Moving Around: A Century of Transportation

The Revolution of Steam on Land and Sea

In 1837, the first rail line in Connecticut was completed from Stonington to Providence, Rhode Island, the final connection to New York City being accomplished via overnight steamboat excursion. Another line, the Hartford & New Haven Railroad, connecting Hartford and New Haven, was opened in 1839. In 1848
the New York & New Haven Railroad was founded and by 1849 New York City and all of Connecticut were connected by rail. By the American Civil War, Connecticut had the highest density of railroads in the country and in the mid-1870s, the newly merged New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad was the
most prosperous and dominant commercial enterprise in New England. As the number of rail lines increased so too did the number of steamboat lines plying the waters of Connecticut’s harbors, rivers, and the Long Island Sound. Most of the steam excursion lines were owned by the railroad companies and together the trains and steamers created the first effective transportation ‘system’ in Connecticut and New England. While the rail portion of a trip was often rough, noisy, hot, and sooty, the steamer portion was generally very quiet, smooth (due to the protection of the Sound), cool (from ocean breezes), and rather luxurious. Many steamers had plush public and private rooms and excellent dining.

Central New England Railway, Locomotive #14 (Baldwin 4-6-0)
Postcard
1906
Photo CD: 1015
File: img0013.pcd

< This 1906 postcard shows the crew of Central New England Railway Locomotive #14, a Baldwin 4-6-0. The six-man crew used to maintain the steam-engine and train may be made up of: (R to L) fireman, locomotive engineer, additional train engineers (one with an oil can and another with a large wrench), postal car clerk, and conductor.

Just Arrived at Chester
Photograph of postcard
Between 1890 and 1920
Photo CD: 1581
File: img0056.pcd

< Railway stations varied in size and style from enormous and elaborate structures in cities and larger towns to small frame depots in villages, or flag-stop shelters. This Victorian carpenter Gothic-inspired station at Chester features board and batten siding and brackets with quatrefoil cut-outs. It represents the intersection of several modes of transportation and communication at the turn of the twentieth century: rail, horse-drawn, telephone, and telegraph.

City of Lawrence (Steamboat) at Norwich
Photograph
Between 1867 and 1907
Photo CD: 4769 File: img0082.pcd

< Built in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1867, the sidewheel paddle steamer City of Lawrence was one of a fleet of steamers owned by companies that were or became subsidiaries of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. City of Lawrence was the first iron-hulled steamer on the Sound. She was part of the Norwich Line (Norwich & New York Transportation Company) that connected New York and New England cities such as Worcester and Boston via coordinated water-rail transport. The rail-steamer terminal is visible behind the City of Lawrence, and rail cars can be seen on the right. The City of Lawrence was wrecked at New London in 1907.

< Starboard view of the sidewheel paddle steamer City of Worcester in New London, ca. 1881, possibly at the time of her maiden voyage. Horse-drawn vehicles and rail passenger cars wait at dockside. City of Worcester was the first Sound boat to have electric lights, and another member of the Norwich & New York Transportation Company fleet. The company was a strong competitor among many rivals on the New York-Boston route. New London was one of the stops on the way up or down the Thames River on the Norwich route.

Link to other essays in this Journey:

>> Introduction: Moving Around: A Century of Transportation
>> Early Roads and Water
>> Making Connections
>> ‘Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley’:
      Early Urban Mass Transit
>> Currents of Air
>> Your Own Set of Wheels: The Bicycle
>> Your Own Set of Wheels: The Automobile

>> Guideposts
>> Suggestions for further reading