Steam-Powered Marvels: The Historic Journey of Besler's Early Trains

William and George Besler, a dynamic duo in steam engine design, crafted a marvel in transportation history-the "Besler" train, a two-car self-propelled mini-train known affectionately as the "Blue Goose." This unique locomotive, numbered 9210-9211, chugged onto the rails in 1936, showcasing a small steam engine nestled within one of its cars. Its sleek design and innovative approach promised a revolution in rail travel along the Naugatuck Valley line, linking Waterbury to Bridgeport.
However, like many pioneers, the "Blue Goose" faced its share of challenges. Despite its initial allure, frequent mechanical hiccups plagued its journey, hindering its widespread success and thwarting dreams of replication. As fate would have it, the branchline market that Besler had envisioned was eventually captured by gas-electric railcars and the cutting-edge Budd RDC, leaving the "Blue Goose" to fade into railway lore.
After its retirement, the Besler train underwent a transformation. Depowered and dismantled, its two cars found new life as a standard coach and combined on the New Haven line, continuing their service for awhile longer before becoming a nostalgic echo of a bygone era in rail travel.
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