Abandoned Cedar Hill Rail Yard | Exploration & History

The abandoned Cedar Hill Rail Yard was once one of the largest railroad classification yards in America. At its peak during World War II, this yard handled more than 5,000 railroad cars per day. But today, most of it sits abandoned in the woods being reclaimed by nature.
Filmed/Edited by Jason Allard
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My Website: www.uncomsensemdia.com
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Drone: DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
Secondary Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Main Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket
Secondary Camera: Canon R
Editing: Final Cut Pro w/ custom plugins
Additional Footage by:
David Lawlor | rb.gy/s9oxrq
Suthi Seneth | rb.gy/mfs2fq
Refractualism | rb.gy/f4hgzh
Resources to Check Out:
Friends of Cedar Hill Yard on Facebook | rb.gy/6ugchi
Original Cedar Hill Yard Facility Plans | rb.gy/qbbv5g
Music By:
WaveyyBeats | rb.gy/pcsrlk
Beats by Con | rb.gy/ndq16d
Dexter Yu | rb.gy/exmuzo
Arcane Beats | rb.gy/ka8p2l
Moneo | rb.gy/dlvn9t
DWNLD | rb.gy/v2by3u
Knox | rb.gy/ejkt9s
Unknown Instrumentalz | rb.gy/wopy7g
Elevated Productions | rb.gy/768e90
ezy | rb.gy/o8k7vy
Scattered through the woods are remnants of the original yard - and it’s a pretty gnarly sight. Not just because of the abandoned history, but because in 2020 a tornado with winds speeds over 100mph ripped through here. Trees were uprooted, light towers were toppled, and debris was scattered through the trails.
We’ll get into this rail yard’s decline into what you see today, which happened through the 1960s and 70s, and involved everyone’s favorite topic, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS. But for now here’s what you need to know: Portions of this rail yard are still in operation. Today CSX remains the owner and main operator at Cedar Hill Yard. Amtrak also has a presence here and occupies the portion of the yard west of the river. Some of these tracks are leased to other companies, but all you need to know is that if you in these zones, you go straight to jail.
The abandoned part sits between these two active sets of tracks.
I can’t stress just how massive this yard used to be…so let me throw some numbers at you.
According to a 1928 issue of Railway Age magazine, there were once 14 yards at Cedar Hill with a capacity of 15,000 rail cars. The yard covered 880 acres and was a mile and a half at its widest point.
If you’re thinking, why was this abandoned? then I’m really glad because I would love to tell you.
The transition to road transport in the 1950s is what started the decline, with 1958 being its last profitable year, ironically thanks to significant business hauling concrete for highway construction. Much of the yard began to fall into decay following the New Haven Railroad's bankruptcy in 1961. This article from the New York Times includes an interview with a former head of the railroad, who summed up what was happening saying ;I guess the basic trouble is just the evolution in transportation that is going on. The railroad replace the old stagecoach and river barge lines. Now it is being replaced by the bus and truck.”
This bankruptcy led to deferred maintenance in the yard, and this place started to decline. In 1968 A newer train yard was built in Selkirk New York, pulling service away from Cedar Hill.
In 1969, bankrupt New Haven Railroad was merged into newly-formed Penn Central Transportation Company, which inherited the yard and further shut down operations here due to growing expenses and shrinking service. A series of fires in the yard and on major connecting lines further hampered traffic here, and just a year later Penn Central declared bankruptcy damn is this place cursed??
In 1976 Penn Central merged with Conrail, who put in work repairing this rail yard. Oh yeah, try today’s equivalent of $13.6 mil on tracks and ties in 1976 alone. Business was decent here but not like the old days.
In 1978 Amtrak joined the western side of the yard, and in the 1980s the section we’re exploring was abandoned as we know it today.
In 1999, CSX purchased Conrail’s lines continues to operate here. That’s the quick history and it brings us to today, hunting for a giant polar bear in what used to be the biggest rail yard on the east coast. It’s a familiar story - as industry and technology advances, the old ways are left behind and if they aren’t repurposed or demolished, then they’re just abandoned….and we get to go find them.
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I wasn't expecting guests down here...

