B&M Signal 555 wrote:At the time of the closing on the Midland Div line between Blackstone and Putnam what symbol freights were using the line? I rember reading that they ran a BA1/AB2 via Manchester, Willimantic, Putnam and Walpole but am unsure as to whether or not these trains were operating at the time of the flood. Thanks!
The last regular through freight trains between Hartford and Boston via Willimantic came off around 1952 or so.
The flood hit the bridge in Putnam in August, 1955 and the line between Willimantic and Putnam could no longer be used for
any type of through traffic after that.
In the 60's when the railroads were getting some of the automobile shipments the New Haven got a contract to move new
cars by auto carriers from Maybrook to Readville. These cars could not operate through New Haven and were routed via
Waterbury, Hartford, Willimantic, Plainfield, Putnam, Blackstone and on to Readville. This was a one way move once or
twice a week, the empties could return to Maybrook on a through freight train via New Haven. This move lasted right up
until the end of the New Haven when Penn Central routed the traffic on regular trains over the Boston and Albany which
could handle these cars.
Noel Weaver
