(In the "spirit" of the season, and because it's All Hallows' Eve ;^) I hereby repost this from last October. I think you'll agree it's especially fitting this time of year...)
A big part of my motivation for recreating the Valley Line is to keep alive the memory of the men & women who were responsible for getting the stuff of life delivered to you, each and every day. From coal for winter heat to a bicycle to ride in the summer, for over 100 years in this country the stuff of life was delivered almost exclusively by rail. And sometimes, if you're lucky, your historical research will unearth a ghost or two.
Given that it’s Halloween-time, here's a question for you:
Do you believe in ghosts?
The answer for me depends on what kind of ghosts you mean. I don't believe in the creepy un-dead or goulish wanderings of departed souls. But I do believe in the ghosts of the past - the hauntings of a place by the memories of the people who were there. Who were they? What were their dreams and plans? Were they anything like us? While dead people don't actually haunt us, the spirits and memories of the past can - and often do. Especially if you're paying close attention.
During this time of year especially, if you keep your eyes open and know where to look, you can see some of these ghosts of the past materializing. You have only to slow down, pay attention, and keep your eyes peeled.
This is a bridge on the old line between Middletown and Berlin, CT. The railroad was abandoned and torn up years ago, and the trees have long since reclaimed much of the right-of-way. But this bridge remains - a monument to the memory not only of the railroad, but to the spirit of the men who built it.
If during your travels you stop at a spot like this and imagine, even for a few minutes, how those men lived, what their hopes were and whether they ever achieved them, you might see some ghosts.
And if you're especially quiet, you may even hear in the sound of the leaves floating by on the breeze a whisper of thanks from those men for not letting them be forgotten.
Max helping catalog images at the NHRHTA Photo Library
I'm very sorry to have to report the passing of Max Miller - a wonderful friend of The Valley Local, the Valley Railroad, the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association and Connecticut railroads in general.
I've known Max ever since my first days working on the Valley Railroad way back in 1987. He was the head of the track crew and a stalwart of the Wednesday night volunteer nights back then. I'll never forget when somebody was passing around photos during one of those nights that he invariably was able to tell you just about everything there was to know about the image - even down to estimating when it was taken by the number of insulators on the telegraph poles!
We lost touch after I left the railroad, but our paths crossed again many years later at the big Springfield train show. He'd heard about our efforts to catalog the NHRHTA photo library and offered to help out. I'd recently moved to within 30 minutes of his home and, remembering his extensive knowledge about the New Haven Railroad, I couldn't accept his offer fast enough.
But we really hit it off over our mutual love of the New Haven's Connecticut Valley Line. In fact, he was one of the two primary influences behind my choosing to model the line. He was so kind and generous not only with his time and knowledge of the line, but his impressive collection of photos was - and continues to be - the foundation of all my prototype research.
Lots of folks had encouraged him to somehow get all of that knowledge into a book - and he worked on it for many years, always adding to it. I'll always cherish the time he and I went up to the UCONN railroad archive to spend a day doing research for it. Thankfully, he finally did - literally write the book - about the Valley Line.
In addition to his kindness and generosity, Max was also one of the least assuming men you'd meet - which had a way of hiding his wide-ranging experience with everything from steam shovels to how best to handle glass plate negatives. I'll miss his usual greeting whenever somebody would approach him with a question, an artifact, or a photo - "Whatchagot?" Then he'd consider whatever you came to him with and would invariably come up with just the right answer or information from his encyclopedic mind.
I could certainly go on about what an impact Max has had not only on my hobby, but my life. Suffice it to say he will be well and sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him and having him be a part of their lives.
Ah October! The best - or at least one of the best - months of the year. At least it's one of my favorites.
And if you live in New England, it's certainly the most colorful of months - and right smack dab in the middle of my favorite season: Autumn! It's also the shortest season - since I only count when the leaves have erupted in full color, my favorite season lasts only a few weeks. Anything before that is "late summer" and anything after that is "early winter."
But for now, I look forward to enjoying the shushing of leaves, the smell of wood smoke in the air, the taste of a warm cup of apple cider by the fire. And it wouldn't be a bad thing if I spend some more time in the basement on the layout as well in the coming weeks - after all, it's always Autumn on the Valley Line!
(Ok - so this post has nothing to do with the Valley Line, and I post it on this day every year, but I include it because it gives me a chance to combine my two primary passions: the New Haven Railroad & bicycling. It's also an absolutely wonderful window into the past - a veritable time machine, a trip down Memory Lane despite the fact that you're viewing it on a computer or tablet. So, turn back the pages of history and get a little glimpse of what life was like in New England on the New Haven Railroad on the eve of World War II, 83 years ago today . . .click to cue the music)
September 28, 1941 was a Sunday. An early autumn day in Southern New England, clear and mild.
