Thomaston, CT
Railroad Museum of New England
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-15- TypeMuseum-operated diesel excursion trains on the Naugatuck Railroad between Waterbury, Thomaston, and Torrington
- LocationThomaston, CT
- Rating4.5 ★751 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
About Railroad Museum of New England
The Railroad Museum of New England is a nonprofit educational and historical organization that preserves regional railroad equipment and operates public rides through its wholly owned Naugatuck Railroad subsidiary. Most excursions board at the restored 1881 Thomaston Station, while the Litchfield County Clipper also uses Market Street Creatives and Railroad Square in Torrington. The live calendar currently publishes nine remaining ride products through December 23, ranging from a 30-minute ice-cream ride and a 20-mile scenic train to hop-on, hop-off Clipper service, fall excursions, two adult Tequila Train dates, and daytime or evening Christmas trains. Products, boarding points, ages, durations, fares, seating classes, stops, and mobility demands differ, so the named product page and live checkout control each trip.
Choose a Naugatuck Railroad Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupFirst-time riders, families, river-scenery travelers, photographers, and guests comparing coach and lounge options
Ride the river toward Waterbury
Use the Naugatuck River Scenic Train for a 20-mile, roughly 80-minute round trip with a published Fascia's Chocolate stop, or choose the shorter Ice Cream Train while it remains on the live calendar.
Rail-day planners, Torrington visitors, repeat riders, shoppers, and travelers who want multiple boarding points
Use the Clipper as a rail day out
Board the all-day pass at Thomaston, Market Street Creatives, or Railroad Square, then protect the final return and confirm that independent shops or museums are open on the chosen date.
Families, foliage travelers, holiday groups, sensory planners, and guests choosing among assigned or open seating
Choose a fall or Christmas train
Compare one-hour Pumpkin Patch rides, two-hour Autumn Colors departures, and 90-minute daytime Santa or evening Northern Lights trains without treating their fares, seating, stops, or activities as interchangeable.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- ArriveArrive at least 30 minutes before departure for parking, will-call tickets, and station restrooms; boarding usually begins about 15 minutes before departure
- ParkingParking at Thomaston Station is free, including designated accessible spaces; Christmas departures sell a limited optional premium-parking pass
- WeatherTrains generally operate in rain or snow and are canceled for weather only when Connecticut officially closes roads
- RestroomsStation restrooms are available; onboard and destination restrooms are limited and differ by car and product
- Primary BoardingMost rides board at Thomaston Station, 242 East Main Street, Thomaston, CT 06787; use the ramp beside the East Main Street bridge rather than stopping on the bridge
- Published Horizon52 exact remaining operator-product dates across 37 unique bookable days from August 16 through December 23, 2026
- TicketingTickets are first-come, first-served; popular rides sell out; paper tickets are collected at Thomaston Station will call unless a product gives another instruction
- Clipper BoardingThe all-day Clipper uses Thomaston Station, Market Street Creatives at 100 Lawton Street, and Railroad Square at 99 Railroad Square in Torrington
- Current Base FaresPublished base fares include $15 for the Ice Cream Train page, $20 adult/$15 child for the scenic train, $20 coach for Pumpkin Patch, and $28 adult/$18 child for Autumn Colors; live checkout controls final prices and fees
- AccessNo station or stop has a wheelchair ramp or lift to the vintage cars; riders must climb car stairs independently or with help from their own party
- Limited MobilityStaff will try to seat riders with limited mobility near the car end closest to the loading door; email before booking for product-specific discussion
- ContactCall 860-283-7245 or email info@rmne.org for boarding, seating, accessibility, group, or product-specific questions
Find the Depot
The Trains
RMNE and the Naugatuck Railroad publish a large collection spanning steam, diesel-electric locomotives, cabooses, passenger cars, freight cars, cranes, and maintenance equipment. The current roster includes Naugatuck GP9s Nos. 686 and 859, Boston & Maine SW1 No. 1109, New Haven RS3 No. 529 under restoration, and in-service Canadian National and Naugatuck coaches and lounges plus Santa Fe Hi-Level cars. The official page distinguishes in-service passenger cars from the larger collection. A ticket buys the named service and class rather than a numbered locomotive, car, or consist; the operator expressly reserves equipment substitutions.
History
The original Naugatuck Railroad received its charter.
The original line opened between Bridgeport and Winsted beside the Naugatuck River.
The present Victorian Thomaston Station was built for the original railroad.
