The Shore Line East Commuter Railroad in Pictures

by Robert A. LaMay

All Images & Text Š1998 Robert A. LaMay

The Shore Line East Commuter Railroad's operations officially started in May 1990.Prior to the May 1990 start-up an inaugural train operated on April 23, 1990 from new haven to Old Saybrook, Conn. Each time the train made a stop it was met by the local citizens. Fanfares by bands, speech-making, and a closer look at the new commuter equipment.

The equipment purchased already had a long history with railroads outside Connecticut. Most of the equipment came from Pittsburgh, Penn. It was used in the commuter operation known as PaTrain. After the service was discontinued it was put up for sale. The timing was perfect for Connecticut. The equipment consisted of a pair of F7 locomotives numbered 6690 and 6691. Their history went back to Southern Pacific, Texas & New Orleans, and Wellsville, Addison & Galeton respectively. The passenger rolling stock's history began on the C&O. This was made up of seven 102 seat Pullman-Standard coaches and three 52 seat Pullman- Standard cab cars. Cab cars had their own HEP units on board.

Still additional power was still needed to protect schedules and act as back up if needed. Three locomotives were leased from the Guilford Transportation Industries (GTI) in the form of one ex MeC GP7W (Wide cab) no. 471, and a pair of ex MeC GP38's nos. 253 and 257. Since these were originally freight locomotives they lacked HEP. The three ex MeC units were eventually purchased outright.

All PaTrain equipment was taken to GTI's shops at Waterville, Me. For upgrading and repainting. This equipment along with ex MeC units were painted in the Connecticut Department of Transportation's official colors worn by the New Haven Railroad back in the late 50's to late 60's. This being the McGinniss scheme of bold patterns of red, black, and white.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation - Rail Operations owns the equipment and the buildings in which they are housed. Amtrak is currently under contract to provide the service, operate the equipment, and do the maintenance and repairs. Initially the service was from Old Saybrook to new Haven, Conn., with stops at Westbrook, Clinton, Madison, Guilford, and Branford. Small stations with handicapped access were build at each stop. When new schedules were introduced February 1, 1996, service was extended to new London, Conn. With a pair of morning and evening trains.

What follows now is a photo display with more about Shore Line East's operations and equipment status.

F7A no. 6690 is shown returning back to Union Station in New Haven, Conn. Taken from the 4th floor of the public parking garage.
Current Status: Used primarily for special moves.

F7A no. 6691 idles just outside maintenance shop building with a test train of rebuilt SPV 2000's. These are called "Constitution Liners". Shown at new Haven, Conn.
Current Status: Used primarily for special moves.

GP7W no. 471 sits at the platforms at Union Station in New Haven, Conn.
Current Status: Stored out of service in New Haven, Conn. 9/93

GP38 no. 253 is shown with 1995 Special Olympic special pulling eight Pullman - Standard passenger cars. Train is approaching the Leetes Island section of Guilford, Conn. 7/95
Current Status: Stored out of service in New Haven, Conn. 9/93

GP38 no. 257 awaits for its evening commuters at Union Station, Conn. 7/94
Current Status: Stored out of service in New Haven, Conn. 9/93.

The initial purchase from PaTrain included ten pieces of passenger equipment. This consisted of seven 102 seat passenger cars and three 52 seat HEP equipped cab cars. When service first got under way these cars formed the backbone of the SLE service. To promote public interest a "Name that Car" contest was held. One of the criteria for names was to represent the people and areas in which these trains operated. The top winning names would adorn all of the Pullman Standard and Bombardier cars than in service. What follows are the name and numbers of the Pullman-Standard cars;
102 Seat Coaches - 1600 - Quinnipiac 1605 - Sachem Head 1601 - Menunkatesuck 1606 - Fenwick 1602 - Momauguin 1603 - The Salt Marsh 1604 - Hammonassett 52 Seat Cab Cars - 1680 - Cedar Island 1681 - Stoney Creek 1682 - Elm City
Current Status: All cars are currently stored out of Service I New haven, Conn.