World War II had been raging in Europe for exactly two years this month. The German army had advanced into the Soviet Union over the summer and was riding high on the success of having already conquered most of Western Europe. France had just been split into German-occupied and Vichy zones the previous month.
On this particular Sunday, the Japanese were celebrating the 10 year anniversary of occupying China's northeast territory of Manchuria. At some point during that same day, perhaps as some sign of heaven's outrage at such an audacious celebration, the sun was blacked out during a total eclipse visible in most of China - from just northeast of the Black Sea to the Pacific ocean.
Britain had survived the Blitz, which ended the previous May - the same month Glenn Miller first recorded "Chattanooga Choo Choo" which was featured in a hit movie starring Sonja Henie. "Blue Champagne" by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra was the #1 song of the land on September 28, but the Henie movie, "Sun Valley Serenade," was released to theaters exactly a month earlier. By then "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was already a top ten on the Hit Parade, well on its way to becoming the first gold record ever the following February. It was the nation's #1 hit by that December.
Bobby-soxers fed the voracious appetite of juke boxes across the country one nickel at a time and made Frank Sinatra the top male vocalist that year.
But there was no sign of bad weather on this day, and at least a few folks took advantage of the beautiful Sunday afternoon to go for a bike ride and have a picnic - all courtesy of the New Haven Railroad.
There aren't many left that remember the "Hobby Trains" run by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad (aka the "New Haven") during the late 1930s and early 1940s. In an effort to boost ridership, the New Haven took advantage of the fact that their railroad connected the Great Metropolis of New York with New England. There were camp trains in the summer and ski trains in the winter. Photography specials in the spring and all year 'round. But what better time for a Bike Train than Autumn and what better place than the Berkshire Hills?
Thanks to a discovery of raw film footage by the NHRHTA, we can go back to that Sunday almost eight decades ago and enjoy the sights of a pre-war bike ride. You'll have to pedal your single-speed cruiser over a bunch of rolling hills before you get to eat. Don't worry if you have to walk up some of them - and ladies, be sure to mind your skirts that they don't get caught in the spokes. There are no "rest stops" as we think of on 21st century rides - bits of orange and Powerbars - but an entire spread complete with potato salad, Boston baked beans, chicken and watermelon awaits us.
So give your Schwinn, Columbia or Raleigh to the porter to put in the baggage car, give the conductor your ticket, and enjoy the trip. The train is about to arrive at the station . . .
For more about the cycle trains - and all the other "Hobby Trains" the New Haven Railroad ran - be sure to check out the comprehensive article by Marc Fratassio in Volume 40, Issue 2 of the NHRHTA's Shoreliner magazine. I also came across the following article from the May 2, 1936 issue of Railway Age magazine which covers the New Haven's cycle trains shortly after the first one ran.
Hope you enjoy this additional little journey down Memory Lane . . .
September 21, 1938 marks a somber - and for the New Haven Railroad, a devastating - event in history.
Making landfall that day, The Great New England Hurricanewas - and remains - the most powerful and deadly storm to hit New England in at least 300 years. It killed an estimated 682 people, damaged or destroyed 57,000 homes and cost an estimated $5.6 billion in 2019 dollars. Even as late as 1951, you could still see damaged trees and buildings.
The New Haven's Shore Line route was hit especially hard. . .
