Central Vermont Railroad Pier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Central Vermont Railroad Pier
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Central Vermont equipment on the north end of the pier in 1978
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | State Pier Rd., New London, Connecticut |
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| Area | 8.4 acres (3.4 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Earth-filled masonry pier |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001551 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 2005 |
The Central Vermont Railroad Pier is a special old pier in New London, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1876. This pier was super important because it helped move goods between big ships and trains. Imagine a giant meeting point where ocean cargo could easily switch to rail!
It's thought to be the only pier from the 1800s still standing in Connecticut. Because of its history, the pier was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.
What is the Pier Like?
The Central Vermont Railroad Pier is located north of downtown New London. It stretches out into the Thames River. The pier is made from earth and lined with strong granite stones. It's about 1,100 feet (335 meters) long. That's longer than three football fields!
The pier has a unique "hammer head" shape. For most of its length, it's about 150 feet (46 meters) wide. But at its very end, it gets wider, reaching 220 feet (67 meters) across. This wider section likely helped with loading and unloading ships.
A Look at the Pier's History
The Central Vermont Railroad built this pier in 1876. This railroad served areas like central Massachusetts, Vermont, and even parts of Canada. The pier was a key part of their network.
It's a rare example of an old "intermodal freight facility." This means it was a place where different types of transportation, like ships and trains, could easily transfer goods. It's believed to be the only 19th-century pier like it left in Connecticut.
At first, the railroad mostly used the pier to move coal. Big ships would bring coal, and then it would be loaded directly onto trains. Over time, they started moving other types of goods too. Train tracks ran right down the middle of the pier. This made it easy to move items from ships straight onto the trains.
In the past, the pier had special equipment for loading coal and big storage areas. However, the railroad stopped using the pier in 1946. Over the years, much of that old equipment was removed. Even so, the pier remains a cool reminder of a busy time in transportation history!
