New Haven Timetables (October, 1958)

Published: February 18, 2024

Included below is the New Haven's public timetables listed in the October, 1958 issue of "The Official Guide Of The Railways." The railroad's listing included twenty pages of timetables, a complete system map, and corporate information.

The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (NYNH&H), popularly known as the New Haven, was a significant force in the Northeastern US from its creation in 1872 until its incorporation into Penn Central in 1969.

The rail system was 1,838 miles long, spanning four states: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. It was pivotal in transporting goods, especially coal, and passengers, playing an instrumental role in the industrialization and urbanization of the Northeast.

The New Haven was noted for its high-speed passenger trains like the Merchants Limited, Yankee Clipper, and the Federal, which connected Boston with New York in the pre-Amtrak era.

However, its profitability was often shaky, troubled by mismanagement, unprofitable branches, and the Great Depression. After World War II, the advent of the Interstate Highway System and increased competition from airlines forced the railroad into a decline, culminating in bankruptcy in 1935, and again in 1961.

Notably, the New Haven was a pioneer in the adoption of electric locomotives, using them first in 1907 for suburban services. Its signature electric locomotive was the versatile EP-5 "Jet," which became emblematic of the railroad's robust electrified lines.

Despite all the adversity, the New Haven's legacy persists, its tracks serving as important elements of the Amtrak and Metro-North systems today.

October, 1958 Timetables