I have seen pictures of early New Haven electric and diesel-electric diesel locomotives having a “0” (zero) in front of the number.
It seems like this was to distinguish those locomotives from steam locomotives.
Am i correct is this assumption? When was the leading zero discontinued as I have seem post WW2 pictures of the zero being painted out.
Thank you,
Ed Burns, Happily retired NP-BN-BNSF Clerk from Minneapolis and an ATCS host in Anoka, MN
P. S. I am happy to answer questions about the BNSF Staples, Wayzata subs and the Twin Cities Termina.
I think, but am not certain, that the “0” was dropped during or after WWII. I have resource and will check on this, if someone else does not do so first.
I would be safe to assume the “0” was dropped after the steam locomotives are off the books.
The PA’s and FA/B’s had the “0” prefix, although the FB2’s and the RS3’s did not. The EP-5’s also did not have the prefix, so I would guess that the prefix was dropped around 1954. I don’t know when New Haven ended steam operations.
For all intents and purposes New Haven steam ended in 1952. There were steam excursions run in '52 and '53, and a New Haven Mikado “starred” in a 1958 Doris Day film “It Happened to Jane”, but those were exceptions.
Plus the 0-6-0T’s an Van Ness shops to 1957.