U.S., New England: The New Haven Railroad Offered a ‘Sturdy’ Dining Car Menu History

By J. Bruce Richardson, Corridor Rail Development Corporation; December 6, 2020

The New Haven Railroad – or, as it was legally known – The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was a regional railroad, operating primarily in Southern New England. It had a financially perilous existence; historians report it always seemed to lurch from one financial crisis to another, often self-inflicted by management. From it’s beginning in 1872, it lasted until its 1968 disappearance into PennCentral, which, itself would disappear a short time later into Conrail for the same reasons.

The New Haven did not run glamorous trains; it was a railroad which ran sturdy, workhorse trains that met the needs of its passengers, made up mostly of New England businessmen, professionals, commuters, and some leisure travelers. At one point, it was reported the New Haven generated more revenue from passengers than from freight haulage.

The New Haven’s commuter trains, launching out of New York City’s Grand Central Terminal, carried weary Manhattan businessmen to the city from their homes in Connecticut. This was prime transportation for the “Mad Men” of the 1950s and 60s, making use of the myriad of offerings of the bar cars. The New Haven’s tracks covered Southern New England like a spider web. In addition to the numerous commuter trains there were also dependable night trains full of Pullman sleeping cars, providing rolling overnight hotel services between major New England cities such as Boston, Springfield, Pittsfield, Hartford and New Haven.

Much of the New Haven survives today, but in a nostalgic form. The former New Haven tracks formed much of the Metro-North commuter system from New York City into Connecticut, and other systems serving major areas such as Boston. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor north of Pennsylvania Station in New York City runs over former New Haven trackage. In Connecticut, Metro-North locomotives in New Haven’s distinctive livery and markings have kept the name and image alive.

Passenger service managers of the New Haven understood their patrons had other interests, and did their best to meet those needs. Dining and grill car menus weren’t just menus; they were full magazine-style presentations abundant with paid advertising for hotels and restaurants, and had stories about Broadway’s latest musicals and plays as well as shopping excursions.

Food service on the New Haven was neither imaginative or fancy, but it was dependable and acceptable. It was of a level that when passengers were short of time before entraining, it was an easy thought to say, “I’ll just wait and eat on the train.”

The February 1962 New Haven Café Dining Car Menu (with similar offerings in the Grill Car menu) included:

Appetizers

Pink Grapefruit Half, Citron; 41 cents
Chilled Tomato Juice; 30 cents
Soup du Jour, Cup; 40 cents

Entrees

• Chopped Sirloin Steak, Home Fried Potatoes, Fresh Vegetable, Cloverleaf Rolls; $2.25
• Broiled Boston Scrod, Lemon Butter, Home Fried Potatoes, Fresh Vegetable, Cloverleaf Rolls; $1.95
• Ham Omelet, Home Fried Potatoes, Buttered Toast; $1.85
• Pan Browned Corn Beef Hash, Poached Egg, Slicked Pickled Beets, Cloverleaf Rolls; $1.85

New Haven Special; Chicken a la King on Toast, Green Peas, Strawberry Jello, Cream, Cup of Coffee; $1.95

Sandwiches

• Toasted Club Sandwich, Pickle Slices; $1.60
• Ham and Swiss on Dark Rye Bread, Pickle Slices; 95 cents
• Tuna Fish Salad Sandwich, Pickle Slices; 95 cents

Desserts

• Home-made Apple Pie; 45 cents – a la mode; 60 cents
• Washington Cherry Pie; 45 cents
• Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce; 45 cents
• Pink Grapefruit Half, Citron; 45 cents
• Strawberry Jello, Cream; 40 cents
• Imported Camembert, or Blue Cheese, Toasted Crackers; 40 cents

Beverages

• Coffee, Tea, Sanka, Pot; 35 cents
• Milk; 25 cents
• Coca Cola, 12-oz. Can, 35 cents

Notes at the bottom read: “A service charge of 50 cents per person will be made for food served outside dining car.” and “Parents may share their meal with children without additional charge. Half portions will be served at half price to children under ten years of age.”

The New Haven dining car department understood their patrons consumed alcohol, and were happy to meet this demand with a variety of hard beverages they made no effort to downplay:

Dinner Menu Alcohol

Imported Tuborg Beer, Light or Dark; 75 cents

Dinner Wines

Try a bottle of Liebfraumilch Glockenspiel, Full Bodies and Flavorsome. A Perfect Complement to Seafood and Poultry, Half Bottle; $1.75

Or

Beaujolais Saint Louis, Soft Red Burgundy, Most Enjoyable with Steaks, Chops, etc., Half Bottle; $1.75

A complete separate page of the menu publication was devoted to Liquors, which included eight offerings of Bacardi, Gin, and Vodka, seven specific Cocktails, five Cordials, eight Scotches, five Bonded Bourbons, four Blended Whiskies, and three Imported Wines. Highballs served with Ginger Ale or Tonic had an additional cost of 15 cents.

On yet another page, under listings For Your Travel Pleasure, the New Haven offered 13 brands of Cigarettes, all 35 cents a pack, four types of Cigars, either individually at 15 cents and 20 cents or a package of five for $1.00.

Decks of Playing Cards were for sale for 90 cents and a Bridge Set cost $1.75.

A single Ale was offered for 50 cents, eight beers (including some regionals) were offered for 50 cents each, four Imported Ale and Beers for 75 cents each, and Refreshers including Coca Cola (12 ounce can), Fresh Fruit Orangeade, Ginger Ale, Kalak Mineralized Water, Quinine Water and Club Soda were all offered from 25 cents to 35 cents to 50 cents.

If all of the offerings did not settle well with any passenger, Alka Seltzer and Bromo Seltzer were both available for 25 cents.

At the close of the publication, the New Haven wanted passengers to understand what a bargain they had for traveling by train in a Parlor Car. A comparison ad showed the difference between a New Haven Parlor Car seat and a seat on an airline shuttle. The New Haven assured its passengers traveling in a Parlor Car seat: “Don’t be shuttled around – Be sure! For Comfort … Dependability … Peace of Mind, Always Travel Parlor Car.”

Center to Center Travel Costs (Including Federal Taxes)

Between New York City and

• Boston: One Way, Parlor Car, $13.95, Air Travel, $15.75
• Boston: Round Trip, Parlor Car, $25.59, Air Travel, $31.50

• Providence: One Way, Parlor Car, $11.75, Air Travel, $15.54
• Providence: Round Trip, Parlor Car, $21.68, Air Travel, $31.08

• Hartford: One Way, Parlor Car, $7.24, Air Travel, $13.60
• Hartford, Round Trip, Parlor Car, $13.37, Air Travel, $27.20

• Springfield: One Way, Parlor Car, $8.67, Air Travel, $13.85
• Springfield, Round Trip, Parlor Car, $16.02, Air Travel, $27.70

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