History
Air Line
Envisioned as a high speed passenger railroad line from New York to Boston, the New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad (NHM&W) got its name from the towering iron viaducts constructed to create a level track bed suitable for rapid travel. Opened in 1873 as part of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad (BH&E) system, it ran from New Haven northeast via Middletown to the BH&E at Willimantic. The BH&E went bankrupt that same year, becoming the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE), but the NHM&W stayed separate, failing in 1875. It was reorganized as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad and was operated by the New Haven from 1879, being leased on October 1, 1882. Part of this line (the NY&NE Blackstone division to Franklin via Norwood and Walpole) still survives as the Franklin Branch of the MBTA/MBCR. In Connecticut, part of the line from New Haven (Air Line Jct) to Middletown and Portland, Connecticut survives as part of the Providence and Worcester Railroad. In Willimantic, the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum has reconstructed the original roundhouse and restored the turntable pit (with a replacement for the original turntable), as well as some original NY&NE and NH buildings. In between East Hampton, Connecticut and the Massachusetts state line, most of the abandoned rail corridor has been converted as aTrail development
The abandoned rail corridor between East Hampton and the Massachusetts state line was acquired by the Connecticut State Park System with the section fromSouthern extensions
The trail as originally built ended next to a cranberry bog at Smith Street, east of the village center of East Hampton. The right of way remained intact and unused as far as the end of active track in Portland; some sections were used for unofficial trails with poor trail surface and frequent washouts. In 1999, a bridge over Muddy Gutter Brook west of downtown East Hampton was designed and built by cadets of the United States Coast Guard Academy under the supervision of William O'Neill, an adjunct professor of engineering at the academy and former state governor. Due to confusion as to which state agency had ownership of the stretch of land, the bridge was built without the necessary permissions; it was almost demolished, but allowed to remain due to a lease agreement with the town. On November 1, 2002, the state DEEP acquired an additional section of railbed in East Hampton from ConnDOT; however, the trail was not actually improved over the section. In 2011, a extension from Smith Street to Watrous Street was completed. A further section (including a bridge over the Pocotopaug Creek) was completed in June 2012, bringing the trail to Main Street in downtown East Hampton. During construction, the original railroad bridge was found to have been buried in the embankment next to the right of way, forcing design changes to the trail. Around that time, East Hampton and Portland began planning to extend the trail to downtown Portland, which would additionally provide a connection to Middletown over the Arrigoni Bridge. In January 2015, East Hampton received a $400,000 grant for Phase I, running from Main Street to Aldens Crossing; that section opened in 2017. A second $538,000 state grant, awarded in March 2016, funded the Phase II from Aldens Crossing to the town line at Depot Hill Road. Work on Phase II began in 2017. , phase II was complete except for a section through protected wetlands, which may require a boardwalk. In June 2018, Phase I of the town-maintained portion of the trail inSouth section
Trail description
This section of the trail has been completed. It has a smooth, hard-packed stone dust surface, benches for resting at more scenic locations, and bike racks. Brand new bridges constructed by cadets from the US Coast Guard Academy carry the trail across the Blackledge and Jeremy Rivers and Judd Brook. This section crosses the Rapallo and Lyman Viaducts, massive fills that carried the railroad and now trail across wide valleys. There is a short (less than ) on-road detour necessary where the Route 2 expressway blocks the railroad bed.Willimantic River to Bridge St. (CT 32)
This section has a wooden plank crossing over the Willimantic River, using the old bridge as support, then shortly after that it becomes pavement and intersects with the end of the Hop River Trail and has an info sign describing the history of both of the trails. Then it takes a s-turn next to theAccess points
The trail crosses the following roads, providing access:North section
Trail description
Though open to the public for its entire length, different segments of the trail are in different stages of development. Some sections are complete and have a finished, stone-dust surface and signage. Other sections have been cleared and had drainage work done, but still have a somewhat rough, unfinished surface that is not suitable for road bikes. Other parts are totally undeveloped and overgrown. There are no major obstructions of the North section of the trail in the form of missing or unsafe bridges. Though some parts of the trail may be undeveloped, this area does not have the many river crossings of the southern section. The trail continues west of Route 66 as the Veterans Greenway, a town-owned bike route that leads to downtown Willimantic.Route 66, Windham to South Brook Road, Hampton
This section has seen many upgrades in recent years. The section's first was paved as part of the US 6/Route 66 interchange reconstruction project. The state and the towns of Windham and Chaplin cleared, graded, installed signage and put down a smooth stone-dust surface on this section of the trail. This included the construction of a trail bridge over Boulevard Road.South Brook Road, Hampton to Lewis Road, Hampton
This section was cleared and graded by the National Guard in the mid-1990s. The surface was not finished and is still rough in sections and there are drainage issues in areas that sometimes flood the trail. There has not been much maintenance done on the trail in the last few years, so even the areas that were cleared have become somewhat grown in. Still, the trail is passable for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. The town of Hampton and the DEEP have plans to add signage and finish the surface of the trail with stone dust. This work has not yet been started. An abandoned overpass which formerly carried Parker Road over the line collapsed in May 2016; the trail section was briefly closed during cleanup.Lewis Road, Hampton to Wrights Crossing Road, Pomfret
This section is under construction by the DEEP, DOT and town of Pomfret. The stretch from Lewis Road to Covell Road is currently being worked on to improve drainage and finish the surface. The trail is completed between Covell Road and Route 169, with smooth stone-dust surface. The section from Route 169 to Wrights Crossing Road is essentially complete, with some drainage improvements planned.Wrights Crossing Road, Pomfret to Kennedy Drive, Putnam
This section of trail is completely undeveloped. It has not been cleared and is overgrown, with a rough surface, tree falls, and several wet areas with drainage problems. It is necessary to climb embankments to cross some roads where former bridges have been filled in. It is not really passable, and must be done on foot if attempted. The DEEP and the towns of Pomfret and Putnam have plans to clear and improve this section as part of the next phase of trail improvements. Currently a DOT state hired contractor is improving this section, with a budget of $5.5 million. Two pedestrian bridges are proposed: a 100-foot span over Routes 169 and 44 at the old train depot and another on Needles Eye Road near the Audubon Center. Three box culverts on Holmes Road, Modock Road and River Road are also proposed. Estimated completion is Fall 2020.Access points
The trail crosses the following roads, providing access:Thompson section
Trail description
Major work has been completed to upgrade this section of trail. The rails and ties have been removed, and the surface of the trail for much of its length consists of hard packed dirt and gravel. However, as of 2021 the trail is largely unimproved between Lowell Davis Road and Sand Dam Road. New parking areas with signage and information kiosks have been constructed where the trail crosses East Thompson Road, Sand Dam Road, Lowell Davis Road, and at the southern terminus at Route 12. Work still planned includes improvements to the Route 193 crossing . The trail continues north and east into Massachusetts through the town of Douglas as theAccess points
The trail crosses the following roads, providing access:Colchester Spur
Trail description
The spur to Colchester consists of the same hard-packed gravel as the rest of the South section. The Route 85 crossing is at a marked crosswalk, while the two other crossings are unmarked over minor local roads. The trail terminates just east of downtown Colchester at the former depot and freight house.Access points
The trail crosses the following roads, providing access:References
External links