With a line-up only Guilford could offer, a three-builder power set consisting of EMD GP39-2, Alco C424M and GE U18B leads Train BADH (Bangor-Delaware & Hudson) at Erving, Massachusetts on April 11, 1994. On the head-pin is a solid slug of Boston & Maine's distinctive blue cement hoppers. Photo by Marc Grinter.
	Amtrak F40 226 on the "Cape Codder" meets Cape Cod Railroad F10's at Hyannis, Massachusetts in July, 1995. Photo by Steve Carlson.
	Central Vermont 3614, one of two former Rock Island GP18's on the railroad, was given a number previously held by an ex-Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific RS11. The Midwestern native works with a pair of CV's own vintage GP9's on Train 554, seen southbound at Stafford, Connecticut, March 19, 1989. Photo by Scott A. Hartley.
	Conrail Train SENE (Selkirk-Guilford-Ayer, MA) with four C30-7A's is pictured at Washington, Massachusetts on a beautiful October 5, 1997. Photo by Jack Armstrong.
	In an idyllic summer scene, Housatonic Railroad Train NX-12 is pictured along the Housatonic River at Lee, Massachusetts on August 8, 1994. The New Haven-inspired paint scheme on the GP35's is a strong reminder of days gone by. Photo by Jack Armstrong.

Review by Otto M. Vondrak
Originally published December 23, 2007.

Without a doubt, Rails Across New England – Volume 2 is a landmark book for fans of New England railroading. You don’t need to read to the end of this review to find that out. Publisher Mike Confalone and noted author and photographer Brian Solomon have come together to present an interesting and varied album of the railroad scene during the last decade of the 20th century. This time, we travel around southern New England, covering Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

If you think all this book contains is your standard dose of Conrail and Guilford, you’ve only scratched the surface. This newest book from the publishers of Railroad Explorer explores the entire region, grouping together Class 1’s and regionals, shortlines, and passenger trains (including tourist operations). A clear map of southern New England helps the reader follow along (and in some cases, realize how much the landscape has changed in the last fifteen or so years). Brian Solomon introduces the book by explaining the New England railroad scene, going back to the forced merger of the New Haven into the Penn Central in 1969. This event, coupled with the expansion of major interstate routes and shifting traffic patterns set the stage for what was to come. The creation of Conrail and the bankruptcy of the Boston & Maine lead to further change. The extensive network of former New Haven branchlines were being reassembled into new empires. By the end of the 1980s, a dozen new shortline operators were on the scene, Boston & Maine was part of Guilford, and Conrail was enjoying new success. It was an exciting time to be trackside in New England!

We begin our tour on the Central Vermont, a longtime subsidiary of Canadian National, yet strangely independent with its unique green-and-gold paint scheme. A nice variety of photographs from familiar names such as Scott Hartley, Steve Carlson, and David Patch illustrate changing times on the CV. From green-and-gold GP9’s to orange-and-blue Grand Trunk GP38’s, some unexpected surprises await- such as a beautiful broadside of a train powered by four CV GP9’s spliced by a GT GP18! We don’t linger on the CV for too long- or any other railroad for that matter. Confalone and Solomon have a lot to show us, and we’ve only just started.

If you think that Conrail’s only mark on New England is the former Boston & Albany line across the Berkshires, think again. While nowhere near as extensive as the New Haven, Conrail operated a fair amount of through and branch line trains around the region. Once again, numerous photographers take us on a whirlwind tour- showing us everything from quaint New England mill villages to gritty industrial scenes to pastoral farm scenes to treacherous mountain grades. We are also treated to a solid blue showcase of power, everything from late model “standard” geeps to scrappy switchers to state of the art widecabs. While there are many great photos in this section, Gary Schermerhorn captured my favorite shot of a heavy EMD-powered train drifting downgrade past some massive ice flows near Middlefield, Mass.

The Guilford section focuses on the former Boston & Maine lines as well as former New Haven branch lines that were cast off by Conrail. While Guilford may have a questionable reputation among some, the line offers many varied subjects for photography. My favorite from this section is Roger Coleman’s shot of train PI-1 with a blue B&M geep, a single covered hopper, and a blue caboose crossing the Housatonic River at South Lee, Mass. One thing about the Guilford roster, it’s never boring. From vintage SW’s and Alco Centuries, to second-hand SD-26’s and a variety of Geeps, the fleet is well represented in this section. Illustrating some of the extremes, Joe Posik captured Guilford’s ex-D&H Alco Centuries making a rare appearance at East Deerfield, while David Patch captured a blue B&M geep working the edge of Metro-North territory at Waterbury, Connecticut.

