BLW/ZT Conn River Passenger Pack 1955 - Testing has Begun

[rfranzosa]

Thanks, Kevin

[jbtower]

That stainless really has some 3D feel to it Rick!

[rfranzosa]

A few more gems for the Conn River passenger pack.


Screenshot 2026-07-08 151302.jpg
Canadian National 6-6-4 sleeper "GREENVALE", one of three assigned to the Montrealer in 1955



Screenshot 2026-07-08 151715.jpg

New Haven Baggage/Parlor/Lounge/Buffet "FAIRFIELD COUNTY"


Screenshot 2026-07-08 152953.jpg
New Haven 14-4 Sleeper "ALLYNS POINT"


Screenshot 2026-07-08 153145.jpg

New Haven 6-4-6 Sleeper "SOUND BEACH"


More to come!

Rick

[rfranzosa]

Thanks, Kevin. Hope to be done soon!

[jbtower]

Great looking woodwork on those interiors!

[rfranzosa]

More testing! In the 2nd group of cars being tested, one of the more challenging I've done, Pullman/New York Central 8 section/buffet/lounge/solarium "Algonquin Club", found on the B&M 'Night White Mountains' between NYC (Grand Central) and resorts in the Bretton Woods/Fabyan area of northern New Hampshire. Screenshots from Paul Charland's Conn River route in Bellows Falls, VT.

BellowsFalls1.jpg

BellowsFalls2.jpg

BellowsFalls3.jpg

[rfranzosa]

Thanks, Kevin. The only remaining symtom is fatigue, beyond that I'm totally back to normal

[jbtower]

I look forward to a release Rick, hope recovery is going well

[rfranzosa]

Thanks, Paul😊


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[charland]

Nice interiors Rick.

Paul :-)

[rfranzosa]

Hi All,

I took a break from development of this set for a "reset" (pun intended). It was getting out of control! That and major surgery (another long story) took me off the project for a while, but I am back!

I refocused the set specficially to the Spring and Summer of 1955, based on the gifts and purchases of Boston & Maine and New Haven Railroad timetables and passenger train consist books. This set will have 22 defensibly accurate consists from that year gracing Paul Charland's exquisite Conn River route. I will be including roughly 50 pieces of rolling stock required to fill out those 22 consists, as well as the 1955 B&M timetable pages for those interested in activity building.

As the set is FINALLY in testing, I thought I would include screenshots of some of the new stock.

The first is one of the New Haven's 42 seat HW dining cars, #5246 (formerly the "Carol Boardman"). It was a regular on B&M trains #70-71 "North Wind". It also was on a few other Conn River trains, from NYC to Greenfield, MA, not quite far enough north for this route:

Diner 5246 exterior.jpg
Diner 5246 interior.jpg

The next is my first HW parlor car, the Parlor Lounge "Stag Hound". assigned to the New Haven "Yankee Clipper" but relegated to secondary trains after the stainless steel cars were added in the late 1940s. In 1955, this car was found on the Sunday consist for train #74 "Connecticut Yankee" between June 25 and September 10. Though not a regular to the route, it is worth adding to the set, as it becomes the basis for other heavyweight parlor cars for future sets!

Stag Hound Exterior.jpg

Lounge section

Stag Hound Lounge interior.jpg

Parlor section

Stag Hound Parlor interior.jpg

More to come!'

Rick