But the railroad - despite being in receivership after having gone into bankruptcy a few years earlier - restored its many washed-out lines in record time. The little booklet above tells the story:
"On September 21st, 1938, with flood waters already threatening major washouts at important points along the New Haven Railroad where the tracks paralleled or crossed the swollen torrents of New England's rivers...suddenly, just before dark, in the teeth of a howling southwest gale which increased momentarily to hurricane proportions, a steadily rising tide which in some places rose twenty feet in as many minutes, swept inland along the New England coast-line across the Shore Line Route of the New Haven Railroad...carrying on its crest hundreds of boats, ships, cottages, buildings, and wreckage. Communications by rail, wire, and telephone with many devastated areas was completely cut off. No one realized as yet what a staggering blow had been dealt by this combined hurricane - tidal wave - flood throughout the length and breadth of southern New England. But the next morning revealed a grim picture of death and desolation. Where fast freights and through passenger trains, including the crack Shore Line Limiteds had sped in rapid succession between New York and New England points carrying passengers, mail, express, and the vital necessities of life...now miles of silent track hung at crazy angles over yawning chasms in a hopeless tangle of power lines, signal towers, houses, boats, and thousands of tons of debris. Further inland at Hartford, Springfield, Norwich, Willimantic, and Putnam the hurricane had left its toll of felled trees and communication systems, crumbled freight sheds and roofless factories...and to add to the chaos, the raging rivers from the north broke through dams and temporary dikes, washing out railroad bridges and miles of track...rendering useless the strategic points through which Shore Line trains might have been re-routed. The vital life-line between New England and points south and west had been effectually severed. It had to be restored without delay. Thousands of men were needed for the Herculean task of rebuilding a railroad. The summoning of trackmen, engineers, skilled repair crews, and laborers had to be carried out without the help of modern communications systems. In an incredibly short time an army of 5,000 men were at work...toiling 24 hours a day in 3 shifts...many of them eating and sleeping in work trains and Pullman cars on the job..."
Those of us living in New England a few years back went through "Superstorm Sandy" and got a taste of what The Great New England Hurricane might have been like. But, as it turns out, it was a pretty small taste - as bad as Sandy was, it didn't come anywhere close. Check out this site for an eye-opening comparison of the two storms.
There are fewer and fewer folks that have first-hand memories of that fateful day 86 years ago, but thanks to the extensive coverage the storm received - not to mention the wonders of the internet that allow all that coverage to be easily saved and shared - the heroic efforts of the employees of the New Haven Railroad, including those on the Valley Line and most especially along the Shore Line, will never be forgotten.
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.
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!
Southbound at Middlesex Turnpike/Old Main Street - Goff Brook, Rocky Hill, CT
Ever since discovering this photo, I've toyed with the idea of getting a Budd RDC for fantrips on the Valley Line. Passenger service on my line ended by 1933, so having an occasional "extra" passenger train, in the form of a special run/fantrip, would add some operational interest to an otherwise freight-only line. Only "problem" is that the New Haven didn't get its first RDCs until spring of 1952 - and I model 1947-49 (focusing on 1948).
We start our journey by the Saybrook Tower where the RDC (# TBD) has just left the famed Shore Line and is paused, waiting for orders to head up the Valley Branch.
At Essex, CT - Max Miller collection
Our first stop is in Essex, where the Witch Hazel factory is still shipping out product via rail - note the barrels on the platform of the warehouse in the background.
As the 'fans got back on board, but before the trip continued north, we see that the local freight finished spotting a reefer at the warehouse - and somebody just pulled their truck in to pick up some goods at the freight house.
As we continue north over Shailerville Bridge and past the famous Shad Shack, we find out from another 'fan that the trip will divert off of the Valley Line and go up the super-rare trackage of the Berlin Branch. There hasn't been a passenger train up there since 1932!
The Berlin Branch goes through some pretty densely wooded areas, so it was hard to get a good shot, but thankfully we were able to get to the station in time to see the RDC arrive.
The trip didn't stay in East Berlin for long - as soon as the engineer could take his controls to the other end of the car, the RDC headed back south. We got this going-away shot as it crossed the Mattabesset River, just south of the station. Note the lit-up red markers.
There wasn't much to see in Middletown, so we got a late lunch at O'Rourke's diner and headed up to Wethersfield afterwards.
Wethersfield was the northern-most point the fantrip would go today - and lunch lasted a bit long - but we were still able to catch the RDC just as it departed the station, heading back south.
While the Valley Line is picturesque, we were only able to get ahead of the RDC a couple of times on the return trip. Apparently, the crew was eager to get home. But we did get this shot of the trip southbound at Rocky Hill. This is one of the few passenger stations left on the line (most were razed to save on property taxes after passenger service ended during the Depression).
Southbound at Middlesex Turnpike, Main Street, Cromwell, CT
The RDC had to stop & protect before crossing Main Street in Cromwell, so that gave us time to jump out of the car and get two shots of it here. That's the Sunset Diner on the left - where, during a spring day in 1938, Glenn Miller was persuaded to give his band another chance . . . (read that story here).
Since we had already got the shots we really wanted to get - and we knew the train wouldn't be making any more stops southbound - we decided to high-tail it back to Saybrook and wait for for the RDC there.
And here it is, letting the passengers off - weary but happy after a fun day on the Valley Line.
Hope you enjoyed the trip!
Southbound crossing Goff Brook - this is the going-away shot that goes with the photo at the beginning of our story...
