NH TRAIN SYMBOLS

Where can I get the freight and passenger train symbols from?

trainguy2024 wrote:Where can I get the freight and passenger train symbols from?

I have a bunch of symbol books in my collection but I do not have any extra copies. What territory are you interested in?
Noel Weaver

a. Passenger train symbols?

b. You'd have to be specific on the timeframe desired. Although they didn't vary too much from one year to another, they did vary. In 1962, the through trains from Boston, Mass. to Maybrook, N.Y. were A/BO-1 and BO-1, but in 1965 were BO-1 and A/CB-1; going the other way in 1962 were OB-2, OB-4 and OB-8, but in 1965 were CB-2, OB-2 and OB-4.

I am modeling Bridgeport station, lower Bridgeport Yard, Seaview Ave (street running), some east Bridgeport, New Haven Station / Yard. era 1950-68. I am going to have operating sessions and wanted to use actual train symbols. Both passenger and freight. Thanks

Passenger trains don't have symbols, they have train numbers.

You can find complete lists of NH train numbers in the public timetables of the era. They're widely available at railroadiana shows and on eBay.

Circa 1962, here's what was running, freight-wise, in that neck of the woods, according to Arranged Freight Service Symbol Book No. 14, Revised to October 28, 1962:

Eastward Road Freights:
FGB-2, Daily, by South Norwalk 10:30 a.m., arrive Cedar Hill 12:01 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
GB-4, Daily, by South Norwalk 6:30 p.m., arrive Cedar Hill 7.45 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
GB-8, Daily, by South Norwalk 3:15 p.m., arrive Cedar Hill 4.40 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
HB-6, Trailiner, except Fri/Sat/Sun, by South Norwalk 9:51 p.m., arrive New Haven 10:34 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
HB-8, Trailiner, except Sat/Sun, by South Norwalk 12:36 a.m., arrive New Haven 1:20 a.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
HN-2, except Sun, arrive East Bridgeport 12:01 p.m. from South Norwalk, depart for Cedar Hill 12:30 p.m.
HN-4, Daily, by South Norwalk 1:25 p.m., arrive Cedar Hill 2:40 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
HN-6, Daily, arrive East Bridgeport 8:45 p.m. from Oak Point, depart for Cedar Hill 9:15 p.m.
NE-2, Daily, arrive East Bridgeport 12:50 a.m. from Oak Point, depart for Cedar Hill 2:05 a.m.

Westward Road Freights:
BG-1, Daily, departed Cedar Hill 5:15 a.m., by South Norwalk 6:15 a.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
BH-5, Trailiner, except Fri/Sat/Sun, departed New Haven 12:55 a.m., by South Norwalk 1:45 a.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
BH-7, Trailiner, except Sat/Sun, departed New Haven 2:30 a.m., by South Norwalk 3:17 a.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
DN-1, except Sat/Sun, arrive East Bridgeport from Waterbury 11:15 a.m., depart for Cedar Hill 11:45 a.m.
M-7, Maine Bullet, Daily, depart Cedar Hill 4:00 a.m., by South Norwalk 5:10 a.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
NE-1, Daily, arrive East Bridgeport 1:37 a.m. from Cedar Hill, depart for Harlem River 2:17 a.m.
NG-1, Daily, arrive East Bridgeport 10:15 a.m. from Cedar Hill, depart for Oak Point 10:55 a.m.
NG-3, Daily, by East Bridgeport 8:40 a.m. for Oak Point - No stop in Bridgeport
NG-5, Daily, depart Cedar Hill 2:00 p.m., by South Norwalk 3:10 p.m. - No stop in Bridgeport
NH-1, except Sat, arrive East Bridgeport 11:00 p.m. from Cedar Hill, depart for Oak Point 11:30 p.m. Drops only, does not pick up.
NO-3, except Sat/Sun, arrive East Bridgeport 9:45 p.m. from Cedar Hill, depart for Maybrook 11:00 p.m. Caboose only Cedar Hill to East Bridgeport.

