My first experience with a New Haven parlor was at the end of August, 1948, going B&M Portland - North Station, Change at Sumner-Washington on the Boston El to South Station, and then the Yankee Cliipper to NY. This was the only time I rode one of the six-wheel-truck heavyweigiht parlors, and we had an I-5 Hudson up front. The coaches were the new 8600 fluted-side postwar cars. These parlors were reseated for Boston-areac commuter service, replacing non-aiar-conditioned cars, and ending the use of the ex-NYW&B ex-MU cars that had replaced the last of the wood open-platform cars before WWII. The next summer we had the new parlors. Oriignally, NYNH&H post-WWII parlors had two-and-one seating, but complaints had them reseated, except for (some?) of the parlor-baggage cars that retained 2 & 1. The food on the Merchants diner was excellent, but all New Haven diners served very good food, and even the economy grill cars were good. Broiled scrod was a New Haven secialty on all cars, and whatever seasoning they used made it delicious.
The parlor-baggage cars were used mainly on the NY - Springfield trains, although the Bankers usually had one or two full parlors.
Forgetting the ambience, how do you find the precooked food on Acela first-class? I was happy with it on Metroliner 1st Class, but by that time I was oredering Kosher fish meals. Once they were out, and I had vegitable lazania, which I thought was excellent. I don't remember much difference when they siwtched from mu equipment to AEM-7-hauled remodeled Amfleet. Comparing ride qualitiy is difficult, because speeds of course were greater. I recall standing behind an engineer on a parlor Metroline mu and reading 136 on the digital speedometer. Riding a New Haven parlor was quieter, that is for sure.
More of my trips were in the 8600's and I was still able to use the diner and treat mjyself to a fine meal. And occasionally I would be on the PRR equipment on the Senator. PRR diners were good in those days, also, but only the Broadway was as good as the Merchants.
The very best dining experiences for me were my one breakfast on the CofLA when it still had a dome diner, meals on the Super Chief, and meals on the Rio Grande Zephyr. Always had Rocky Mountain Trout for dinner. (Rode between Denver and SLC over 30 times.) Breakfast was always French Toast, with applesauce or bananas or an apple replacing the bacon, which I would not eat. El Cap meals were good, also, and all AT&SF dining cars. Finally, there was the diner on the Century, far above most NYCentral diners, and the wonderful Kings Dinner on the Panama.
