The 3:30 departure of the Connecticut Valley Railroad regular train is seen at "The Meadow" in Centerbrook, just out of the station in Essex. The New Haven J-1 clone was actually buil... (more)

A colorful tree-tunnel. Valley Railroad Mikado #40 kicks off the final day of steam passenger operations on the Valley Railroad, hauling a string of 7 heavyweights north through a colorful ... (more)

NPE-1, the first of 9 trips. It's just past 3PM and the first of 9 North Pole Express Trips out of Essex is heading north to North Chester behind Valley Railroad Mikado #3025, seen here pas... (more)

Run Number 6....and it's only 1PM. Engineer Brian Messinger holds the final note of his crossing whistle until his locomotive's drivers are squarely in the crossing at Old Deep River Road, ... (more)

The day after Christmas doesn't mean the end of North Pole Express trains at the Valley Railroad in Essex, Connecticut. Trains continue typically until the 28th of the month, running four trains ... (more)

For the first time in almost a decade, 1926 Alco-Cooke built 2-8-0 #97 pulls a revenue train for the Connecticut Valley Railroad. The locomotive just came out of the shops following an overhaul. O... (more)

For the first time in almost a decade, 1926 Alco-Cooke built 2-8-0 #97 pulls a revenue train for the Connecticut Valley Railroad. The locomotive just came out of the shops following an overhaul. O... (more)

For the first time in almost a decade, 1926 Alco-Cooke built 2-8-0 #97 pulls a revenue train for the Connecticut Valley Railroad. The locomotive just came out of the shops following an overhaul. O... (more)

For the first time in almost a decade, 1926 Alco-Cooke built 2-8-0 #97 pulls a revenue train for the Connecticut Valley Railroad. The locomotive just came out of the shops following an overhaul. O... (more)

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.

On October 28th, 2017 the Mass Bay Rail Enthusiasts chartered a day long passenger excursion from Worcester, MA using Providence & Worcester locomotives 4005, 4004 and their office car train to Ol... (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)

Northbound at Old Deep River Road. NH 3025's Fireman is on the seat box clearing the left side as his train approaches the unguarded crossing at Old Deep River Road.

This view provides ... (more)

Valley Railroad Mikado No. 3025 hauls the first sold-out trainload of the night, filled with families on the North Pole Express ready to visit with Santa and his elves.