[2] From the start, the company had difficulty attracting sufficient business to justify the cost of operating its meandering route through rough terrain, and resorted to attempting to undercut the rates of competitor Naugatuck Railroad.

Passenger trains last operated over the line in 1925, and freight service between Orange and West Haven was terminated the same year, though none of the route was formally abandoned at this time.

The ICC allowed abandonment of the completely unused segment between Orange and West Haven, but required service continue on the rest of the line.

[2] From 1941 onwards, only the segment between Derby and Ansonia and a spur track in the city of New Haven remained active.

The spur in New Haven served several local industries until at least the 1980s, but was abandoned by the year 2000, leaving only the NH&D alignment from Derby to Ansonia in use by Metro-North Railroad.

[2] Mileages reflect the post-1892 route using the West River Branch to access Union Station, and the 1903–04 relocation in Derby.