Passenger Trains > New Haven Trip

I will be on a business trip to New Haven next month and would like to know some good info on where to railfan what some good trips are. Someone said take a trip on one of the shoreline trains to old sayrbrook,

Which New Haven?

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> Which New Haven?
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The shoreline and Old Saybrook is in CT,  but you probably know that.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/21 05:47 by sums007.

CT

A roundtrip ride on CTrail's Shore Line East (to Old Saybrook or New London) or Hartford Line (to Hartford or Spriingfield) could make a nice outing and not eat up too much time. CTrail Hartford Line tickets/fares are valid on Amtrak trains between New Haven, Springfield and intermediate stations.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/21 14:48 by railfan400.

New Haven Union Station is a great station to railfan. You have three passenger railroads-Metro North, Amtrak, and Ctrail. If you want to see both electric and diesel locomotives in one station daily, New Haven Union Station is a great spot to photograph. Just about everything stops there. About a mile east of Union Station is State Street Station, closer to Downtown New Haven. All Ctrail trains stop there as well as Amtrak trains heading to and from Springfield.

Taking a ride on any of the Ctrail lines is something to seriously consider. If you want to experience riding a diesel under the wires, then maybe take a ride to Old Saybrook or even New London. More Ctrail trains that run on the Shoreline go as far as Old Saybrook. Old Saybrook is a neat station to railfan on the NEC. Select Amtrak Northeast Regional trains stop there as well as Ctrail trains. You may luck out with getting freight.

As for the Springfield Line, doing a trip to and from Springfield is pretty cool! Springfield has a pretty cool downtown, although not necessarily the best area around the station. The Springfield Station has a new waiting room that is a few years old. It's worth checking out. Maybe do a ride on a Ctrail train one way and then take one of Amtrak's 400 series shuttle trains back which many use Ex-Metroliner Cab Cars. Many of the Ctrail trains don't go past Hartford. Hartford Station isn't as attractive on the inside. It's not the best neighborhood around the station either.

I would recommend the platform at S. Norwalk.  You will see Amtrak, Metro North, and CT Shoreline East trains.  You will also see Metro North Danbury Branch trains.

You can't beat the volume at the Stamford station, just off of I-95 (Amtrak, Metro North, both express and local trains, Shoreline East, and Metro North New Canaan branch trains.

The New Haven station and the Old Saybrook are also both good locations.