Wordless Wednesday #476 - New Haven RR Convention This Weekend! Sept. 14-15

 

Wordless Wednesday #475 - New Arrival!

 

Labor Day Weekend - 76 Years Ago...

  

I'm told it was 76 years ago this past Friday - the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, September 3, 1948 - when an 8 year old little boy went down to the Old Saybrook station platform to watch trains. The sun was going down - it'd be totally set within a few minutes - and in the gathering dusk a dull roar like thunder could be heard . . .

Looking eastward down the tracks, toward the gathering darkness, the sound seemed to get closer and he could just start to make out what looked like a plume of smoke - or maybe it was two? That didn't make sense. Almost all of the trains on the Shore Line were dieselized now, but, as loud as a pair of back-to-back DL-109s are, they sure don't sound like this . . .

It was the glimmer on the rails, lighting up the curve in the far distance, that was the first giveaway that a train was for-sure coming. Of course, the little boy knew a train was due. He'd been into trains for as long as he could remember and he knew how to read a timetable.

He knew that the approaching train had just crossed the Connecticut River and was accelerating hard off the bridge. It sure sounded like it - and the distinctive bark meant this train had to have a steam locomotive on the point. And with it being a little past 7pm, that meant it had to be The Merchant's Limited.

But was it early? The Merchants wasn't due through Saybrook until 7:17 . . . but just then, the train came blasting around the distant curve - exhaust roaring and headlight blazing! Before he could fully comprehend it all, The Advance Merchants Limited flew by at 65 miles an hour behind not one, but TWO! I-4 Pacifics with 23 heavyweight parlor cars on their tail.

In the rush of the passing train, little John Pryke could just make out the glow of two fireboxes and just as quickly as it had come, it was gone again with the tail sign receding quickly toward the sunset.

As the dust settled and the thunder of the Merchants' passing began to fade, the impression of the sight seared itself into the little boy's memory, and sparked a passion for the New Haven Railroad that would last the rest of his life and spur him into recreating this memory in miniature, someday.

* * * * * * * *

I try to relate this story at or at least near the anniversary of this event, which is all - mostly - verified as true. Especially since it not only inspired John to a life-long love of the New Haven RR, but - indirectly - influenced my choice not only of prototype, but of era and locale. John often mentioned visiting his grandparents in Old Saybrook and going with them down to the station to watch the trains go by. And he remembers seeing the double-headed, steam-powered Advance Merchant's Limited the Friday evening of Labor Day Weekend, 1948. It was this event, more than anything else, that he always pointed to as the inspiration for getting into model railroading and trying to recreate the New Haven in HO scale.

In fact, all of John's layouts - all featured at one time or another in books or the pages of Model Railroader - were firmly set in space and time: Southern New England's New Haven Railroad was the space, and the time could only ever be "September, 1948."

Now, almost ten years after his passing, I'm closer than ever to being able to recreate this memory in miniature. I have the Old Saybrook station scene as a highlight on my layout and, while I don't mind varying my chosen era within the narrow confines of "1947-1949," for all intents and purposes I'm modeling the Autumn of 1948.

I think - and hope - John would be proud of the effort. And I know he'd get a kick out of seeing a little HO scale version of his 8 year old self on the Saybrook station platform, waiting for another train to go by . . .

* This post originally appeared 9/27/2018, 70 years to the month since the event took place. I've reposted it not only to commemorate such an important time in John's life, but to remind myself that preserving these memories is one of the reasons for embarking on this project in the first place.

Wordless Wednesday #474 - Just over TWO WEEKS left!!

(and layout tours on Sunday - including the Valley Local!)

 

Wordless Wednesday (er, Thursday) #473: Name That Location

 

Wordless Wednesday #472 - Name That Location (and photographer and collection %^)

 

No recollection how I came across this, so help identifying ownership and other details is most welcome!

Friday Fun - NHRHTA Reunion, Sept. 14-15

 

I hope you'll make plans now to join us for this year's New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association Reunion & Train Show! Don't let the "Reunion" name fool you - it's open to ALL and only a couple of things are Members Only.

In addition to the train show, featuring a wide-variety of vendors, there will be a number of clinics & presentations, as well as never-before-seen footage of the New Haven RR.  And for the first time in years, there will also be a dinner that evening, featuring our own J.W. "Jack" Swanberg, author of "New Haven Power", who will be giving a slideshow of historic NHRR images.

But you'll need to make the dinner reservation in advance, by clicking here.

In addition to all this, NHRHTA members will also be able to participate in two new events this year - a Rare Mileage Special Train (which departs at 9:45a, so get there early) and a tour of the shop area, including behind-the-scenes information on the Valley RR and its equipment - including the most steam engines you'll see in one place in all of New England.

If you're not a member, it only costs $40 to join - that's only $20 per special event and you'll get 4 Shoreliner magazines for free :^)  Memberships can be purchased here.

Finally, if you want to make a weekend of it, there will be NHRR-themed layout tours on Sunday - including an open house here on the Valley Local! More layouts TBD.  And if you DO decide to make a weekend of it, we've provided a list of local hotels here (scroll down to the bottom).

Be sure to check out our Reunion website at www.nhrhta.org/reunion for additional details - as well as the latest up-to-date information.

So I hope you'll make plans now to join us! The special train leaves the station at 9:45am Saturday September 14, and the Train Show, clinics, presentations, and model displays go from 10-3. Shop Tour is after that, and Cocktail Hour and dinner follows.  So LOTS to do and see!

Hope to see you in September!