The Merchants Limited had been the only all-parlor-car train in North America to survive the World War II years with that status intact. As the country emerged into peacetime and the three major car builders once again began turning out passenger rolling stock, its future looked bright. And, indeed, for a few brief months in late 1948-early 1949, the Merchants was to operate as the only all-parlor-car train in North America with brand-new streamlined rolling stock.


From the pages of the Official Guide, March 1949

New York, New Haven & Hartford RR herald

The Merchants Limited

New York, New Haven & Hartford RR. Co.
March 1, 1949

26 Train Number 27
ExSaSu Miles Services ExSaSu
5 00P Dp 0.0 New York, NY (Grand Central Tml.) (ET) C R Ar 9 00P
6 23P 72.3 New Haven, CT C R 7 36P
8 09P 185.3 Providence, RI C R 5 50P
D 8 55P Boston, MA (Back Bay Station) C R 5 05P
9 00P Ar 229.1 Boston, MA (South Station) (ET) C R Dp 5 00P

Train 26 (New York-Boston): 3 stops, 4:00, 57.3 MPHTrain 27 (Boston-New York): 3 stops, 4:00, 57.3 MPH

THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD RAILROAD CO.

PARLOR, SLEEPING AND DINING CAR SERVICE.
Parlor Cars on Trains 168, 169, 170, 171, 174, 175, 176, 177, 182, 183, 188 and 189, are Pullman Company operated. All other Parlor Cars are owned and operated by the New Haven Railroad. All Sleeping Cars are Pullman Company operated.
Air-conditioned equipment is assigned as far as possible, but the right is reserved to employ non air-conditioned cars in emergencies or when the volume of traffic makes it necessary.
When regular trains are operated in two sections, the coach section may not have a dining car.
USE OF PARLOR CAR FACILITIES.
Where Buffet Parlor Cars are operated, the accommodations, facilities and services provided therein are available only to passengers holding tickets for space in such cars, or other Parlor Cars on the same train, and railroad tickets good for travel in Parlor Cars, or paying the Parlor seat fare and additional railroad fare for the distance traveled in such cars, when space is available therein.

No. 26—Merchants Limited. (No Coaches.)
EXTRA FARE TRAIN.
Parlor Cars...New York to Boston. [Car 260-267 incl., and No. 269.]
Dining Car...New York to Boston.
Two-way Radio-Telephone Service, located in Car 269, available to passengers.

No. 27—Merchants Limited. (No Coaches.)
EXTRA FARE TRAIN.
Parlor Cars...Boston to New York. [Cars 270 to 277, incl., and 279.]
Dining Car...Boston to New York.
Two-way Radio-Telephone Service, located in Car 270, available to passengers.

This Indian summer for the Merchants would last only a few short months. By March 1949, American Airlines was offering competing service leaving New York at 6:15 p.m. and arriving Boston at 7:15 p.m. in a brand-new and modern Convair 240 for a total fare of $11.15, one way. In the face of declining patronage systemwide, the New Haven's old standards had to be relaxed. "On June 26, 1949, coaches were added to the Merchants' posh consist and an era came to an end."[*]