Stagecoaches, trollies and steam locomotives in Connecticut

As the Industrial Revolution approached, Connecticut had its first mass transit system in high gear – stagecoaches. It was also making use of canal barges. But, as steam power and machines became viable, we soon had electric trolleys, steam locomotives and steamships. Finally, it was cars, buses, trucks and diesel locomotives. Along the way, we had both turnpikes and shunpikes (yes, we’ll explain that). Today, we continue our never-ending quest to find faster ways of getting from point A to point B and, with the help of Connecticut development expert Richard DeLuca, of Cheshire, we’ll see how Connecticut used transportation to propel itself from a strictly agricultural society into the thriving and bustling place it is today.