This portion was heavily traveled by steamboats, but in 1868 the Connecticut Valley Railroad was founded by businessmen in Hartford, led by James Clark Walkley, to build along the river.

[3] Service between Hartford and Old Saybrook began in 1871; an extension southwards to Fenwick, Connecticut was built the following year, bringing the railroad's total length to 47 miles.

[1] Two years after beginning operations, the Connecticut Valley Railroad was badly affected by the Panic of 1873; by 1876, it had defaulted and the holders of its bonds became the new owners.

To put this plan into action, the Valley Railroad made some investments into its physical plant, while openly declaring its intentions to expand northwards beyond Hartford to Springfield, Massachusetts.

The scheme was a success – fiercely protective of its lines and fearing any competition, the New Haven spent a considerable amount of money to take control of the Valley Railroad in fall 1882, paying well above market value in doing so.

[1] Several changes were made in Hartford around 1907 as part of yard reconfiguration and construction of the Bulkeley Bridge, including replacement of the State Street station building.

[1] The infrequently used remnants of the Connecticut Valley Railroad were not initially planned to be included in Conrail by the United States Railway Association, but the state of Connecticut intervened to prevent the line from being entirely abandoned, directly leasing the segment between Wethersfield and Rock Hill and hiring Conrail to operate freight service.