Air Line Trail

An early 1900s photo of the Cobalt Railroad Station built in 1873 with depot (right) and freight house (left) on the Air Line Railroad. It was a busy place during the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

The Air Line Railroad traveled through Cobalt on its way to Boston and New Haven. The Cobalt Station served the rural communities of Middle Haddam and Cobalt. The train brought needed products to the area and transported farm products and other local goods to cities.

There were also passenger trains that stopped at the station. The famous White or Ghost Train, established in 1911, made the 224-mile run between New York and Boston in six hours. In 1908 East Hampton voted to provide transportation by rail for Middle Haddam students attending school in East Hampton. The train also carried East Hampton high school students to Middletown where they attended high school until they built their own high school. Passenger service was discontinued in 1927 and the school train service in 1931. The tracks between Cobalt and Colchester were removed in 1966.

Carol Morris, a member of the CHS will lead the walk. She will discuss the history of the Air Line Railroad in Cobalt & East Hampton. The walk is on level terrain and walkers should wear good walking shoes. The walk should be about 1 ½ hours and heavy rain or snow will cancel the walk.

Directions: Go to the intersection of Rts. 151 and 66 in Cobalt. Go up Depot Hill Rd. for approx. ¼ mile to the new parking area on the right side of the road. 

For further information about upcoming walks or the CHS, contact Marty Podskoch, coordinator of the “Explore East Hampton” walks at 860-267-2442