by Terminal Proceed
Tom Vasti has an interesting postcard from the New Haven Railroad showing a locomotive and a vast array of stylized animals. The message side encourages readers to “organize a Zoo Train school party.” It reads “Come one…Come all! The NEW HAVEN RAILROAD’S ZOO TRAINS will wheel you along for the most glorious Saturdays ever…at thrilling, fascinating Bronx Zoo!” There’s also a phonograph record on the obverse that further touts the opportunity to travel to the wonderful Bronx Zoo.
Few Bronxites remember the Zoo Train and that is understandable since there was no need to take a train to a local attraction. It was, however, much touted throughout the New Haven Railroad’s area especially to school groups, Boy Scout troops, and the like to attract customers to utilize the railroad more. It was the brainchild of the railroad’s new administrator, Pat McGinnis. He took over in 1954 and by the following year the Zoo Train was in full swing.
McGinnis was looking for ways to improve weekend use of the railroad and thus increase revenues during slack times. Weekday activity was fine but Saturdays were typically slow days for the railroad. The Bronx Zoo was an attractive place to visit so it was simply a matter of marketing. He began an advertising campaign that proved quite successful. They lined up a bus company and made arrangements to use an idle spur at the old Van Nest Station in the Bronx which had not been used since 1930. One platform remained at the station and there was sufficient room to line up the buses that would ferry the passengers to the nearby zoo. As the diesel powered passenger trains arrived at the station the riders were quickly transferred to the waiting buses.
The first of the zoo trains departed from Springfield, Massachusetts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 1955. Scheduled stops included Thompsonville, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford. Each child entering the train was given a little packet of information that included the card with the 78 rpm phonograph record. Balloons were also handed out and the trip was made as festive as possible. They wanted the children to tell all their friends about the great time they had and help advertise by word of mouth. Professional zoologists were on board with a variety of small animals to further educate and entertain the children.
Other trains departed from such points as Pittsfield, Mansfield, New Haven, Norwich and Boston. The ticket prices varied depending upon to point of origin and a typical fare from Springfield was $3.74 for adults and $2.11 for children under the age of twelve. Children under the age of five were admitted free. An 8:30 a.m. departure would get them to the Bronx zoo by 11:15 a.m. and departure for home would be at 3p.m. Box lunches were available on the train for only seventy cents although the zoo had numerous concession stands. The program lasted through the late 1960’s and proved a very successful venture.
(This article was extracted from the Bronx Times Reporter - No link to the story is available as they do not have a website. Article was written by Bill Twomey a long time Bronx Historian.)
Few Bronxites remember the Zoo Train and that is understandable since there was no need to take a train to a local attraction. It was, however, much touted throughout the New Haven Railroad’s area especially to school groups, Boy Scout troops, and the like to attract customers to utilize the railroad more. It was the brainchild of the railroad’s new administrator, Pat McGinnis. He took over in 1954 and by the following year the Zoo Train was in full swing.
McGinnis was looking for ways to improve weekend use of the railroad and thus increase revenues during slack times. Weekday activity was fine but Saturdays were typically slow days for the railroad. The Bronx Zoo was an attractive place to visit so it was simply a matter of marketing. He began an advertising campaign that proved quite successful. They lined up a bus company and made arrangements to use an idle spur at the old Van Nest Station in the Bronx which had not been used since 1930. One platform remained at the station and there was sufficient room to line up the buses that would ferry the passengers to the nearby zoo. As the diesel powered passenger trains arrived at the station the riders were quickly transferred to the waiting buses.
The first of the zoo trains departed from Springfield, Massachusetts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 1955. Scheduled stops included Thompsonville, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford. Each child entering the train was given a little packet of information that included the card with the 78 rpm phonograph record. Balloons were also handed out and the trip was made as festive as possible. They wanted the children to tell all their friends about the great time they had and help advertise by word of mouth. Professional zoologists were on board with a variety of small animals to further educate and entertain the children.
Other trains departed from such points as Pittsfield, Mansfield, New Haven, Norwich and Boston. The ticket prices varied depending upon to point of origin and a typical fare from Springfield was $3.74 for adults and $2.11 for children under the age of twelve. Children under the age of five were admitted free. An 8:30 a.m. departure would get them to the Bronx zoo by 11:15 a.m. and departure for home would be at 3p.m. Box lunches were available on the train for only seventy cents although the zoo had numerous concession stands. The program lasted through the late 1960’s and proved a very successful venture.
(This article was extracted from the Bronx Times Reporter - No link to the story is available as they do not have a website. Article was written by Bill Twomey a long time Bronx Historian.)
