The New Haven RR Image Page -- Railroad Telephone Directories

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Railroad Telephone Directories

Though most commonly associated with telegraphy, the railroads were also early adopters of telephone equipment. In fact, the New Haven operated its own telephone network which connected to public systems at various points such as Boston and New York City. Over the years the New Haven issued its own telephone directories, which listed the internal and external telephone numbers for key people, offices, stations, towers, yards, engine terminals, shops, and other facilities across the railroad. All items from the collection of Marc Frattasio.

Here's a New Haven Railroad telephone directory from the 1930s/1940s era. It is in the form of a soft cover loose-leaf binder secured with brass paper fasteners to allow for pages to be swapped in and out. This particular railroad telephone directory is interesting in that not only does it include lists of names, departments, locations, and their corresponding telephone numbers, but it also includes technical information about the New Haven's telephony network as it was at that time. This particular telephone directory was apparently issued in or around 1935 and was kept up-to-date via revision sheets through 1942.

Here's a New Haven telephone directory from the 1950s era. This example is in the form of a hard cover six ring binder. The lettering on the dark green cover was originally a metallic gold ink, which has faded badly over the years. This particular telephone directory was apparently issued sometime during the 1950s (many numbers from Readville are included) but was kept up-to-date at least through 1962.

During its final decade the New Haven issued soft cover telephone directories which were in the form of a six-ring binder. This particular example was issued during the mid 1960s and was kept up-to-date through the time of the Penn Central takeover. It is interesting to note that even in the latter half of the 1950s and through the 1960s the McGinnis NH logo and red-orange, black, and white corporate color scheme did not (apparently) make their way onto the covers of New Haven telephone directories.

Although it is not a telephone directory, this item is certainly telephone related and thus warrants inclusion here. It's a user's manual for the New Haven's new (mid 1960s) Centrex telephone system.

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THE IMAGE PAGE

Railroad Telephone Directories

PAST IMAGE PAGES

The NHRHTA web site is © 2004 the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association, Inc. Do you have comments about our web site? Contact the NHRHTA webmaster. For other NHRHTA questions, check our NHRHTA contacts page.

The NHRHTA web site is © 2004 the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association, Inc.
Do you have comments about our web site? Contact the NHRHTA webmaster.
For other NHRHTA questions, check our NHRHTA contacts page.