Comments on: History of my Hometown: The Railroad in Southbury

By: Nancy Donlon Barna

Nancy Donlon Barna — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:19:07 +0000

In reply to Nancy Donlon Barn. We used to swim in The Pomperaug River at the bottom of Berkshire Road

By: Paul Stocking

Paul Stocking — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:14:08 +0000

George Stone use to store feed and grain in the old depot building. Played there as a kid!! Born and raised in Southbury Born in 1947..

By: David

David — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:25:09 +0000

In reply to Daniel. The South Britian station was located where 12 Hawkins rd is(or was).

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 02:00:14 +0000

Growing up in Newtown, I’ve finally learned what those objects in the water belonged to when we would take the back roads in that area toward Southbury.
I imagine these trains went on to Hawleyville where there is still some remnants of train service and also on to Danbury and the tracks behind the mall. The Carnival that came to town near the mall would travel by rail car probably up until about 8-10 years ago. I think the only other train service is the trash that is hauled north out of town on freight tracks through Brookfield.

By: Nancy Donlon Barn

Nancy Donlon Barn — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 17:28:08 +0000

In reply to Joe Minkowski. It crosses the Pomperaug River

By: Nancy Donlon Barna

Nancy Donlon Barna — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 16:45:28 +0000

In reply to Rich.

My Father worked on NYNH/HRR for 44 years. He was born 1893. Started working as a teen as a fireman, retired as a Diesel engineer. When he started the trains were powered by wood. We lived in
Southbury because of location. Half way between
Waterbury and Danbury.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:09:54 +0000

In reply to Rich. Peter Road crossing is just SOUTH of I-84 bridges - apologies

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:09:01 +0000

The Southbury station and depot was roughly where Bullet Hill Road crosses I-84, which of course is at the end of Depot Hill Road. Based on a 1934 aerial photo, it looks like the depot had several tracks for freight loading and unloading as well as the through track, which presumably is what the station was next to. The track connected Waterbury to Hawleyville but apparently fell out of favor due to its steep grades. As well as at Southford, it is still possible to imagine at-grade crossings on Route 67 (Bridal Trail), Kettletown Road (at junction with IBM entrance) and Peter Road (just north of I-84 bridges).

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:40:12 +0000

I just linked this page to a Facebook site called “You probably grew up in Southbury if…” at the following: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/158901730851843/537386766336669/?notif_t=like

The Southford depot station was where the Bridal Trail crosses Route 188. In fact, more than 60 years after the track was lifted, the road still levels off in that spot and it is not difficult to imagine an at-grade crossing there. Besides the name Depot Hill, I cannot imagine there are any remnants left of Southbury’s train station. It would probably have been where I-84 current sits.

The last historical bridge photo appears to be the trestle over the Pomperaug River near where it empties into Lake Zoar. It is about 1/2 mile from the surviving abutements over Zoar.

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:16:36 +0000

In reply to Daniel.

Yep, that would be my effed up cousin that I haven’t talked to in years.

The book is called “Country Depots in the Connecticut Hills” by Robert F. Lord. You can probably pick it up online somewhere. I can’t seem to find my copy, but it definitely has the best photos of the RR in Southbury that I’ve ever seen.