Many of you with children know of Thomas the Train. ln the town of Thomaston, you can find both
Thomas and the Train, yet not together. Let me explain. As many of you know, Thomaston is named
after the Seth Thomas. Before, Thomaston was officially its own town; it remained a part of what is now
neighboring Plymouth. It was actually called Plymouth Hollow. It was here in Plymouth Hollow that Seth
Thomas and his company mass produced standing clocks that can still be found in some Connecticut
Households today. After Seth had passed away in 1859, it took only 16 more years to the have town
officially take his name. The town of Thomaston was born in 1875. Since then, this Naugatuck River
Factory Town has stood the test of time. Seth's Clock Factory still remains standing to this day, but the
business has long since left town. You can't miss the building and if seen, you will definitley want to stop
and take a picture of it. Quiet neighborhoods continued to be built in its deeply forested hills on the out
skirts of town. The Naugatuck River, once heavily polluted continues its comeback. Soon the town plans
to have a trail run adjacent to the river. The downtown bustles with stores and restaurants along its
main street. The Naugatuck Railroad which at one time carried passenger and freight service through
Thomaston no longer provides these services. This though has not prevented the train from leaving
town. After the lines were left abandon in 1995, the New England Railroad Museum took over. Since
then volunteers and members of the museum have restored the old trains, kept the tracks in check and
turned the old Thomaston Station into a museum. The trains at the museum take patrons on 15/20
minute train rides that go as far south as Waterbury. The rides in the fall can provide some scenic views
of the foliage in this part of the state. One can also view the Thomaston Damn from above, which is
quite a site. Some train rides get festive around certain holidays, which include the Santa Express and
the Easter Bunny Express. Seth Thomas would be proud of Thomaston if he were alive today. As you can
see the train has never left town and Thomas's spirit is still alive and well.
Looking for a last second Christmas Gift? Then check out the link below for The Signs of Connecticut. Visit all 169 towns, check out the signs, find places of the beaten path, learn some history and have a laugh or two.
Click here for information on my book, "The Signs of Connecticut," a chronicle of those familiar blue signs that have the names of Connecticut's towns on them.
