Berlin Line

The Berlin Line

The Berlin Line is a 2.46 mile long single-track branch with a 1% ruling grade. It meets the Springfield main at a wye in Berlin, CT and is freight only during this era. There is a passenger connecting service between Berlin and New Britain stations via bus. Today this is the line still used to get to Plainville and Bristol since the Highland Line east of New Britain has been removed and is now a busway.

In addition to several industries along the line in New Britain, the major points of interest are the engine servicing at the junction with the Highland Line, the freight house and bulk tracks, and Whiting St. Yard.

The Layout

Operationally, the Berlin branch is an important element due to Whiting Street Yard and the Freight House located there.

Because of the way I had to arrange the track in the room, the portion of the Berlin Line from about Church St. to Park St. is missing. Park St. to Whiting St. is along the side of the stairs that lead down into the basement, and a lift-up at the base of the stairs connects to the yard itself. The Ellis St. overpass is the view-block at the end of the yard and staging is in the adjacent utility room.

To make operations easier, the line is level, except for a 2% grade up to the main layout starting at Park St. (partially in hidden track).

Track No. 6

--New Britain Junction--

• • Track 6* begins

    • Stanley Rule & Level

--0.10 - Elm St. crossing--

• • • 12A - Stanley Rule & Level

--0.20 - Church St. crossing--

• • • • Stanley Rule & Level

--0.27 - Chestnut St. crossing--

• • • • P&F Corbin

    • Tracks 8 and 10.

  • C.W. Lines Feed (across Bigelow from P&F Corbin)

• Rackliffe Bros.

• Track 6* ends

--0.35 - Park St. crossing--

• Track 6A begins (not connected to Track 1 here)

  • Parkmeadow Lofts

    • Empire Upholstering

    • Howard's Cleaners

    • Hardware City Woodworkers

    • Impulse Machine Co

    • New Britain Paper Box Co

    • Peter Paul Coil Co

    • Screw Corp of America

    • Holbrook

  • New Britain Gas Light Co

• Track 6A* crossover to Track 1

  • Stanley Tools

--0.60 - Whiting St. crossing--

• • Whiting St. Yard

--0.89 - Ellis St. bridge (overgrade)--

--Extent of Layout--

• Track 6A* crossover to Track 1

• Track 6A* ends (not connected to Track 1 here)

--1.09 - cattle pass bridge (filled in)--

--1.24 - stream bridge

--1.29 South St crossing--

--1.49 - New Britain/Berlin Town Line--

Track No. 5

--New Britain Junction--

• • Union Manufacturing (parallels Highland Line)

  • NYNH&H Mechanical Dept

• Track 5 begins (not connected to Track 1 here)

• Union Manufacturing

• Track 5 crossover to Track 1

--0.20 - Church St. crossing--

• Union Manufacturing

• Upson Lumber

--0.27 - Chestnut St. crossing--

• • Rogers Sash & Door Co

  • New Britain Cabinet Works

--0.35 - Park St. crossing--

• Track 5 crossover to Track 1

  • Fafnir Bearing

• Track 5 ends (not connected to Track 1 here)

• Track 5x(?)*

• Track 5A* (2,619') begins (not connected to Track 1 here)

--0.60 - Whiting St. crossing--

• Track 5A* crossover to Track 1

  • Landers, Frary & Clark

• Track 5A* ends (not connected to Track 1 here)

--0.89 - Ellis St. Bridge No. 0.89 (overgrade)--

--Extent of Layout--

• Track ?? Landers Frary & Clark

--1.09 - cattle pass bridge (filled in)--

• • Track 5B (301')

    • Steinle Machine Co

    • Swaine & Bridge

--1.29 - South St crossing--

• Track ?? (track connects to Track 1 in Berlin, industry is in N.B.)

  • New Britain Machine Co

--1.49 - New Britain/Berlin Town Line--