Local Freights:
NX-7, Mon/Wed/Fri, Operates to Stratford, Devon, Milford, New Haven (Water Street) and return to East Bridgeport, thence operates to Stratford and return.
NX-7, Tue/Thur/Sat, Operates to Stratford and return, thence operates westward to South Norwalk and return doing work at Fairfield, Wesport, Southport, Fairfield, Exide and Porcupine. Upon return East Bridgeport operates to Stratford and return. On Saturdays omits second trip to Stratford.

Since Lower Bridgeport Yard and Seaview Avenue aren't mentioned in the Arranged Freight Service Symbol Book, I'd surmise that such traffic was handled by yard switchers out of East Bridgeport operating within Yard Limits, however I'm not overly knowledgeable on operations in that area.

Passenger service? That's a tall order.

Thanks for the info. I should have known about passenger numbers. oops

All of the road freights at this time (1962) would have had EMD GP-9s, Alco RS-11s, or FM H-16-44s, or any combination thereof, as motive power. The Trailiners would have either the aforementioned engines or Alco PA-1s. DN-1 was the exception and would have had Alco RS-3s (ND-2, its counterpart, did not operate into East Bridgeport). NX-7 would probably have had an EMD SW-1200.

Statkowski wrote:All of the road freights at this time (1962) would have had EMD GP-9s, Alco RS-11s, or FM H-16-44s, or any combination thereof, as motive power. The Trailiners would have either the aforementioned engines or Alco PA-1s. DN-1 was the exception and would have had Alco RS-3s (ND-2, its counterpart, did not operate into East Bridgeport). NX-7 would probably have had an EMD SW-1200.

This is a very good write up of what was in Bridgeport in 1962. Herny, thanks for this, you saved me the job of looking this
stuff up.
The yard jobs in Bridgeport in 1962 all had 0900's (Alco/GE S-1's) and Seaview Avenue was also diesel operated by this time.
The Lower Yard in 1962 still had a yardmaster but I don't know whether the yard jobs that worked that yard reported there
or in East Bridgeport by that time.
Don't forget the unit coal trains that ran to UI in the Lower Yard from time to time from Maybrook. They could have four or
five units of typical of the period Maybrook Line power. They did not run frequently but the plant got their coal by rail and
through Maybrook.
Noel Weaver

Messrs Statkowski and Weaver,

Thank you for the above posted information.

I have a couple of questions concerning Bridgeport also. Specifically the coal fired power plant, known as "BI" or "UI", located in the lower yard.

Would anyone know the time frame the power plant was in operation for receiving coal? I've seen photos of coal trains destined for "Bridgeport" from the 1950's into the early 1970's.

Also, does anyone know the usual method the unit coal trains were delivered? I'm curious how the coal trains proceeded after they arrived off the Maybrook Line at Devon. Did they yard at Cedar Hill, with subsequent local crews delivering the train to Bridgeport, or did the Maybrook road crew head west on the Shore Line and yard their own train?

Thank you in advance.

Rob

In 1964 the West Ramp to the Lower Yard was still in service off track 3 and the coal train would come out at Devon to track 3 and use the West Ramp. It was a time consuming move and it often occurred in the day time especially on a Saturday or
Sunday. The road crew would make as many cuts as necessary in order to yard the train in the Lower ^Yard as the tracks
were not long enough to hold the whole train. A yard job would handle the move to the plant as necessary. After the entire
train got yarded, the engines would go light from Bridgeport to Cedar Hill engine house.
The cars returned in groups and not as a whole train.
Noel Weaver

Mr Weaver,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply!

Sincerely,

Rob

PS: Spring is coming here ... I saw water (not ice) today in the street! LOL!

SooLineRob wrote:Mr Weaver,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply!

Sincerely,

Rob

PS: Spring is coming here ... I saw water (not ice) today in the street! LOL!

This has been the coldest winter in my 12 years here. It finally made it up over 70 today. It is 66 now.
Noel Weaver