A historic name in railroading fell when Central Vermont gave way to New England Central in February of 1995. No slouch on public image, traditional green-and-gold gave way to an exciting pairing of deep blue and gold, and matched sets of newly-painted NECR power pulling more trains in daylight were welcomed by railfans. The NECR photographs very well, and I enjoyed David Patch’s shot of Train 608 slinking along the Thames River near Mohegan, Connecticut. Steve Carlson photographed dramatic a brace of four NECR units leading a long train though fresh snowfall at Millers Falls, Mass. A variety of waterside shots remind us of the former CV route through New England along the Thames and Connecticut Rivers.

The scrappy Providence & Worcester emerged independent from Penn Central in 1973, and has been a railfan favorite ever since. Known for their unusual locomotive roster, the P&W continued to expand in former New Haven territory as Conrail withdrew. The white, orange, and chocolate brown Alco’s gave way to red and black Geeps and GE’s. Unique widecab MLW’s round out the diverse fleet. Scott Hartley captured images of P&W’s lone U18B leading a train over the long trestle at Tafts that really stands out.

The many shortlines of southern New England are well-represented in this book as well. The section opens with shortline operator Bay Colony, which enjoyed a great period of growth in the 1980s and 1990s only to have its network greatly diminished in the present day. Interesting and elusive Connecticut Central provided service out of its Middletown, Connecticut hub until it was acquired by P&W in 1998. The historic Grafton & Upton was one of the only railroads in the area still operating under its original name—and continues to do so today, though not as busy as years past. The Housatonic’s re-opening and rebuilding of the former New Haven Berkshire route is well documented. Through the 1990s, the Housatonic continued to expand and purchase newer power while increased traffic drew railfans from far and wide. The eclectic roster of the Massachusetts Central (and its interesting purple paint scheme) gets their due in this section as well. Scrappy Pioneer Valley closes out the section, with some views of trains poking in and out of the old mill complexes around Holyoke and Westfield.

Passenger services are a large part of operations in this region, and they are not forgotten in Rails Across New England. Opening with an overview explanation of the various Amtrak operations, the sampled photos bring us from one end of the region to the other. The 1990s saw Amtrak’s fleet of ubiquitous F40’s give way to the radical design of the Genesis, and the national carrier geared up to electrify the Shore Line all the way to Boston. So many photos along the Connecticut coast would be changed forever with the arrival of catenary towers and overhead wires. Next we move on to CDOT’s Shore Line East, an experimental commuter operation east of New Haven that has grown beyond anyone’s expectations. One of my favorite photos from this section is a Robert LaMay broadside of an SLE GP38 hauling silver coaches through a coastal marshy area near Guilford, Connecticut Following that, David Patch has a beautiful shot of SLE’s ex-Pittsburgh trainset at West Mystic, passing a gaggle of swans. Boston’s MBTA bows in, with a selection of F40s, rebuilt F10s, de-motored RDCs, and smoky Geeps are all here. Through the 1990s, the F-units and RDCs would roll their last miles, captured by many talented photographers. Next up is Metro-North, the operator of CDOT’s commuter services to Grand Central Terminal. The Metro-North roster went through the most dramatic changes in the 1990s, as the distinctive FL9s gave way to GE’s, Budd SPVs and RDCs carried their last passengers. While all this was happening, four ex-Boston F10’s were brought to Metro-North to handle branchline duties. Closing out this section, and the book itself, is the Naugatuck Railroad. This former NH line was operated by B&M until the Naugatuck took over in 1995. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Railroad Museum of New England, the Naugatuck provides regularly scheduled passenger excursions using vintage CN heavyweight coaches and restored locomotives from the museum fleet. Where else can you find restored New Haven Alco’s and GE’s pulling trains on home turf?

As you turn each page, you’ll discover eye candy to satisfy every interest. Each section gives the reader an introduction to the railroad, and sometimes a status update from the present day. It’s interesting to read how much railroading has changes in a short ten year span. If there is one thing we have learned, it’s that the only constant is change! Was it only ten years ago? Are those engines really off the roster? Is that railroad really gone? Solomon and Confalone have done an excellent job preserving an important period in railroad history for southern New England. The book is attractively laid out, and the photo selection is varied for the most part. I did notice a few photos appeared to be underexposed or dark, but this did not detract from my overall experience with the book. This book has found a home on my bookshelf, taking its place amongst the seminal tomes documenting this interesting region of railroad history.

Rails Across New England – Volume 2 By Mike Confalone and Brian Solomon 128 pages, 11”x8.5”, softbound, color throughout $44.95 Railroad Explorer PO Box 248 Goffstown, NH 03045