North Wind Explained

North Wind
Type:Inter-city rail
Status:Discontinued
First:1946
Last:September 11, 1956
Formeroperator:New Haven Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
Start:New York City, New York's Grand Central Terminal
End:Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Distance:335miles
Journeytime:9 hours
Frequency:Daily summer only
Trainnumber:75 (northbound), 70 (southbound)
Seating:coaches
Catering:Dining car and parlor car
Map State:collapsed

The North Wind was a summer passenger train between New York City, New York and resorts in New Hampshire's White Mountains (New England). Travel time was about 9 hours over the 331miles route to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The route went via the New Haven Railroad from New York City, New York to Springfield, Massachusetts, where it left the New Haven–Springfield Line to reach the Boston and Maine Railroad at Springfield, Massachusetts, continuing northward to White River Junction, Vermont, Whitefield, New Hampshire and finally Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. [1]

History

The North Wind was a fast, daytime train intended to lure vacationers to the White Mountains. It operated with fewer stops than the Day White Mountains (14 versus 30) so as to offer a more competitive travel time with driving. It was considered the premier train serving the New York City to White Mountains route and offered parlor seats for its entire route as well as a dining car as far as Bellows Falls or White River Junction.[2] Initially in 1946, the train provided gratifying results according to B&M management.[3] For the summer of 1949, the northern terminus was extended from Whitefield, New Hampshire to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.[4] Starting in 1950, it was combined with the Day White Mountains train from New York City to Springfield with that train making more stops north of Springfield and terminating in Groveton, New Hampshire.[5] For the 1956 season, it ran combined with the Day White Mountains as far as White River Junction in an effort reduce passenger train expenses under the newly arrived president, Patrick McGinnis. [6] The train was discontinued after the 1956 season.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 1948 . National Railway Publication Company .
  2. Book: Holland, Kevin . Passenger Trains of Northern New England . 2004 . TLC Publishing Inc. . Lynchburg . 1-883089-69-7 . 126–127.
  3. Web site: Boston and Maine Railroad 114th Annual Report . Boston and Maine Railroad.
  4. Web site: April 1949 Timetable: Northern New England Travel Guide . Boston and Maine Railroad .
  5. Web site: August 1950 . National Railway Publication Company .
  6. Book: Holland, Kevin . Passenger Trains of Northern New England . 2004 . TLC Publishing Inc. . Lynchburg . 1-883089-69-7 . 126–127.
  7. Web site: August 1950 . RICHARD K. “RICK” HURST.