On time performance?

[Anonymous]

Present day AMTRAK gets tracked (pun intended) by on time performance as an indicator. I wonder if there was any similar tracking done on pre World War II passenger service?

Seems to me that Mussolini's only saving grace was that he made the Italian railroads "run on time"... the implication being that American railroads did not.

Any thoughts?

Erik

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The lack of punctuality on Italian railroads was legendary, so much so that some observers question whether even Mussolini could do what his followers claimed.

Punctuality of passenger trains in an earlier era was probably tracked closely by management, especially on the premier trains. B&O and MILW were especially noted for their on-time performance.

[passengerfan]

Most of the US railroads throughout the 1930's and 40's were very punctual. Passenger trains made connections with other trains in those days and keeping to schedule was all important. It was unheard of for a passenger train to take siding for a freight. Nothing like today's Amtrak.
Right up to the time of Amtrak their were railroads who continued to take pride in on time performance of the passenger trains. Some of the most punctual up to Amtrak were the Illinois Central,CB&Q, GN, NP, UP and KCS come immediatly to mind. Even though the CB&Q, GN and NP had merged the year before Amtrak the trains were on time.

[Anonymous]

According to your topic it may be of interest to you that nowadays FS(Italian State RR) belong to the most punctual throughout Europe, at least in northern Italy...south of Rome it may be another story. But at least in northern Italy trains are running on time, often even ahead of time, like a clockwork, believe it or not!

Best regards from germany

Tom

[Anonymous]

I asked the question because railroads are a different animal nowadays then they were in the 30's. The only similarity between the two appears to be that trains still run on rails.

The many variables to consider make comparison pretty tough. Was on time performance tracked? If so, how? We, as railfans, have a tendency to be optimistic about the "golden age" of railroads. Certainly, the named trains and "showcase trains" like the 20th Century, Broadway Limited, Super Cheif, were watched carefully for on time performance. But what about the smaller, unnamed commuter trains?

I asked the question in order to compare present day AMTRAK to the railroads running in the 20's and 30's. It's hard to do, because railroads are significantly different 70 years later. Yet there is a huge amount of tracking data for AMTRAK and only anecdotal data for passenger service before WWII that I am aware of.

I don't doubt that the "great" trains were punctual. Their passengers paid a premium ticket price, and part of that premium was fast, on time performance. But the vast majority of passenger traffic was on rattlers between the smaller stations of Tedium and Boredom... the numerous locals.

Trying to compare the "great trains" of the past with service today is something akin to using the standards of Cunard passenger ships in the 30's to a Carnival cruise liner of today. Or travel aboard a Concorde with economy class of a 737.

The only measurable point of commonality I can find between railroads of the 20's and 30's and today is on time performance... and I can't find data from the 20's and 30's.

Erik

[route_rock]

Ok Eric I can try this. Passenger trains were passenger trains. you had first class ( the Century, Golden State etc.) second class ( usually numbered trains or short distance ones) and then the thrid class ( a motor car or mixed stops everywhere and anywhere kinda local) Same with freights. Most lines padded the schedules of the third class trains as they were like you say, going between tedium and boredom and a slight sidetrack to mediocrity.
If you bought a ticket for the Rocket, and you were late for a connection Then by thunder heads will roll! But if you were on a train like you describe getting there was half the fun and on time? ( read signature below) If it wasnt a train that needed to be in this place at this time then no I dont think it was tracked as well.

[agentatascadero]

Because of the interconnectedness of the passenger rail system, punctuality mattered a great deal. Just think of the headaches when a through car connection would be missed, or train to train, for that matter, and it Did matter then.

[PBenham]

Some roads were better at this than others. New York Central made sure that the likes of the 20th Century,Empire State Express,Wolverene,Detroiter (NYCs last all sleeping car train, by days, the Century-Commodore combination took place first, followed by the Detroiter's demise soon after that)Southwestern and New England States. All the rest were at the mercy (or lack thereof) of the dispatchers! I won't go after PRR, the big red subway delayed all trains equally, without regard to their relative status! Then there is Pre-privitization Canadian National, where the schedule of the "Continental" for example, was leisurely, and leisurely adhered to! A point Canadian Pacific people loved to zing their publically owned competitor on!