Atlantic Ave. Boston

[Anonymous]

Could someone steer me to a place that I can get information a train running on Atlantic Ave. in Boston in 40's early 50's. My memory indicates a steam switcher moving fgreight cars. Possible between North and South stations ??? Am specifically interested in who operated that line.

[railman]

first, [#welcome],

I recall an article in MR about this...I can't remember the specific month/year. Try the magazine index...maybe that can help.

[Anonymous]

I also don't remember the issue the layout was in, but it is also included in the Kalmbach book on modeling city scenery.

[Anonymous]

The series of articles, The Boston Union Terminal Railroad, started in the September 2000 MR. It ran for 2 or three months. The author was John Pryke. The Kalmbach book was titled "Building City Scenery" by the same author. He had his complete article in the book plus other ideas. If you do urban scenery it is well worth getting a copy.

[CNJ831]

Regarding motive power on Boston's Union Freight Railroad (a subsidiary of the New Haven), 0-4-0 shrouded tank engines were used until shortly after WWI. From the 1920's to the mid 1940's, shrouded 3-truck Climaxes (!) were employed. In 1946 operations were taken over by GE 44-tonners and finally leased New Haven ALCO S-2's became the sole motive power 1953-70, according to John Pryke.

CNJ774

[Anonymous]

Beware of the book "Building City Scenery." I have a copy. After reading it several dozen times and looking at the pictures even more, I now have a to-do list of it seems like thousands of projects! Seriously - it's a great book!!

[railman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainman285

The series of articles, The Boston Union Terminal Railroad, started in the September 2000 MR. It ran for 2 or three months. The author was John Pryke. The Kalmbach book was titled "Building City Scenery" by the same author. He had his complete article in the book plus other ideas. If you do urban scenery it is well worth getting a copy.

that would be it. Good luck with your projects.

[Paul3]

I just want to confirm here that the RR in question was the Union Freight RR (UFRR), not the Boston Union Terminal RR. The UFRR was completed in 1872 (according to "New Haven Power" by Swanberg)

The shrouded 0-4-0T's were actually geared locos. Both these and the Climax locos were "shrouded" so as not to scare horses. They essentially looked like large boxes on wheels, and the 0-4-0T's could be operated at either end. These were replaced in 1923-8 by the Climax locos.

The 44tonners were from 1946, numbered 1 to 5. They were delivered in the warm orange and green scheme like the New Haven. They were too light for the job, even in mulitple, and all were sold in 1953.

The NH S-2's took over in 1953 until the UFRR's demise in 1970, one of which being class leader #0600. These were typical S-2's except for the NH's close-clearance cab roof (which is much shorter than normal S-2's), and that they had a whistle, not an air horn.

A very good write up of the UFRR and a bunch of other Boston related railroading is all in book called, "The Railroad That Came Out At Night", by Kyper. Carstens Publishing (aka, Rail Model Craftsman) currently has an updated version in paperback form.

If you model this RR, don't forget to liberally place red lanterns all over the loco's running boards. The crews always had to fight city traffic at night, and more than once, some drunk driver would try to tangle with a 1,000 Hp Alco and lose.

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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