Regular passenger use of Thomaston Station ended.
An arson fire damaged the long-neglected station before volunteer restoration.
The present Naugatuck Railroad was incorporated on June 7 as RMNE's wholly owned operating subsidiary.
The revived railroad began public passenger excursions in October.
RMNE introduced the multi-stop Litchfield County Clipper and marked 30 years of excursion operation.
See full history
The original Naugatuck Railroad was chartered in 1845 and opened between Bridgeport and Winsted in 1849 along the Naugatuck River. Regular service north of Waterbury ended in 1995. That year the museum restored the Naugatuck Railroad name under a new state charter and incorporated the present operating railroad on June 7 as a wholly owned subsidiary. Passenger excursions began in October 1996 and today operate between Waterbury and Torrington. Thomaston Station, built in 1881, lost passenger service in 1958 and suffered an arson fire in 1993; museum volunteers stabilized and restored it for renewed railroad use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Railroad Museum of New England ride dates remain in 2026?
The live FareHarbor calendar and date endpoints publish 52 operator-product dates across 37 unique bookable days from August 16 through December 23. Live inventory can change as departures sell out or are added.
Where do RMNE trains depart?
Most rides depart Thomaston Station at 242 East Main Street. The Litchfield County Clipper also boards at Market Street Creatives and Railroad Square in Torrington; the ticketed product controls.
How early should I arrive?
RMNE asks guests to arrive at least 30 minutes early for parking, will call, and station restrooms. Boarding generally begins about 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Are the trains wheelchair-accessible?
No wheelchair ramp or lift is available at any station or stop. Riders must climb the vintage-car stairs independently or with help from their own party; contact RMNE before booking.
Which locomotive or passenger car will I ride?
RMNE publishes a large equipment collection and an in-service passenger-car list, but it reserves equipment substitutions. No numbered locomotive, car, or consist is promised here.
Can I bring a stroller or car seat?
The general FAQ says car seats and strollers are not permitted on most trains. It gives a separate baggage-car storage possibility for the Torrington Twilight Express; use the exact product guidance.
What happens in bad weather?
The operator says trains run in rain or snow and are canceled for weather only when Connecticut officially closes roads. Allow extra travel time and check direct updates.
Is the Railroad Museum of New England the same organization as the Naugatuck Railroad?
They are related but distinct roles: RMNE is the nonprofit museum, and the revived Naugatuck Railroad is its wholly owned operating subsidiary that runs the trains.
What independent place is easiest to add?
Thomaston Opera House is the closest substantial independent place, about a separate one-mile town-center drive from the station. Match a live performance time rather than assuming daytime access.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 15, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official RMNE homepage for nonprofit identity, mission, public contact, and current museum opening statement
- Official railroad history for original line, 1995 incorporation, operating-subsidiary identity, 1996 excursions, and current corridor
- Official Thomaston Station history for 1881 construction, 1958 passenger end, 1993 fire, and restoration
- Official current FAQ for arrival, parking, weather, tickets, seating, restrooms, strollers, and equipment-change policy
- Official accessibility boundary for car stairs, no ramp or lift, limited-mobility seating effort, and contact
- Official current equipment roster for collection and in-service passenger-car distinctions
- Official 2026 Litchfield County Clipper route, boarding points, timetable, all-day-pass format, and access note
- Official current Naugatuck River Scenic Train route, duration, stop, and fares
- Official current Ice Cream Train duration, inclusions, allergen warning, and fare
- Official current Pumpkin Patch Express duration, inclusions, and fares
- Official current Autumn Colors route, duration, stop caveat, and fares
- Official current Santa Express times, experience, post-August pricing, will call, and weather policy
- Official current Northern Lights times, experience, post-August pricing, will call, and weather policy
- Live FareHarbor calendar and public date-availability endpoints reconciled on August 15 for all 52 remaining product-dates
- Exact 2024 Naugatuck Railroad No. 859 image and CC BY-SA 4.0 record
- Exact 2024 Naugatuck coach 5046 image and CC BY 4.0 record
- Exact 2020 Thomaston Station image and CC BY-SA 4.0 record
- Exact 2024 Boston & Maine SW1 No. 1109 image and CC BY 4.0 record
- Exact 2020 No. 1109 and C72 image and CC BY-SA 4.0 record
- Exact 2020 crane 198 and New Haven flatcar 7447 image and CC BY-SA 4.0 record
- Exact 2020 New Haven car 731 at RMNE image and CC BY-SA 4.0 record
