton, MA is a perfect example of a cost-efficient station.