The New Haven RR Image Page -- The Comet

THE IMAGE PAGE

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

The Comet

October 1st, 2001

The New Haven Railroad put a unique three-car articulated high-speed passenger train called the Comet into service between Boston, MA and Providence, RI during 1935. The radically streamlined Comet was designed and built by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company using the latest aerodynamic methods and technologies. Unfortunately, the speedy Comet proved a bit too successful on the Boston - Providence run. When the New Haven's passenger business picked up at the start of the Second World War, the small fixed-consist Comet couldn't handle the crowds of people who wanted to ride it. The Comet was taken off the Boston - Providence run and spent the remainder of its service life on short-haul commuter runs in the Boston area. The Comet was scrapped in 1951. All items from the collection of Marc Frattasio.

The story of the Comet was presented in a 22-page article in Volume 13 Issue 1 1982 of the Shoreliner^®.

The New Haven distributed this multi-panel fold-out brochure shortly after the Comet first arrived on the property in 1935. When unfolded, a great full-color interior and exterior profile view of the entire train is revealed.

The Comet was originally put on a 44 minute express run between Boston and Providence. This routing was the original main line of the Boston & Providence Railroad, which was one of the earliest railroad companies in the United States. This schedule dates from 1935 and was one of the very first Comet schedules to be published.

The New Haven distributed this picture postcard during 1937. The postcard compared one of the earliest passenger cars used by the Boston & Providence Railroad with the New Haven's Comet.

The New Haven Railroad often put the Comet's picture on all kinds of travel advertising material published during the late 1930s. This New Haven passenger travel advertising folder, which has nothing to do with the Comet and plugged the railroad's Boston - New York passenger service, was distributed during 1936.

This attractive Comet schedule was distributed during the fall of 1941. It was one of the last Comet-specific schedules published, since the train was taken off its regular Boston - Providence routing and put on various secondary runs in the Boston area around the time World War Two began.

Although it features the Comet inside and out, this rare item isn't really a New Haven Railroad advertising piece at all! This Comet folder was published during the late 1930s by the Timken Company to promote the use of roller bearings.