New Haven 8600 Coaches
--By Bill Jeske

When wartime restrictions were lifted at the end of World War Two, the New Haven found that its passenger fleet was aging and worn out from the WW2 heavy usage.  In 1945 the railroad ordered 103 stainless steel coaches from Pullman Standard.  The coaches were built in Pullman's Worcester, Massachusetts facility and delivered to the New Haven in 1947.  The total order which included coaches, baggage-lounge cars, baggage-lounge-parlor, full parlor, parlor-lounge, observation-lounge, diner, grill cars, and 14 bedroom-four roomette sleepers.  Total number of cars was 207 at a cost of 20 million dollars, a very large investment. 

The original coaches were delivered with a hunter green roof and side window band with NY, NH, and H script herald on the sides.  The cars were distinctive for having a tubular shape with round roof ends.  The coaches were equipped with 64 reclining seats upholstered in blue mohair, with a 14 seat smoking section at one end having movable chairs in tan pigskin which was separated from the rest of the car by glass partitions. 

When Pat  McGinnis took over the railroad in the 1950's the cars were repainted with black roofs and orange window bands, and  block heralds on the sides.  The one serious flaw in this type of car construction was that the stainless steel fluting was welded to the Cor-Ten steel exterior side wall.  Water would become trapped behind the Stainless Steel and cause the Cor-Ten wall to rust.  No effective way could be found to resolve this problem and by the time the problem became evident the New Haven was in dire financial straits.

The coaches ran on the MBTA until 1987 when they were retired and stored.  In 1988 twelve coaches were leased to the Cape Cod and Hyannis and returned to MBTA in 1989. 

In 1989 the Railroad Museum of New England acquired these twelve coaches with hopes to someday restore them and put them in service.  Ten of the cars were sold a few years back with RMNE keeping the best two of the twelve.  So here we are up to the present 
with these last two NH 8600's in New England.  They are 50 years old this year, but don't look their age.  It's hard to believe that these coaches started their lives behind I-5 steam engines.  The historical value to our museum is priceless, and we should make an effort to restore these cars as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile back in Rhode Island Dave Pina is reconditioning the brake system.  New member Eli Ellis has done a spectacular job of shimming the couplers up 3 1/2  inches.  The stainless steel sides have been fastened with self-threaded screws and steel banding. 

Mechanically these cars should be in good shape for many years.  When they arrive in Willimantic,  they will need an immediate cleaning of the interior.  Hopefully we can put at least one car into excursion service by next year.  These coaches will be a spectacular addition to our rapidly growing collection of rolling stock and locomotives. 

Information supplied by "New Haven Power" by Jack Swanberg, Vol. 21 issue #1 NHRHTA "Shoreliner" and  Vol. 22, #8 RMNE "Along The Line" newsletter.

Order Board

Last week we had some trouble at the site again.  Our neighborhood vandals decided that it would be fun to break into the locomotive compound and destroy the windows on the 25 ton locomotive.  Once the windows were destroyed they entered the locomotive and attempted to cause more damage.  We have since started the locomotive and it is still in running condition.  We will now have to replace the glass and do some addition maintenance. 

On the same note, some other fine people decided to have a drinking party in the cab of the 44 tonner.  Luckily nothing was damaged. 

We would like to ask that any members that happen to be passing by the site stop in and just do a quick check to make sure that all is well. The more eyes we have on the site the better. 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS