Self-Propelled Cars
nee CDOT #8706
Arrived Danbury 4/18/2019
Donated by Connecticut DOT
Built 1975 by General Electric, in consortium with Budd Company, Canadian Vickers, and Avco, assembled at the GE Erie, PA plant.
Connecticut DOT #8707 - M2 "Cosmopolitan" EMU
nee CDOT #8707
Arrived Danbury 4/18/2019
Donated by Connecticut DOT
Built 1975 by General Electric, in consortium with Budd Company, Canadian Vickers, and Avco, assembled at the GE Erie, PA plant.
This series of cars was built between 1972 and 1977 to replace commuter equipment dating from the mid 20th century. As was the case when the New Haven Railroad and New York Central System owned the tracks, the Connecticut side of the New Haven Line used overhead catenary to power trains, and the tracks into Grand Central Terminal were powered by third rail. CDOT ordered these cars with pantographs and third rail shoes for operating in both territories. These two cars are a ‘married pair’ meaning they are semi permanently attached to each other, they have a combined seating capacity of 234. Each axle is equipped with a GE 1259A DC motor rated at 160 horsepower. On July 13th 1976 at 5:27PM this pair of cars was leading ConRail Commuter Train #1994 out of Grand Central Terminal to New Canaan with #8706 in the lead. At roughly 7:30 this train rounded a blind corner and collided into the rear of a standing train in New Canaan Station.
ex Conrail #4701
exx Penn Central #4701
nee New York Central #4701
Arrived Danbury 11/2005
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1962 by Pullman-Standard
Metro-North #1171 - Pullman-Standard A.C.M.U.
ex Conrail #4768
exx Penn Central #4768
nee New York Central #4768
Arrived Danbury 11/2005
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1965 by Pullman-Standard
A.C.M.U. stands for Air Conditioned Multiple Unit, these cars were among the earliest air conditioned multiple unit commuter cars on the New York Central System. They operated on third rail over the Harlem and Hudson lines into Grand Central Terminal with a seating capacity of 130 each.
ex Metro North #19
exx Amtrak #19
exxx Penn Central #76
nee New Haven #32
Arrived Danbury 6/7/1995
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1953 by the Budd Company, Philadelphia, PA
New Haven #47 - Budd RDC-1
ex Metro-North #47
exx Penn Central #47
nee New Haven #47
Arrived Danbury 6/7/1995
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1953 by the Budd Company, Philadelphia, PA
Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDC’s) were built from 1949 to 1962 and proved to be a success for the Budd company because of their ease of maintenance and dependability. There are two 275 horsepower 6/110 General Motors Detroit Diesel engines with hydraulic torque converters beneath the car. Unlike most railroad equipment where an engine runs a generator that supplies power to motors at the axles, RDC’s operated much like a car or truck, where the engine is mechanically connected to the wheels. These cars, nicknamed ’Budd Cars’ or ’Buddliners’ were immensely popular on short haul service as it only took a crew of two to operate a profitable train. Buddliners were all equipped with air conditioning, chemical toilets, and even a chilled water fountain. #32 has been restored to near ‘as-built’ appearance with a seating capacity of 90.
ex Metro-North #017
exx Penn Central #4671
nee New Haven #4671
Arrived Danbury 10/11/1997
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1954 by Pullman Standard, Worcester, MA
New Haven #4673 - Pullman-Standard M.U. Combine Car
ex Metro-North #018
exx Penn Central #4673
nee New Haven #4673
Arrived Danbury 10/11/1997
Donated by Metro-North
Built 1954 by Pullman Standard, Worcester, MA
New Haven #5111 - Pullman-Standard M.U. Lounge Car
ex Penn Central #5111
nee New Haven #5111
Arrived Danbury 4/11/2018
Privately Owned
Built 1954 by Pullman Standard, Worchester, MA
Originally used by the New Haven Railroad in commuter service on electrified lines, these cars were powered by 11,000 volts A.C. through pantographs via overhead catenary wires. When operating on New York Central territory they ran on 600 volts D.C. obtained from third rail shoes. Each car was equipped with four 100 horsepower traction motors. Operating personnel were quick to dub these ‘mutts’ or Washboard M.U.s, because of the corrugated stainless steel sides. All three surviving washboard M.U.’s are located here at our museum.
#4671 and #4673 seated 92 passengers each and have 18 feet of baggage space, these were called ‘combines.’ Metro North later removed most of the seats and used the cars as part of their overhead wire service train. These are the only surviving "combo mutts".
#5111 was one of four subscription parlor cars operated on the New Haven Railroad. The interior featured plush Pullman seats, porter call buttons, portable smoking stands with drink holders, and five small card tables. Commuters could pay a monthly subscription charge in addition to regular fares to enjoy the amenities offered in these cars. #5111 made frequent appearances on the New Canaan Branch.
ex Sperry Rail Services (parts)
exx Remington Arms #2
nee New Haven #15
Arrived Danbury 9/7/1996
Donated by Sperry Rail Services
Built 1954 by the Mack Truck Co., Allentown, PA
The New Haven Railroad, while under Frederick C. Dumaine, Jr. contracted Mack Trucks to produce ten of these units for branch line use. Dumaine designated these cars FCDs in honor of his father, the recently retired chairman of the board. Due to management changes on the railroad, only one of the cars ever carried passengers and they were subsequently sold. In April of 1962 this unit was acquired by Remington Arms of Bridgeport, CT, where it was used as an industrial shuttle. Sperry Rail Services of Danbury purchased it in July of 1985, and in September of 1996 donated it to us. The Gijón Railway Museum in Gijón, Spain informed us that they have an FCD as well, and that it had carried passengers in their country up until 1978.