Pullman-Standard coach no. 1602 in storage in New Haven, Conn. 2/96

Pullman-Standard Cab Car no. 1682 in storage in New Haven, Conn. 8/96

The Connecticut Department of Transportation - Rail Operations did their homework when anticipating increased patronage and planning future service expansions. To meet these requirements an order was placed with Bombardier for six coaches and four cab cars. Originally CDOT wanted to get four HEP equipped cab cars. However, Bombardier built four 117 seat cab cars, two 131 seat blind trailers, and four 130 seat HEP equipped trailer coaches. As it turned out have the HEP equipped coaches made it easier to deal with concerning locomotives not equipped with HEP. The cars were built and entered service on December 16, 1991. Here's a summary of these cars;
117 Seat Cab Cars - 1691 - Mark Twain 1695 - The Connecticut River 1693 - Yankee Clipper 1697 - The Sleeping Giant 131 Seat Blind Trailer Coaches - 1614 - J.P. Morgan 1616 - Harriet Beecher Stowe 130 Seat HEP Trailer Coaches - 1640 - Uncas 1642 - Cedar Hill 1644 - Eli Whitney 1646 - Govenor Jonathon Trumbull
Note! One seat was eliminated due to the roof exhaust for the HEP unit.
Cab car 1693 along with a pair of coaches with a GP40-2H departs Union Station at New Haven, Conn. 9/93

During the April - July 1980 time frame thirteen SPV2000's (Self Propelled Vehicle that would go into the year 2000) were manufactured and delivered to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for use in Amtrak and local shuttle service. Most of the SPV's were destined for use on Amtrak's "Inland Route" from New Haven, Conn. To Springfield, Mass. Via Hartford, Conn. Others would cover the shuttle service on both the Danbury Line from Danbury to South Norwalk, Conn., and the Waterbury Line from Waterbury to Bridgeport, Conn. This was Budd"s last gasp to bring back the "old" Budd Car in a modern new model.
Bud's idea that the RDC would return once again, didn't pan out. The harsh New England weather raised havoc with various systems. The Self Propelled Vehicle came to be known as the Seldom Powered Vehicle. Numerous breakdowns occurred thus necessitating calling a diesel out to rescue the train. Other cars caught fire causing other problems. After just over five years in service all were withdrawn from service.
Most of the dead SPV's were stored in New Haven, Conn., while others were stored in Wilmington, DE. The Connecticut Department of Transportation facing some expansion problems needed some more passenger equipment to cover and protect routes. However, the funds just didn't exist to purchase new. Arrangements were made with Amtrak's Wilmington Shops to rebuild the remaining fleet into modern coaches and cab cars. Out of the original thirteen car fleet would emerge four cab cars and seven coaches.
Following is a listing as to what happened to the original fleet.

Original # New # Configuration Status 50 ---- ----------------- Wrecked out of service 988 1633 102 seat coach In service 989 1675 102 seat cab car In service 990 1631 102 seat coach In service 991 1625 102 seat coach In service 992 1671 102 seat cab car In service 993 1623 102 seat coach In service 994 1672 Used for parts ------------ 995 1627 102 seat coach In service 996 1629 102 seat coach In service 997 1001 62 seat cab car In service 998 1673 102 seat cab car In service 999 1621 102 seat coach In service

Cab car no, 1001 sits in yard at new Haven, CT 8/96

Interior view of the business section of no. 1001 3/96

Interior view showing passenger section with 2-2 seating 3/96

Cab car no. 1673 with consist layover at New Haven, CT 8/96

Four Constitution Liner coaches sit in storage yard at New Haven, CT 4/94

Interior view of standard coach with 3-2 seating 3/95

A Special Olympic special rolls through Stoney Creek, Conn. 7/95

During the period from January to April 1996 Shore Line East took delivery of six rebuilt All six had their history from three railroads which later on became part of the CSX family Once retired from CSX they ended up on the used locomotive market. It was during this period they were selected to be part of an extensive rebuild and modernization program. When completed they would return as a modern 3000 hp HEP equipped locomotive sporting the scheme that the late New Haven Railroad wore well into the Penn Central era.
First of the series (ex B&O) GP40-2H no. 6694 waits for clearance from Old Saybrook, Conn. For express trip to New Haven, Conn. 5/96

GP40-2H no. 6695 (ex B&O) rolls across the Four Mile River at East Lyme, Conn. On its way to New London, Conn. 6/96

GP40-2H no. 6696 (ex C&O) sits at Union Station at Hartford, Conn. With special which arrived from Bridgeport, Conn. with parade participants. 9/28/96

GP40-2H no. 6697 (ex C&O) prepares for its westbound trip to New Haven, Conn., from Old Saybrook, Conn. 3/97

GP40-2H no. 6698 (ex Clinchfield) moves by the tower at Old Saybrook, Conn. on its way to New London, Conn. 7/96

GP40-2H no. 6699 (ex Clinchfield) sits outside maintenance facility in New Haven, Conn. in between runs. 4/97