The New Haven Railroad's "Yankee Clipper" headed by Engine No. 1396, a Pacific type 4-6-2 locomotive, enroute through Forest Hills, Massachusetts, on June 11, 1934.
(University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Museum of the American Railroad.)
YANKEE CLIPPER
The Yankee Clipper was an all-Pullman luxury train operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad offering service between Boston and New York City on a 4-hour and 45-minute schedule. In its early days, it was pulled by a Class I-4 4-6-2 Pacific engine, and later was led by Class I-5 4-6-4 Hudson locomotives. The train's consist featured a Club car, two Parlor cars, Dining car, and Sun Parlor Observation car, as well as Pullman sleepers. The "Yankee Clipper" traveled over the New Haven's main line rails between Grand Central station (New York) and Back Bay, South Station (Boston), a rail distance of 229.5 miles, at an average speed of 51 miles per hour. This was an excellent schedule for the era.
The New Haven began service in 1930, with Amtrak taking over in 1971 and ending service in 1976. A second Amtrak Yankee Clipper train began service in 1980 and ran until 1998.
New Haven Railroad No. 1401, streamlined Baldwin 4-6-4 Hudson, the type used on the Yankee Clipper and other passenger trains.
Shown here at the Southampton Street Enginehouse, Boston, MA, in March of 1948. Photo by Lawson Hill.
(Audio-Visual Designs, Earlton, NY, Public domain, via W. Lenheim Collection.)
Infamous First Stop
Its first ever stop was at Readville station on April 14, 1934. At that stop, it dropped off Irving and Murton Millen, two brothers who robbed a Needham, Massachusetts bank and shot two police officers, Francis Oliver Haddock and Forbes McLeod. Thousands came to see the brothers get off the train.
The TurboTrain operating the Amtrak Yankee Clipper route at Stonington, CT in November 1974.
(Ronald N. Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)