New Haven Railroad Station

[DMUinCT]

Unlike a lot of old, restored, railroad stations, this one is safe to be around.  The city built the new Police Headquarters across the street and they use a part of the parking garage for Police Car parking.

Lots of places to watch trains, all passenger trains, Amtrak Corridor Service both Acela and Regional, ConnDOT Shoreline Service to New London, Metro North Commuter Service to New York City, Amtrak diesel powered Shuttle Service to Hartford and Springfield, and The Vermonter.

[daveklepper]

I saw the EP-5 ("Jet") model with the 8600-series cars in PJ, and also the 8200's ("American Flyers") on the next bench with the Hatter orange-red letterboard stripe.  I will follow sutggestions, but perhaps one who spends time in the station can also make an accurate list, since often public information is not entirely accurate on such matters.

 

I used the station regularly 1949 (age 17)-1996.   I am aware of its nasty period, as well as when streetcars as well as buses pulled up outside, and fortunately I was around long enough to see its rejuvination.  But not the model installation.

[Deggesty]

The board ia a Solari Board; if you want to watch it, hurry, for it is to be replaced with LED-readout signage (see the 2011-4 issue of Passenger Train Journal, p. 27), for it is a high-maintenance item.

Also found on the same page is the description of one of the train models: an EP-5 is pulling the Yankee Clipper.

[schlimm]

It is a great entrance to New Haven.  I've only been there a few times: 1967, 1988 and 2010.   It certainly was much improved by its careful restoration.

[NKP guy]

I'm glad to see those model trains on display in the New Haven station because they symbolize to me the city's long and proud association with the NY NH & H RR over many years.  I'm even happier to see the station itself discussed here.

This wonderful and living monument to the Golden Age of Railroading is a joy to see each time I visit New Haven.  The architects were Carrere and Hastings, who also designed Woolsey Hall at Yale and the New York Public Library, among many other notable buildings.  Many famous people have passed though its portals  or waited for trains there, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Glenn Miller.

The New Haven station has, as already mentioned, the traditional and wonderfully comfortable benches on which to sit while awaiting one's train.  It also has one of the very last flip-flop type (sorry, correct name escapes me here) station announcement boards.  Watching the sign flip through dozens of trains and stations as it updates itself is a real treat and a glimpse of 1970's-era railroading.

Sitting on those benches, looking at either the model trains or the flip-flop board, or anything else for that matter, one is aware of how sunny and bright the waiting room is and how pleasant it is to spend time there.  All the necessary stores and newsstands are right at hand, and the bus companies that call at New Haven pick up their passengers directly outside the station door.  Taxis are always plentiful and there is a parking deck next door.

Now, contrast that happy picture, if you will, with the scene there in the 1970's.  The station was abandonned by the railroad and empty.  Access to trains was via a gloomy concrete tunnel inhabited by town kooks.  It was intimidating, to say the least.  Then the government stepped in.

Very shortly, everything changed for the better at New Haven station.  The station was restored and re-opened to universal acclaim.  The old tunnel was lined with attractive stainless steel and walking in it became a delightful experience.  The city of New Haven seems to have realized that this was the main entrance to their town and they made it a grand one.  In short, the restoration of the station and its continuing positive impact on New Haven was made possible by local, state, and federal governments, all working together for the common good.  In short, the station is a tremendous success story that completely refutes the small-minded, anti-government attitudes of many contributors to this form.

The New Haven station is a joy to use and visit.  It is a shining example of a town that realizes how to make good use of a major asset.  I hope everyone can get to use this station and enjoy it, as I have.

 

 

 

 

[DMUinCT]

The New Haven Connecticut Railroad Station was the home station of The New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad.   Today it is a way station on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.   Besides the hourly Acela service and Amtrak Regionals it is the eastern end of Metro North's New York City commuter rail. Passenger service from New Haven to New York have been Catenary powered electric since 1914. The wires from New Haven to Boston are only 10 years old with the comming of the Acela. 

When the station was completely restored, the waiting room benches were set back to back with a shelf between them.  On each shelf is an "O Gauge" passenger train set under glass.   Most are MTH Premier Line (MTH made lots of New Haven engines and cars) , the DL109 diesels, EP3, EP4, EP5 Electrics, and F7 diesels with New Haven passenger cars.  

I haven't been down there for a while, maybe someone on the Forum who commutes can take the time to make a list. 

[bedell]

Dave,  I just looked at the Wikipedia entry for Union Station New Haven Connecticut and there are some links at the bottom of the page.  One especially has some photos inside the station and a couple of the train models are visible.on the seat backs.  You might be able to figure out what they are. Happy hunting.

[henry6]

Dave, suggest you contact either MNRR or CONDOT...even phone the station either at Amtrak or MNRR/CONDOT.  I saw them last year, and remember them to be O guage but that is all.  If no one at the station knows, they may be able to direct you to those who placed the models.

[daveklepper]

Please, please, someone please list the passenger trains modeled by the models on the tops of the backs of the long historic wood benches in this station?    Which locomotives, which cars?