DER-1a #0703 at New Britain Station with train 131 c1946.
Kent Cochrane. Thomas J. McNamara collection.
DER-1a/b/c - Alco DL-109
In 1941 the New Haven Railroad starting taking delivery of the Alco DL-109 locomotives. Their total allocation would be 60 of the 74 locomotives of that class built by Alco.
The DER-1 series played an important role for the New Haven Railroad. Due to the New Haven's strategic position on the east coast, the US Government allowed Alco to manufacture the DL-109 through World War II, solely for their benefit. They were used in passenger service during the day, and freight service at night. The success of these locomotives guaranteed that the perpetually cash-strapped New Haven would pursue an aggressive dieselization after the war due to the significant operational and maintenance savings over steam locomotive power.
Rebuilding
Starting in 1949, the DER-1 locomotives were rebuilt. Due to material shortages during the war, their original sides were made of steel-sheathed plywood. The rebuilding began with 0740, which was given steel side panels, but otherwise retained it's pre-rebuilding appearance. All other DER-1 locomotives were rebuilt between 1949 and January/February 1951 with steel side panels, and screens on the upper panels instead of the original windows.
Paint Schemes
The DER-1 locomotives wore many different paint schemes through their time in service. Between 1948 and 1953, there are at least six different variations on the DER-1 that may be found:
Delivery Scheme: The initial paint scheme for 0700-0729 was a #13 Pullman Green with Dulux Gold stripes. This was the paint scheme for 0700 and 0701 until they were rebuilt. Other units would have retained this scheme until rebuilding as well.
'Brooks Brothers': There were two variations of this paint scheme. 0730-0734 were delivered in #212 Hunter Green with Dulux Gold pinstripes. 0735-0759 were delivered in #212 Hunter Green with Silver Gray pinstripes. 0702-0707 were repainted in this scheme as well. There was also an early version of this scheme applied to at least two locomotives for a short time that had four wider (and wider spaced) pinstripes.
'Layer Cake': In 1947, several units were repainted with #15 Warm Orange nose and sides, #212 Hunter Green on the upper side panels and roof, and Silver Gray pinstripes. Engines 0708-0709, 0714, 0716, 0718, and 0757 were known to be painted in this scheme.
Rebuilt: The rebuilt appearance of most of the locomotives was similar to the original paint scheme: #13 Pullman Green with Dulux Gold stripes. The major differece was that there was no oval around the windows, since they had been eliminated. Engines 0733, 0738, and 0757 retained the #15 Warm Orange and #212 Hunter Green "layer cake" scheme for a time after being rebuilt.
DER-2a/b/c - Alco FA/B-1;FB-2
The DER-2a/b locomotives were purchased to dieselize the Maybrook line in 1947. They were advertised by the New Haven as a "three-unit-diesel locomotive," that is, they marketed an A-B-A set as a single locomotive. They were pooled for operation, and operated in a first-in, first-out operation. As traffic demands grew, they were also operated in A-B-B-A sets, especially after the delivery of the DER-2c locomotives in 1951.
The only major change made to the units was the replacement of the air-cooled turbocharger which was replaced with water-cooled ones, with a crosswise exhaust stack being the visible difference. I don't have confirmation as to when this change was made, but based on photographs it appears that the locomotives were shopped starting in about 1951 as the DER-2c locomotives were delivered and received the water-cooled system at the same time they received a new paint scheme.
Paint Schemes
Delivery Scheme: Warm Orange body and Silver Gray pinstripes, with Hunter Green upper body and roof.
1950-1952: Beginning in 1950, they were repainted in Pullman Green with Dulux Gold stripes.
Resources
New Haven Railroad
Peter Lynch
pg 127 photo: Train 131 west of New Britain in 1951 with 0700.
pg 137 photo: AO-3 on the Highland in 1952 with 0407 and an FB-1 in the green and gold scheme with another FA-1 in the green and orange
Railroad Model Craftsman
January, 2006
"The New Haven's Magnificent War Babies" by Dave Messer
Shoreliner
Volume 8, Number 3 (mislabeled as no. 4)
pg 1, "Full Speed Ahead with Our New Diesel Locomotives;"
pg 5, "Modifying the Hallmark DL-109's Roofline;"
pg 6, "The New Haven DL-109's;"
pg 14, "The Great DL-109 Painting and Lettering Debate....Resolved?;"
pg 19, "DL-109's: Seventy Three Confirmed, One VERY Questionable."
Volume 11, Number 4
pg 18, "Modeling the New Haven Rebuilt DL-109's."
Volume 14, Number 3
pg 14, "The 400's, New Haven's Alco FA Fleet."
Volume 14, Number 4
pg 20, "The 400's Part II."
Volume 22, Number 3
pg 28 top photo: 0401 heading Hartford-Maybrook freight in front of the New Haven Trap Rock quarry in Plainville, just past the New Britain town line in September, 1952.
