Ride through time on the D&H: The Final Decade
By Otto Vondrak

I often find myself browsing various railroad books on subjects where I have a passing interest, and wouldn't mind learning a little more. Since I am not familiar with the subject matter first-hand, will the book be of value to me years down the road? With this particular book, there was little question! The publishers of Railroad Explorer have brought forth an amazing offering for both the Delaware & Hudson fan and the passenger train fan. Carefully authored by Doug Lezette, Delaware & Hudson Passenger Trains: The Final Decade is a well-detailed account of the late streamliner era on The Bridge Line. If you enjoy passenger trains, you are probably interested in the era leading up to the formation of Amtrak. In a time when most railroads could not wait to escape the burden of providing passenger service, the Delaware & Hudson was looking to improve their existing trains and entice more people to ride.

For years, D&H trains were a simple mix of everyday heavyweights with streamlined parlors and coaches from the connecting New York Central. The new president of the D&H, Frederic "Buck" Dumaine, formerly president of the New Haven, was responsible for the major changes to come. By the late 1960s, the only remaining D&H service was between Montreal and Albany, with through connections to Grand Central Terminal. In 1967, D&H acquired several surplus streamlined cars from the Rio Grande to re-equip its Laurentian and its Montreal Limited. In late 1967 the first new equipment arrived, but continued to be pulled by the existing steam-equipped RS-2's. This certainly would not do! In December 1967, four PA-1's were purchased from the Santa Fe, plus a fifth from the New Haven that was used for parts. The famous Alco PA era on the D&H had now begun.

The Final Decade covers each era with carefully selected photos and detailed captions. Each chapter explains a period of train development along the way, from the late 1960s, through the excursion era with president Bruce Sterzing and the Sharks in the 1970s, to the rebirth of Amtrak's Adirondack in 1975, to the disposition of the equipment in 1979.

Interesting is the story of the development of the Adirondack, and D&H's prominent role in operating the train. Amtrak was so desperate for equipment and an operator that they conceded to the railroad on many points. Trains were often staffed with D&H employees in D&H uniforms. Sterzig once scrambled to staff the dining car with D&H office employees after Amtrak pulled their staff. Also noted in the infamous 1975 "Who painted the dome car?" incident. To the dismay of railfans everywhere, Amtrak re-equipped the train with Rohr turboliners before all the D&H equipment came back from rebuilding.

Sadly, not much of the trains survive today. The original Rio Grande cars were sold to Venezuela. The Adirondack cars, rebuilt with NYSDOT funds, were used on MTA commuter lines (former Penn Central Hudson and Harlem Lines) until 1984. Sadly, most of the cars were the victims of arson while in storage in Grand Central Terminal. The PA's were sold to Mexico after a brief stint as freight power, and as commuter power for MBTA. Two shells of the PA's have returned to America for cosmetic restoration.

Thirty-six individual photographers contributed to this book, including Jim Shaughnessy, Jim Odell, Jeff Martin, Gardiner Cross, Len Kilian, and Kip Grant. The author also interviewed former D&H president Bruce Sterzig; as well as Peter Dillon, one of the former dining car crewmembers. Lezette's thorough research and attention to detail in preparing this book is evident throughout, and the color reproduction is fantastic. The book is easy to read, presented in an attractive format. I personally think that the map artwork is very handsome, but I may be somewhat biased.

I learned so much from this book on a subject I thought I was already pretty familiar with. This is one of the most enjoyable railfan-subject books that I have come across in a while. Whether you are just a casual fan, or you bleed blue-and-yellow, this is great book that is full of informative personal accounts and great photography that you will not want to miss.