[@RichardNickels-ot6iq]

Great video I Love Railroads

[@KenR1800]

The game "Train Simulator" has a recreation of this yard if you buy the Springfield Line route. That particular route is a faithful recreation of NHRR's New Haven to Springfield line circa 1950 or so. I've played that route many times, (and being from the area) it's sad to see it as it is now.

[@steves7896]

The historical back story you put together, the before and after images and the presentation methods you use are top tier. Nice nice work, really impressive.

[@ruffian2952]

Interesting but discouraging. I worked in and out of Cedar Hill on any number of the arranged freights and extras that ran over the Shore Line. It was a brakeman's paradise and horror. Loaded with all sorts of occupations. Had jitney service to and from "downtown" for the workers. Never dreamed back then that Cedar Hill would disappear to this extent.

[@richdiscoveries]

That's awesome. I love wondering this rail yard a few times a year. Although the structures are all going. , there's tons of remnants throughout the woods. Just a really cool piece of our country's history tucked into a seemingly empty piece of land that thousands drive by daily, but probably have no idea what once was and what still remains

[@FourDollaRacing]

*WANDERING* !? 🤔

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

if there was a billion THUMBS UP i would give you a ZILLION THUMBS UP that was outstanding Mr Jason the funny thing about this is i was trying to catch up on some of my youtube channels and i was thinking about your channel sure enough you just popped up out of no where Mr Jason thank you for the great Sunday morning video and have yourself a great Sunday as well

[@JasonAllard]

Ah man this comment made my day - thanks for watching!

[@urbanrallyracer]

I used to load steel just up the road from this place in Wallingford & never even knew this yard existed. Thanks for sharing!

[@ldbagge]

Literally gave me goosebumps when u located the polar bear, simply amazing! Absolutely love your content, thank you jason!

[@kellingc]

thank you for posting this. Excellent presentation. As a railfan who lives in Connecticut, Cedar Hill alway fascinated me.

[@steveshaw2744]

I worked the yard in 1969 and 1970. Worked the hump and the skates, put a skate on the rail and when a car came down from the the hump yard it would hit the skate, you would jump on the cars climb the ladder to the brake and crank it on until the car stopped.

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

Wonderful exploration. I am glad you were able to use a couple of photos that I took of Cedar Hill back in 1971 in the hump tower area, and very much appreciate you crediting me for the photos. Amazing how nature has reclaimed the space -- as you say, "what a difference 50 years makes!"

[@richp5060]

What a great job. Last time I was there was around 2017, before the storm went through. That repair building was in much better shape.

[@ELMS]

Your videos are so well done. Photography, story, research, music & post, graphics. They’re like mini-documentaries. Just excellent. Thanks.

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Great video. I worked for the railroad and made many drop offs and pickups from cedar hill. It always amazed me in how big the yard use to be and it’s history and having the tile of the largest rail yard east of the Mississippi River

[@zacharymartini9472]

Amazing job explaining how all this stuff worked I explored this place personally and was blown away

[@wes5150.]

Thanks for a very well documented video. Originally hired out with Penn Central in early 70's. A lot of the old equipment was still around. The Santa Fe Railroad hired me in LA, mid 70's. There were still 3 main track switch 'Towers' that used those iron levers 'Interlocked' so that the switches would move in an exact sequence. The track switches themselves were modified to use electricity according to the levers the tower operator moved. The switches at Los Angeles Union Station were still Compressed Air activated. Could go on and on but I remember those abandoned sites. Changing subjects, did you think of collecting any railroad 'Date Nails'? You encountered 1000's of old wood RR Ties and each one of them would have a 'Date Nail' on the top, near the end of the ties, hammered into the tie with the year that tie was placed. That yard would probably still have 10,000 of them in those ties. The ones I got from the Penn Central had a square head(about 1/4" square) and the abbreviated year recessed 1950= '50', 1943= '43' and so on. On the Santa Fe Railroad the 'Date Nails' had a round head with a raised number. They were about the same diameter as a dime. Amtrak took over our old roundhouse and still used it for many years. On the 4th of July we'd place Railroad Torpedoes on the turn table rail and spin the table. Sounded like machine gun fire. As far as the bear...I love it. The railroads are prime targets for Graff but not all of it is trash. Some on it is true art. I commissioned a local(East Los Angeles) 'Krew Captain' kid to do some color drawings for me. He was able to identify ALL the local artists of the photographs I took. I have a wall in my house with about twenty 8 1/2 X 11 of them posted. Retired after 37 years with all my limbs and most of my brain. 16 others were killed at the railroad. Adventure of a Lifetime ! Thanks again for all your videos.

