Connecticut Central Railroad (1987)

The Connecticut Central Railroad (CCRR) was a short-lived freight railroad operating in Connecticut, United States, formed in 1987. It was established primarily to take over operations on a portion of the former Penn Central Railroad's trackage between Middletown and Hartford, which Conrail had deemed unprofitable and was seeking to abandon. The CCRR aimed to revitalize freight service to businesses along this route.

The railroad's operations focused on serving local industries, transporting commodities such as lumber, construction materials, and other freight. It operated with a small fleet of locomotives and rolling stock.

Despite its efforts, the Connecticut Central Railroad faced significant financial challenges. These were due in part to competition from trucking, aging infrastructure, and limited traffic volume. Ultimately, the CCRR was unable to sustain profitable operations.

The Connecticut Central Railroad ceased operations and was dissolved within a few years of its founding. Its assets and remaining operations were subsequently taken over by other railroad entities. The specific successor railroad and the exact date of the CCRR's final closure may vary depending on the source consulted, but generally the railroad operated for a relatively short period in the late 1980s and early 1990s.