As the first snowfall seen in the winter of 2017/18 lays a blanket on southern Connecticut, Valley Railroad Mikado No. 40 hauls a sold-out North Pole Express towards Santa's Village in Deep River,... (more)

#40 chugs through the first snow of this winter with a train full of families going to see the Big guy at the North Pole.

The 1:00pm Santa Special passes Hadlyme during the first snowfall of the season.

The 1:00pm Santa Special passes Railroad Ave. in Chester during the first snowfall of the season.

The 11:30 Santa Special approaches Dock Rd. in Chester during the first snowfall of the season.

After a hard day's work, Valley Railroad's 2-8-2 'Mikado" #40 is guided into the Engine House by the fireman, where the locomotive will rest and the fire banked in preparation for another day... (more)

One very popular excursion. Just 4 minutes after departure from Essex Depot, the Valley Railroad's 2:30 PM Santa Special has cleared the yard limit and begins to accelerate to track speed o... (more)

Sunset North Pole Express. Just a few minutes from official sunset, the first of the Valley Railroad's 5 North Pole Express Trains rumbles north across the Deep River Creek Bridge on its wa... (more)

Number 40 backs through the rock cut in Deep River a.k.a. the North Pole.

40 is seen simmering away just before its 5:30 departure

All ahead...slow! The sold-out 1:30 Santa Special steams up and is about to get underway Northbound with a fresh 4" coat of snow just deposited - Christmas at its best.

Steaming through Hadlyme as the Santa Express just after a 4" snowstorm rolled through.

Silent Night - Valley Railroad Mikado No. 40 shoves south, away from the camera, on a dark and cold November night in Chester, Connecticut as part of her plume reflects some of the surrounding mar... (more)

Valley Railroad ALCo 2-8-2 is pulling forward to dump ash and the fireboy is going for the next switch. While this work was common years ago, it has vanished for the most part throughout the world... (more)

Valley Railroad fireman Bill launches a shovefull of coal into Mikado No. 40s firebox as the train pulls an excursion northbound through Chester, Connecticut