[@ruffian2952]

Your retirement sentence says it all. When I started with the New Haven so many of the older brakemen had missing fingers. Brain? Lots weren't playing with a full deck. The carnage over time was sad and unnecessary from mistaken hand motions some of which were particular to the location.

[@thedayzgod]

Wow what a read thank you for your story you seem to have have an interesting one

[@wes5150.]

Thanks for the reply!@@thedayzgod

[@wes5150.]

@@ruffian2952 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6mtf3ydj8l_gJI This was our last fatality. No body knows why he DIDN"T JUMP.

[@wes5150.]

@@thedayzgod kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6mtf3ydj8l_gJI This was our last fatality. No body knows why he didn't jump.

[@frankb5693]

An exceptional job, as always…..big time thanks Jason!

[@johnhartley3596]

If you don’t already do so, I suggest you look at the historic Sanborn Insurance Maps of some of the places you visit. Their a useful resource.

[@biscuitag97]

Very well done! Overlays were insane!!

[@jay_Jalapeno]

I wanna make a point . diesel locos are only better because they require less maintenance BUT a steam loco can haul vastly more because the average steam loco can pull more for its weight than a diesel honestly amazing that the railroads didnt rip up the rails for scrap because they usually do that when they abandon .

[@petertuohy2886]

Very entertaining and hugely interesting. Brilliant job of editing. Subscribing.

[@carsonmoore4662]

Another Banger. Dutch island when?

[@nobshistoryengineering4421]

Nice job brother.

[@louislamonte334]

How tragic that the United States is now nearly solely dependent on rubber-tired, gasoline-powered vehicles. The abandoned Cedar Hill railyard is only a small symptom of the wastefulness, shortsightedness, stupidity and greed of the later half of the 20th century. Rail transportation is not only much more economical than trucks, buses or private automobiles but also much, much more environmentally friendly, which is why it is being championed and pushed so strongly in Europe and elsewhere.

[@LBHolder99]

When I got to the part showing the old hump at 7:30 I stopped and looked closer. I worked at the old hump yard in Roseville CA and the set up is very similar. That tower is what we would call a Car Retarder Operator (CRO) tower. A CRO is (on Southern Pacific) a switchman (or brakeman) who is qualified to work as a CRO. In the foreground are electro-pneumatic retarders or "squeezers" that the CRO would set-up to retard the boxcar speed or even stop it. You can also see the electro-pneumatic switches that the CRO would align on his panel. It was a fun job and went to pretty high seniority when Winter came. Thanks for the memories

[@torinreid5119]

Excellent documentary. But the "lazy susan" (turntable) was rich

[@dennisdownes9319]

Great video again....I must say; I did have to look up Cedar Hill, and I would guess that this is the yard in Connecticut? I'm living in Rhode Island so I thought it could be in in Mass as well. DD

[@TruthBlitzMedia]

I just hiked to the repair shop the other day...first time since april of 2020. I'm an Amtrak contractor and was doing a job near where the coal tower is. The polar bear is gone unfortunately. The yard is still pretty amazing though.

