The Connecticut Valley Line. Along much of its route, Valley Railroad trains are seldom far from water. The line runs next to the Connecticut River as well as by and over several tributarie... (more)

Stepping out over Deep River Creek. Valley Railroad Consolidation #97 rumbles across the steel bridge over Deep River Creek as she hauls the 2PM North Pole Express toward North Chester, CT.... (more)

One last run. On the last day of steam operations for 2020, Valley Railroad Mikado #40 makes one last charge to North Chester with her final trip of the year. Here, she is seen working upg... (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)

A touch of color on the Valley Line. Although the leaf-drop has begun in earnest, there are still some flashes of color along the Valley Railroad's well-traveled right-of-way as Mikado #40 ... (more)

Brian in the office. Valley Railroad Engineer Brian Messinger keeps a sharp eye on the track ahead as he takes Valley Railroad Mikado #40 and Santa Special #4 north through the Deep River s... (more)

The Old Soldier. Valley Railroad Consolidation #97 emerges from the Essex Locomotive Servicing Facility on a late fall afternoon in 2018, as her crew prepares her to make 3 North Pole Expre... (more)

The Essex Yard Shuffle. Valley Railroad Mikado #3025 hauls an 8-car train of heavyweights out of the Essex Yard in the late afternoon sun in what looks like the first North Pole Express of ... (more)

North to Chester. Valley Railroad Mikado #40 takes the second, sold-out, Santa Special of the day north across Chester Creek, heading for North Chester, just about a mile and a half further... (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)

North Pole Express: Making a Living with Steam. The Valley Railroad's New Haven Mikado #3025 glows just a bit in the waning sunlight, as she takes the first of the evening's sold-out, North... (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)

Sunset North Pole Express. Just a few minutes from official sunset, the first of the Valley Railroad's 5 North Pole Express Trains rumbles north across the Deep River Creek Bridge on its wa... (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)