THOMASTON, Conn. — The Railroad Museum of New England’s Naugatuck Railroad will formally unveil the museum’s restored Russell snow plow during its Connecticut Open House Day this Saturday (June 8). The plow was refurbished after being damaged by vandals last May.
The plow, Maine Central No. 70, was built by the Russell Snow Plow Co. of Ridgeway, Pa., in 1936. It was sold to the Green Mountain Railroad in 1981 and purchased by the museum in 1996. It remains in active service, used by the Naugatuck Railroad to clear its main line after heavy snow. The plow was the focus of a fundraiser last year that brought in about $3,500 to aid its restoration [see “‘Night on the Naug’ event approaches …,” Trains News Wire, June 12, 2023].
The Naugatuck Railroad will also run excursions throughout the day to mark Connecticut Open House Day, with trains departing from both Thomaston and Fascia’s Chocolate Factory in Waterbury. Coach tickets are $10 for a round trip; passengers will have the option of a 2-hour layover with activities at Thomaston Station or Fascia’s Chocolate Factory. In Thomaston, along with the historic equipment on display, there will be a bounce house and inflatable obstacle course. The chocolate factory will offer free mini tours, food trucks and vendors, and a make-a-bar activity. More information is available here.
Christopher: Thank you for the info, hadn’t thought of that.
Obviously done with AI, “used by the Naugatuck Railroad to clear its main line after heavy snow plow”; “passengers will have the option of a location at either end.”; “a make-a-bar activity.” Bear maybe?
Make a chocolate bar. My family and I toured the Hershey factor a few years back and did the same thing there. It was fun, especially for the kids to make their own bars.