ULTIMATE PASSENGER CAR CONSIST

[Anonymous]

We've discussed, at length, our favorite passenger trains of the standard era here at length. One post referred to the article, written by Dave Morgan in the '60s, about the ultimate passenger train consist. It started with a B&O cbaggage-club, and ended with a Skytop sleeper. So...what would be the ulimate consist in your view?
Mitch

[passengerfan]

Lets see For coaches How about the leg rest seat vista dome coaches found on the California Zephyr, North Coast Limited, Empire Builder, and MP Colorado Eagle. For dining and lounge midtrain how about the triple Unit Cascade Club, For sleeping accommodation How about the Southern Crescent 1-Master Room 2-Drawing Room Buffet Lounge Car and for an observation How about one of the GN mid Century Empire Builder MOUNTAIN series Observations with the high windows devoted to lounge space. And just for good measure how about one of the GN Great Dome Lounge Cars. Of course a train like that would never make any money and would have to be privately owned by someone like Bill Gates no railroad could ever make money with such a train. And for power How about an A-B-A sets of EMD E8 units.

[cnw1995]

I would've loved to see the full Chessie streamline consist - I've just seen a reference in a Budd ad.

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw1995

I would've loved to see the full Chessie streamline consist - I've just seen a reference in a Budd ad.

The rest of the world would have loved to see the full Chessie consist.

The Chessie was stillborn and never operated in revenue service. The C&O kept the equipment they wanted and sold the equipment they had taken delivery of or sold the rights to equipment that had not been deliever. They also cancelled the order on some equipment.

The round end Dome Observation cars as well as some other cars were sold to the DRGW. The Dome sleeping cars were sold to the B&O. Various other equipments was sold to other carriers.

More Information on the Chessie and the rest of the C&O post war passenger equipment order can be found in C&O Streamlines - Second to None Volume I: The Cars by James Kemper Millard and published by the C&O Historical Society.

[espeefoamer]

Motive power would be an ABA set of PAs.For coaches SP Shasta Daylight cars with those giant windows.SP 3/4 Dome lounge.It was awesome sitting in the lower level with the dome extended above.UP Dome Lounge.I would have an SP triple unit diner from the Daylight, and a PRR twin unit diner off the Broadway Limited.Next aSeaboard Sun lounge.The extra large windows and the windows in the roof of the lounge section were really nice.I would use Budd sleepers in various configurations,including Slumbercoaches, with a Milwaukee road Skytop Sleeper Observation on the rear.

[Anonymous]

I would like to see the two trains back.
1. The super chief
2. The first set of Budd build Metroliners.
Two me the passenger car consist of these two trains are the best

[Anonymous]

My recollection is that Morgan's ideal consist ended with the dome observation from the California Zephyr, in part because of the drawing room with a shower.

[jimrice4449]

I'm with passengerfan with the proviso that it be repainted every 6 months or so alternating berween SP Daylight, Great Northern and Illinois Central.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'll go out on a limb with my ideas:
Coach: ATSF Hi-Level Coaches as used on the El Capitan, Texas Chief and San Francisco Chief. I would lead them with the transition baggage-dorm with the step-up roof. Coach lounge would be the glass roof Top of the Cap.
Dining: PRR twin-unit diner from the Broadway but with a Northern Pacific crew and a Great Big Baked Potato on the menu.
First Class: Broad mix of accomodations with following floor plans: 4C-4DBR-2DR, 6S-6R-4DBR, 10R-6DBR, 24-8 Slumbercoach, PRR 29 seat-1DR parlor from the Congressional. First-class lounge would be a GN Great Dome.
Observation Car: I'll agree with David P Morgan and go with a California Zephyr dome-obs. NYC Hickory Creek from the 20th Century Ltd would be a suitable alternative.
NO MAIL AND EXPRESS
Power: A-B-B-A set of F7's or A-B-A set of E8/E9's. SDP40's as helpers on mountain grades like Raton or Cajon.

For short and medium haul (400 miles or less): C&NW Bi-level Peninsula 400 and Flambeau 400. They were ideally designed for the service in which they ran.

[Anonymous]

I'm with David Morgan's philosophy on ultimate consists. To be ultimate it should be all-Pullman for an overnight journey. I just can't think of the "ultimate coach." Day journeys are different. I would vote for an All-Pullman-Parlor car train for select routes.

Mitch