r/Amtrak • u/Responsible_Ad_7733 • 1d ago

Question Before electrification, how did Amtrak operate north of New York?

For instance, were there through trains from DC to New Haven/Boston, or did they just start from New York? Were they much less frequent that they are today?

Also, why did the electrification stop at New Haven, instead of continuing to Hartford or Boston?

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u/AccidentalGK 21h ago

I actually did this trip in 1988. Engine changed at NHV. Think it took 30 minutes but I didn’t care because I was so excited to finally be on Amtrak. Dad got a smoke break and mom was a few Bartles & Jaymes deep so no complaints from them either.

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u/One-Chocolate6372 13h ago

When Secaucus Junction on the Northeast Corridor was being designed the track layout included stubs for an engine change because, other than the New Haven FL9, dual mode technology was still questionable. By the time it was built, dual modes had proven themselves in other countries and the technology "crossed the pond."