[@xTriSarahTopz]

“Look at all this tree growth; looks just like a piece of plywood.” I AM DEAD 🚑🏥☠️⚰️🪦😇🤣🤣🤣 I can’t believe I laughed so hard, all alone, at 2am. It wasn’t even that funny, but to me it had me rolling dude

[@sosvegas2964]

I love hour documentation you should expand more. Stuff all over the us. U should see if u can get access to columbian middle high school in tiffin ohio. I used urban explore there as a kid. Massive building built in the 1800s closed in 1960s. We 50 years old when i was urban exploring their.

[@POUNCEMAN1]

Well Done ! Sweet Video

[@mattcrowley3075]

My favorite video of yours! Thank you for all the time spent on a wonderful video Jason!

[@twoheart7813]

I enjoy exploring old narrow gauge tracks from the 1800's mostly to discover Logging camps that are fun to metal detect. found a lot of interesting artifacts over the years.

[@anthonybanks2979]

That was awesome ! Good watch

[@imcoachrick2]

I visited that yard in the 90's and do have some video and pictures. At that time there was also a pedestrian overpass near the coal tower, which I assume is gone now. Nice job as always.

[@ruffian2952]

There was also an overhead pedestrian structure behind the YMCA to get to the Water Street Yard and the enginehouse. Maybrook and other west end freights would idle incessantly prior to departure. No or little sleep.

[@MotorcyclingwithCarl]

I moved to North Haven about a year ago. I never had a big interest in railroads but my wife told me about this place so we went and checked it out last week. Its amazing how cool it is. I have been doing so much research about it this week and im planning on going back now next weekend! awesome video love the drone footage Thank you.

[@Toledo1940]

A clarification about Selkirk Yard, which is near Albany, N.Y. That yard was part of the New York Central RR and was in full operation by the 1920s.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Thanks Bear.

[@bradleyjanes2949]

Great Vid

[@sharongagnist6428]

WOW! You never cease to amaze me.

[@RScesium]

Tremendous amount of work. Thank you for sharing. Russ -Avon

[@jdodge349]

Loved it. Nice job.

[@richdiscoveries]

This is my favorite local spot to Traverse. Been doing it for years several times a year. I've seen countless videos on it and even made a few, but I've never seen anything nearly as detailed as this video. By far the best one I've seen yet. Really enjoyed it, learn even more, and honestly I never noticed those lockers dangling from the second-floor LOL. You guys did a phenomenal job with this one

[@JasonAllard]

Thanks man - I actually watched all your videos on this spot while prepping and researching.

[@richdiscoveries]

@@JasonAllard that's awesome. Unfortunately I didn't have nearly the amount of information you had on it though. The pictures, the story, everything. It came out perfect

[@brennenseibert6708]

​@@JasonAllardwhat state is this rail yard in?

[@richcoffey4080]

Excellent - I enjoyed every minute of this!

[@sixten3]

Love that transition @0:39, and Santa’s coal segway made me chuckle. Always an interesting ride through history, Jason! Nice job, and thank you for taking us along.

[@83mhz]

Very very well done !

[@drewstaples9648]

As always amazing video. The work you put into the production does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Much love my dude keep up the amazing work!! So beautiful.

[@georgepetrin1334]

Very interesting and informative.

[@rirkc]

Perfect spot for an art installation. Love it.

[@andrewgilmartin3759]

9:44 Me and my brother went past that sign you can go past it BUT theirs a bridge out down so don't go past the bridge we found some old rail spikes and a peace of coal last month very cool their

[@Sr1hawk]

Great video as always. What song starts at 13:17?

[@jacquelineslaughter1786]

This is really awesome! Well done Jason & crew! Can’t wait to share with my WMS students!

[@robertbruce1887]

Great exploration video watch, informative about a piece of railroad history. A sad example of how calous & inconsiderate Nort h American railways often are, simlpy abandoning the site & nothing else. It reminds as a child here in Canada seeing an abandoned railway station rotting away, asking my late father about why the railroad was doing nothing about it, his reply " Oh the railways don't give a f--k, Bob!" This video is a good example of that. Good to hear that an organization is trying to peserve enough to be walkable.

