The New Haven RR Image Page -- Passenger Car Monogram Plates

The 'image page' is where we put a changing variety of New Haven Railroad artifacts for you to enjoy. Be sure to check back here often because we plan to refresh these images on a regular basis.

Passenger Car Monogram Plates

Every passenger car obtained by the New Haven from Pullman-Standard during the postwar era came equipped with 24.5 inch square stainless steel monogram plates carrying the railroad's insignia. Most cars had four of these plates, one centered above each truck, two per side. The exceptions were cars equipped with baggage compartments, which had only one monogram plate per side. These examples of New Haven Railroad passenger car monogram plates are from the collection of Marc Frattasio.

All of the streamlined passenger cars delivered to the New Haven by Pullman-Standard during the postwar era, as well as the NH's four "Washboard" electric MU club cars, were fitted with stainless steel monogram plates that featured the railroad's traditional script monogram. Most cars had four of these plates, one centered over each truck, two plates per side. The exceptions were those cars that were fitted with a baggage compartment. Such cars had only two plates, one per side, mounted on the end opposite the baggage compartment. It is worth noting that the script monogram was actually etched into the surface of the stainless steel to help the paint adhere. As a result, you can still see the script monogram even on a plate that has had the paint scrubbed completely away.

Most of the electric MU commuter cars obtained by the New Haven from Pullman-Standard during 1954 came equipped with monogram plates coated with reflective 3M Scotchlite. The exceptions, as indicated above, were the four electric MU club cars, which were fitted with bare stainless steel monogram plates. Although these Scotchlite monogram plates were originally silver in color, over time the adhesive tape-like plastic coating turned a yellowish shade, as seen on this example.

During the summer of 1955 all of the New Haven's streamlined passenger cars were repainted in the McGinnis administration's then-new corporate color scheme. In the process, the monogram plates were repainted with the McGinnis administration's equally new NH logo. Each plate was removed from the car, flipped over (preserving the old script monogram!), and then the new NH logo was hand-applied using a brush. Each monogram plate was first given a coat of red-orange. When this was dry the NH logo was marked out using 2" masking tape and then a coat of black was applied.

For some reason a few cars received "reversed" NH logos. This may have been done during repaintings that took place in South Boston or New Haven around 1960. One car known for certain to have received this treatment was sleeping car Allyn's Point. Supposedly there were one or two others though no photos are known to exist. Any monogram plate with an NH logo can be considered to be somewhat rare. Many monogram plates with scripts have survived into the present day due to the fact that the older insignia was more-or-less protected due to the flipping operation that occurred in 1955. Penn Central, Amtrak, the MBTA, MTA, Metro North, and other ex-NHRR passenger car owners subsequently scrubbed off many of the exposed NH's over the years. Thus, fewer monogram plates can be found with NH logos than with the older script.

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