When did diesel come in?

[CSumption]

I'm researching the Panama Limited in 1937. Would that have been a diesel train?

[timz]

Definitely not in 1937. IC did get E6s, so maybe 1941?

[wanswheel]

Streamlined 1942

http://books.google.com/books?id=O14eRQM9xrYC&pg=PA48

[Deggesty]

CSumption

I'm researching the Panama Limited in 1937. Would that have been a diesel train?

All of the passenger diesel engines built before 1939 went to other railroads; the only diesel power the IC bought in that period was the power car for the Green Diamond (1936). The first mention that I have of IC passenger diesel engines is in Arthur Dubin's Some Classic Trains, as he describes the re-equipped Panama which was put into service in 1942--the cars had been ordered a year or more earlier. Most of the cars were new, lightweight equipment, but the baggage-dormitory cars were rebuilt from heavyweight cars.

In 1937, all of the equipment was heavyweight, and the train was steam-powered. Sad to say, Mr. Dubin does not describe the cars, as to their accomodations, operated in the late thirties He does show an eight section, five single bedroom car that was built in 1930, and this type car may have still been assigned in 1938.

Johnny

[KCSfan]

Deggesty

All of the passenger diesel engines built before 1939 went to other railroads; the only diesel power the IC bought in that period was the power car for the Green Diamond (1936). The first mention that I have of IC passenger diesel engines is in Arthur Dubin's Some Classic Trains, as he describes the re-equipped Panama which was put into service in 1942--the cars had been ordered a year or more earlier. Most of the cars were new, lightweight equipment, but the baggage-dormitory cars were rebuilt from heavyweight cars.

Johnny,

The next IC train after the Green Diamond to be diesel powered was actually the City of Miami. The CofM was introduced in 1940 and was headed by an EMD diesel from the outset. This was followed by the dieselization of the Panama Ltd. in 1942 as you point out.

Mark 

[Deggesty]

To quote KCSFan: "Johnny, The next IC train after the Green Diamond to be diesel powered was actually the City of Miami. The CofM was introduced in 1940 and was headed by an EMD diesel from the outset. This was followed by the dieselization of the Panama Ltd. in 1942 as you point out. Mark "

Thanks, Mark for the correction. I should have remembered that train, complete with the horrible color scheme on the engine.