I-2 #1300 at New Britain Station, August 1946.
Kent Cochrane, Thomas McNamara Collection
The I-1 and I-2 class pacifics, or an occasional I-4, were the most commonly assigned steam for Highland passenger trains.
In 1946 twenty-nine I-1's, 49 I-2's and 41 I-4's were still on the roster (out of an original 132 between the three classes). The I-4's were used primarily on mainline passenger runs not covered by the I-5 Hudsons, and their numbers declined quickly starting in 1947 with the delivery of the Alco PA-1 locomotives. The decline of the I-1's and I-2's was hastened by the 1947/8 delivery of the DERS-1b and DERS-2b diesels, but not completed until the 1950 delivery of the DERS-2c's.
DERS-1b and 2c locomotives replaced steam on all highland passenger trains by spring 1948 except #131-136 as motive power was assigned in Boston. Its usual power was I-2 #1311, although #1331 hauled the final run on November 20.
I-1 Class: 1000-1031
I-2 Class: 1300-1349
I-4 Class: 1350-1399
| Layout at a GlanceLacking 1946-7 engine assignments, I'm basing my roster on photos. The initial plan is for a single I-2 and I-4 to cover most of the runs.
For sessions in 1946/7 I will have two round trips with an I-2, one with an I-4 and one with a DER-1.
1948 sessions will have an I-2 or I-4 on train 131-136, as the rest of the roster is all diesel-electric by then.
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