"Railroads: End of the Line? | NBC News | 1961

A fascinating hour-long documentary that was just posted on YouTube. Tons of interesting footage from the New Haven's commuter operation, including lengthy interviews with commuters.

"Railroads: End of the Line?"
https://youtu.be/vau6VsjeyTM
BY Chet Huntley | NBC News | 1961

Its interesting to contrast the NH operation of 1961 with the way the New Haven Line is operated by MN today. One clear difference - you can't jump on a train that's pulling out of the station anymore. (at 7:18 in the video)

BenH wrote:Its interesting to contrast the NH operation of 1961 with the way the New Haven Line is operated by MN today. One clear difference - you can't jump on a train that's pulling out of the station anymore. (at 7:18 in the video)

The coming of high-level platforms to the Danbury Branch in the early 1990's annoyed my father to no end for just that reason. His standard practice on the way home was to swing off the bottom step when the train reached a fast walking speed, so he could get to his car before anyone else and beat the traffic out of the parking lot!

Ben, thank you for this. I have taken the liberty of copying your post over to the New Haven RR Forum where people should love it!

Where'd your father commute to/from ---- Branchville?

Tom Curtin
Controller, NHRHTA

TCurtin wrote:Ben, thank you for this. I have taken the liberty of copying your post over to the New Haven RR Forum where people should love it!

Where'd your father commute to/from ---- Branchville?

Tom Curtin
Controller, NHRHTA

First Redding, then Cannondale, then B'ville for a little while after we moved to Ridgefield, until he figured out that from our house his door-to-desk time was better if he drove to Talmadge Hill (25 years ago most the parking there was meter instead of permit).

Thanks Mr. BenH for the great find in the history box!

It truly is amazing to see how different operations are on the New Haven line now in 2017 than back in 1961. I don't think I'd have been willing to commute in those conditions. I guess I can't complain about having to sit in the flip down seat or my train running 3 minutes late anymore.

As a libertarian, it was amusing to watch the President of the NYNHHRR - with a straight face, mind you - beg for public funds for a bailout while decrying socialism.

As a woman, I must admit I was a bit weirded out by how few of us were on those trains back then. Things are very different now (and thank God, because I'd have made a terrible housewife!)

Lastly, as someone who loves anachronisms, Chet Huntley smoking his pipe on camera in the opening was priceless.

There's something for everyone in this video. Thanks again for posting it!