[@thedigmy9707]

2 Cool! All your work is AMAZING! Thank you.

[@JasonAllard]

Thanks for watching!

[@itsoffthemap]

Your editing is suburb. I can really appreciate the time it must have taken to put this together. Great story telling as well man, keep it up.

[@napoleon-pl3wx]

That was awesome to see. I always wonder what artists see when assembling something like that bear. Do they have a mental image of what need to be done?

[@firecracker3911]

Nice 👍

[@Sn4fu]

Idk what state rocky point amusement park is in now adays, but that would be one hecking good episode. Great work as always!!

[@dcampagna1772]

There’s nothing there. Rocky Point is almost completely erased now, and it’s been turned into a picturesque seaside park. Only a tower from the Sky Liner and the steel World’s Fair arch (where the giant lobster was) were preserved.

[@megaaggron9778]

You should do a vid on the westboro railyard in west lebanon nh

[@BRIANP87]

There’s a New Haven train(diesel I believe) you can see off route 146 near Millbury plaza

[@ruffian2952]

Now down on the Cape.

[@steves7896]

Fight Night .......when Mike blethed Suthi with her name.

[@christophersanders4108]

Did you look for date tacks in the railroad ties

[@JasonAllard]

The ones we checked out were stamped Lackawanna 1926

[@BudTheDrummer]

Secretary for the FOCHY Group Board, the site is currently inaccessible because adjacent Owners erected a fence. Please support the preservation and rebuilding efforts of the FOCHY 501(c)3on the Website soon to be unveiled.

[@kristap9315]

👍👍👍

[@owensweetland342]

So, clue us in. Where is this yard located?

[@marymushinsky6291]

North Haven, CT

[@marybates-westman3596]

Jason did you work with Matthew Chase on this video?

[@richardwoo7987]

Was here today. The lockers have fallen from the second floor.

[@leodavis7524]

👍

[@JasonAllard]

👍🏻

[@xTriSarahTopz]

ALSO WAIT thanks for calling me out soooo hard “…if you’re reading this wow congrats you really zoomed in huh”

[@raymondwedley]

Like The Video

[@daleockert6222]

Is this site in Rhode Island ?

[@Ben-kw8rc]

Connecticut

[@ruffian2952]

New Haven

[@marymushinsky6291]

North Haven, CT

[@fdrang]

As far as the decline you missed two of the biggest factors: taxes and overregulation. The railroads and their customers were treated like cash cows by the states, and given no room to be competitive by the feds. Every bit of infrastructure was taxed and all operator na were paid for by the railroads. While they were getting taxed into the ground the govt local and federal built the competition's infrastructure and operations with that tax money. The factories they served moved to where it was more productive to operate 1st outside the northeast then overseas as traitors like the knob in the white house right now pushed free trade agreements with our enemies. As the process moved along the STB refused to allow the railroads to drop money pit passenger trains or adjust their prices to compete with trucking. Really acquisitions & mergers had very little to do with it as opposed to a hostile business environment and people that fo not understand the importance of domestic production because they have been snowed on the USA.

[@jeffdavis593]

That "artist" didn't get permission to make the polerbear. He was trespassing. He's just another vandal.

[@robertbruce1887]

No that was not vandalism, the difference which was explained in the video.

[@benjaminberman372]

Very well done video! I almost never comment on anything on KZbin, but I wanted to say that I really appreciate the work you did here. I wrote the Wikipedia article on the yard (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Hill_Yard) and was wondering why pageviews on the article jumped significantly on May 1, and that's when you uploaded this video! I see you were able to make use of some of the images and references - I'm very happy that someone found my research useful. I loved the drone shots you took! And I also appreciate you told people not to trespass on the active portions. The abandoned parts are freely accessible and an amazing place to visit, but railroad police don't mess around. Despite the decay, Cedar Hill is still the largest train yard in Connecticut and it sees daily activity from CSX, Amtrak, and Providence and Worcester Railroad trains. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area, just be safe and don't trespass (there's signs all over that will warn you where the active portions are).