The HPF opened in 1855, connecting Hartford in the east to Waterbury in the west, then on to New York. What I could never figure out was how did it go anywhere if the tunnel (TV E) was not completed until 1910. An old timer in town set me straight. The earliest track zig-zagged it's way over the mountain (red line) starting from Bristol Park, and utilizing a portion of the current day Terryville Loop. The blue line shows where the trains have run since 1910. The Chippens Spur running north was late construction circa 1970, and served a General Motors plant nearby. My friend, who did road construction as a young man, recalls bulldozing railbed in the Barlow St area 60 years ago.

Most of it is gone for good, save one or two select sections I staked out this Spring. Very much looking forward to a late Autumn hunt.