At the Freight House

The New Haven operated a large freight house complex along Market St. in downtown Hartford, which now found its way onto our route.

 

Walnut Street

At the beginning of the Bloomfield Branch in Hartford, which starts at the wye next to Union Station, is a district of various light industries. About a good dozen customers with rail access can be found here, and a lot of scenario potential on a complex track network. Beyond this area the branch line soon changes its character fundamentally, exiting Hartford's suburbs and turning quite rural quickly, with only a couple of sidings in Bloomfield and one industry along  the way to the terminus at Griffins.

Some say...

...that Hartford wasn't built in a day. We from the route building team certainly agree with that, and here are some screenshots from the progress made in downtown Hartford over the last few days.

Video: Springfield - Hartford Mainline

This video was shot during a full length run of the version 2.0 mainline of the Springfield Line, running with a Budd RDC from Springfield Union Station to Hartford Union Station. While the route is still a work in progress (which is obvious in some parts of the video), our overall progress is quite good. The branchline to Griffins and the outer parts of Hartford still need some more attention though.

Things will be great when you're downtown

A first glance at Hartford Union Station with the most important surrounding scenery in place -- a few buildings here and there and a lot of clutter are still missing. The two double tracks are of the Springfield and Highland Divisions, heading around the bend to the right side of the picture (where Albany Ave. tunnel will follow next). Exiting to the left, under the road bridge in the background, is the branch line to Bloomfield and Griffins, which serves several industries in the Hartford area, a freight house in Bloomfield, and then quickly becomes rather quiet and rural.

What a deference a day... no... three days make...

On the fist day he set buildings, streets and bridges...

 

 

...on the third day he set everything else (phew).

 

 

Hartford Engine Maintenance

Meadows Yard (the main freight yard in Hartford) is beginning to take shape at last. Here are some screenshots of the engine maintenance facilities.