Spring has sprung, the temperature is 85 degrees and I'm out chasing Valley Railroad #40 in shorts and tennis shoes....not bad for April in CT! Here, she runs along Rt. 154 about a 3-iron shot south of the Deep River Line. She's heading south to Essex with the last of the "Your Hand On The Throttle" trips for this day. The participants in this program are given the choice of trackage they'd prefer to run during their hour in the right seat. While a few elect to run the little-used stretch from Essex south to Old Saybrook, the vast majority decide to run north to Deep River and Chester. The run north features curves, bridges, rock cuts, beautiful views of the Connecticut River and yes, lots of grade crossings for practicing whistling skills....as this gentleman is doing right here!