The Great New England Hurricane of 1938
AS a remembrance of the strenuous days we experienced following
the floods, hurricane and tidal wave of September 21st, 1938, the Trustees
are presenting each member of the New Haven family with a copy of this graphic
record of the damage and reconstruction of the New Haven Railroad.
New Haven, Conn. - November 30, 1938
ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1938, with flood waters already threatening major washouts
at important points along the New Haven Railroad, where tracks paralleled or
crossed the swollen torrents of New England's rivers ... suddenly, just before
dark, in the teeth of a howling southwest gale which increased momentarily into
hurricane proportions, a steadily rising tide which in some places rose twenty
feet in as many minutes, swept inland along the New England coast-line, across
the Shore Line Route of The New Haven Railroad ... carrying on its crest hundreds
of boats, ships, cottages, buildings and wreckage. Communications by rail, wire
and telephone with many devastated areas was completely cut off. No one realized
as yet what a staggering blow had been dealt by this combined hurricane-tidal
wave-flood throughout the length and breadth of New England. But next morning
revealed a grim picture of death and desolation. Where yesterday fast freights
and through passenger trains, including the crack Shore Line Limiteds sped in
rapid succession between New York and New England points carrying passengers,
mail, express and the vital necessities of life . . . now miles of silent track
hung at crazy angles over yawning chasms, in a hopeless jumble of power lines,
signal towers, houses, boats, and thousands of tons of debris. Further inland
at Hartford, Springfield, Norwich, Willimantic and Putnam the hurricane left
its toll of felled trees and communication systems, crumbled freight sheds and
roofless factories . . . and to add to the chaos, the raging rivers from the
north broke through dams and temporary dykes, washing out railroad bridges and
miles of track . . . rendering useless the strategic points through which Shore
Line trains might have been re-routed. The vital life-line between New England
and points south and west had been effectually severed. It must be restored
without delay. Thousands of men were needed for the Herculean task of rebuilding
a railroad. The summoning of trackman, engineers, skilled repair crews and laborers
must be carried out without the help of modern communication systems. In an
incredibly short time an army of 5000 men were at work ... toiling 24 hours
a day in 3 shifts ... many of them eating and sleeping in work trains and Pullman
cars on the job. The pictures in the following pages tell the story of devastation
and restoration far more graphically than either pen or tongue could describe
it ...
In 6 Days Freight Service was Established Via Willimantic In 13 Days
Through Passenger Train Service was Being Operated on the Shore Line Between
New York and Boston . . . and NEW ENGLAND'S VITAL LIFE-LINE was Restored.
ProvidenceTrain Sheds
ProvidenceFreight Yards
WarehamCape Cod Cut Off
Buzzards BayNo Service
New LondonLight House Tender "Tulip"
#1
New LondonLight House Tender "Tulip"
#2
New LondonLight House Tender "Tulip"
#3
New LondonWaterfront
NianticEmbankment Washed Out
WillimanticStation
PutnamJunction Yields
StockbridgeBerkshire Division Under Water
Great BarringtonHousatonic and Green Rivers
RockvilleRails Hanging in Mid-Air
Boston - HartfordService Cut
5000 Wokers with but a Single Purpose
Man-Power Alone
Restored Rails Tested
*** MAP OF AREA ***
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