Rail museum fundraiser offers tastings, trains

THOMASTON — The Railroad Museum Of New England is offering a Litchfield Hills Special with BBQ and Bourbon, on Sept. 22. The special event includes a bourbon tasting, with barbeque, cheeses and chocolates.

The leisurely evening starts at 5 pm at the landmark Thomaston Station at 242 East Main St. in Thomaston. The Naugatuck Railroad will provide train service from Thomaston Station north to East Litchfield, then south to Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, and back to Thomaston. The train will depart from Thomaston Station at 6pm and return at 8:30pm.

Five special bourbon tastings will be offered to passengers as they enjoy the scenic view of the Litchfield Hills past the Thomaston Dam into East Litchfield and along the Naugatuck River. Guests will be able to savor five servings of bourbon selected by connoisseur Marvin Friedman.

The RMNE is partnering with the Maple End Package Store of Bristol, Fascia’s Chocolate of Waterbury, the Black Rock Tavern of Thomaston, and Patti’s Place in Thomaston for this special evening. Guests must be age 21 and over.

Tickets for this event are $79. The menu includes pulled pork sliders with cheddar cheese on Hawaiian rolls, dry rubbed chicken wings, bourbon BBQ meatballs wrapped in bacon, mac and cheese with 3-cheese mornay sauce, house made cornbread. Guests will receive a special treat of four chocolates upon arrival at Fascia’s. Upon the return to Thomaston Station, passengers will be offered coffee and chocolate chip cookies.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Railroad Museum of New England, Inc. to fulfill its educational and historic mission.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmne.org or phone 860-283-7245 anytime. All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Passengers may pick up tickets at the Thomaston Station’s “Will Call” window 30 minutes before departure time. The train departs promptly at the scheduled time.

RMNE / Contributed photo Fourth-grade students and teachers from Thomaston Center School visit at the Thomaston Train Station, where they were welcomed by Railroad Museum of New England president, Steve Casey near the end of the school year.