Welcome Aboard!
Although the first charters were granted to build railroads in Connecticut as early as 1832, it was not until 1848 that the city fathers of New London, hoping for a guarantee of economic prosperity for their city and, perhaps, knowing the whaling industry upon which New London had depended was dwindling, sought to build rails inland from New London, through the town of Norwich, and on to the mill town of Willimantic. From there they planned to continue this line north to a connection with the Western Railroad in Palmer, Massachusetts.
Originally named the New London, Willimantic & Springfield Railroad - a name changed soon after construction started to the New London, Willimantic & Palmer, the railroad would be completed by late 1849. And, on November 13 of that year a shrill whistle of one of the line's two small locomotives announced it's arrival in Connecticut's "Thread City." By 1850 the line had reached Stafford, on the Massachusetts border, finally arriving in Palmer on September 20, 1850.
The line struggled for more than a decade, never making a notable profit for its shareholders. Like many of its contemporaries, the NLW&P would slip into receivership, emerging in 1861 as the New London Northern Railroad. By 1864, the NLN expanded northward through its acquisition of the Amherst, Belchertown & Palmer, a short railroad that connected its three namesake communities.
In 1866, the NLN was again expanded northward from Amherst to the village of Millers Falls, and a connection with the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad, which gave the NLN access to Brattleboro, and the Central Vermont system. In essence, the NLN had become a critical liknk in a system extending from New London to Montreal, Canada.
On December 1, 1871, the New London Northern was leased to the Smiths of St. Albans, Vermont - who also controlled the Central Vermont. By 1874, the NLN had become part of the Central Vermont system. The NLN operated as the Southern Division of the CV for many years. For a number of years (through the late 1890s) the locomotives on the New London Northern continued to wear “N.L.N.” lettering on their sides, although the Central Vermont's influence became more pronounced over time. It was not until December 17, 1951 that the NLN was officially purchased by the CV, and ceased to exist as a corporate entity.
This site offers a look at the towns, equipment, and operations of the New London Northern and its predecessors. For more information on the Central Vermont Railway, and my efforts to model it, click here.
If you have any comments on this site, or any additional information on railroading in the Thames River valley, please contact me at the e-mail address below.