New Haven Comet

[Duo]

Can anyone tell me just how long did the New Haven Railroads Comet opperate between Boston and Providence. And on any other lines?

[passengerfan]

NYNH&H

COMET

(June 5, 1935)

44 miles each way

220 miles total daily

  

Another manufacturer more noted for tires and Airships was the Goodyear - Zeppelin Company who constructed an Aluminum skinned tubular steel framed three car articulated lightweight bi-directional articulated diesel powered streamlined train. This train named the COMET was built for the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. The COMET was painted in a striking Blue and White paint scheme, the only New Haven equipment ever painted in this manner. The three car articulated train set was purchased with a cab at each end so it would be unnecessary to turn the train at terminals. The COMET with revenue seating for 160 passengers entered service June 5, 1935 between Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts a distance of 44 miles and was scheduled to operate five round trips daily in 44 minutes each direction. The three car articulated train was powered by a pair of Westinghouse 400 hp diesels one located in each of the trains two cab units. The two Cab units were numbered 9200 and 9202 with the center car carrying the number 9201.

The COMET operated on the same route from its delivery until the middle 1950's when it was retired and scrapped.

 

COMET CONSIST

 

9200 Articulated Shovelnose 400 hp Cab 48 Revenue seat Coach Unit

9201 Articulated 64 Revenue seat Coach

9202 Articulated Shovelnose 400 hp Cab 48 Revenue seat Coach Unit

[DMUinCT]

As a child living in Cranston RI, I rode this train offen, my mother liked shopping in Boston. 

The completed "Comet" toured the New Haven system starting May 1st 1935.  It had a light gray roof, the sides were machine "whorled" aluminum coated with clear varnish and highlighted with a broad blue stripe.  It entered service as Train #555 on July 21 1935 in an attempt to bring riders back to the railroad.  Running between the capitol cities of Massachusetts and Rhode Island it was advertised as 44 miles in 44 minutes, $1.75 round trip!

World War II brought the passengers back.  By 1943, larger, locomotive hauled trains, with more capacity took over the "non-stop" runs.   The "Comet" was now the Boston to Providence Local, the beautiful aluminum was painted over with white paint with "pin stripes"! 

By 1948 the "Comet" was confined to the "Old Colony Division" (Boston Commuter Rail) running between South Station and Cohasset.  The running gear could not take the start/stop service.   The final revenue trip was September 29th 1951.   The end came on July 7th 1952 as it was hitched on the back of a B&A freight for a trip to the scrapper.  

The New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association publishes a magazine called "The Shoreliner".   Issue, Vol.13, Issue 1 from 1982 has "Introducing The Comet" by Steve Link, history from building it to the end with photos (22 pages). 

[DMUinCT]

More:

Goodyear Zeppelin Corp. advertised there train as the "Rail Zeppelin" but only sold one, the New Haven Comet.   It was built like an airplane of that day!  Built like a tube, no frame, flush windows and doors, aircraft shock absorbers, all aluminum body, flat sides, curved roof and underside, and running only 10" above the rails. 

Test runs reached 109 mph in 1935.  In regular service south of Sharon Station, it was carded at 95 mph. Average speed over 73 mph.

Think of it, light weight, no rust problems, propeling 160 passengers at over 100 mph on two 400HP engines.  This was "green" 70 years ago.

Only one?  The New Haven's next buy was ten I-5 class Super Hudsons (see Photo in above reply)

 

[daveklepper]

I rode it in Providence - Boston local service, Canton Junction - Boston, twice in 1949-1950

In 1950 and/or 1951, I rode it twice Boston - Haartford in Boston  - Waterbury local service.

 I liked it!

[DMUinCT]

You were lucky to ride a Hartford run. A try to find longer runs that would be less damaging than Cummuter Service.

The next year the Comet would be gone, so much for history.   Four years later several  key bridges on the Waterbury-Hartford-Willimantic-Putnum-Boston line (Highland Div.) would be washed out never to be rebuilt. 

 

[wanswheel]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=73578

[DMUinCT]

To Wanswheel,

 Beautiful Color photo of the "Comet".  There are few in color and all in the Post-War paint job. BUT, the link you provide gives a good look, in Black & White, in the "As Delivered" polished Aluminum