Today, I received my copy of this book and wow, it is great reading.
A few of the pictures have appeared elsewhere but the reproduction and
printing of these pictures is much improved in this book. Most of the
pictures have not appeared in previous publications.
You see the line being built, in operation, idle after the shutdown and
finally being destroyed.
The one thing that I would have liked to see would have been a reproduction of an employee timetable and pamphlet but I know that they
are very rare items.
Some very interesting newspaper clippings also, only wish they had put
the dates on them that they appeared in the paper.
It is hard for me to believe that there is as much material about the line
that survives and made it into print.
There are also interesting pictures of most of the towers and track
diagrams as well.
Incidentally, at least a few of the former employees of the NYW&B went
on to the New Haven Railroad after the final shutdown. On page 100 is a
picture of Robert Burghardt who was an engineer with the NYW&B. He
went with the New Haven after the shutdown and retired several years ago
as one of the finest conductors whom I ever worked with. He worked the
Danbury Branch often and west end service as well.
Another person with the NYW&B was a gentleman named Dan Gallagher
who was a towerman with them, after they folded, he went into engine
service and eventually after being set up to engineer was a Road Foreman
of Engines. He finally retired during the Penn Central period. No finer
person to work with anywhere.
I urge all who read this to buy this book, it is easy and very enjoyable
reading.
Noel Weaver
