The New Haven RR Image Page -- The Dan'l Webster

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 Dan'l Webster

December 1st, 1999

The New Haven Railroad's McGinnis administration ordered three experimental high speed lightweight passenger trains during the summer of 1955. The first of these radical trains, the Train X "Dan'l Webster", was delivered to McGinnis's successor, George Alpert, in October 1956 and went into service in April 1957. To learn more about the three experimental trains, see "The McGinnis Trains," a four-part Shoreliner^® article which appeared in Volume 19 Issues 2 through 4 1988 and Volume 20 Issue 1 1989.

Here is a small selection of rare New Haven Railroad advertising pertaining to the ill-fated "Dan'l Webster" train. Advertising materials from the collection of Marc Frattasio. All images have been reproduced at approximately 10% actual size.

This cut-out of the "Dan'l Webster" train was displayed at ticket windows and travel agencies during late 1956.

This simple folder (no illustrations) was handed out to passengers on the first public runs of the "Dan'l Webster" train during April 1957. The Train X "Dan'l Webster" was delivered to the New Haven Railroad in October 1956. The railroad intended to put it into service in November but mechanical bugs delayed its debut until January 1957. An embarrassing electrical fire on the "Dan'l Webster's" inaugural press run from Boston to New York City caused the train's service debut to be delayed until April 1957.

This is the front cover of a New Haven Railroad high speed lightweight passenger train service schedule from the spring of 1957.

This artwork of the New Haven Railroad's other two experimental high speed lightweight passenger trains, the Talgo "John Quincy Adams' and Budd RDC based "Roger Williams" was printed inside the schedule shown above. These trains had a lot of problems which the troubled Alpert administration did not want to deal with. Consequently, the "Dan'l Webster" and "John Quincy Adams" were removed from service during the middle of 1958.