GEs More Power To America Train — info on cars?

[gmpullman]

Hello,

Stemming from a recent thread in the Model Railroader forums I have been trying to find more information on GE's More Power To America special train that toured the US from April 24, 1950 and perhaps into 1951.

The demonstrators, No. 8375 A-B Alco PA and PB2s became New York Central 4212 and 4304 respectively in August of 1951.

Very interesting film! Note the model railroad operated by the cab controls of the 44 tonner at 7:10.

So, for my dilemma.

I am seeking information on the passenger equipment used for this train. It appears to have REP (rear-end-power) supplied by the trailing baggage car or combine and as seen in the video, there are electrical jumpers between the cars. 

They look like Pullman Standard lot #6721 fluted coaches built for New York Central or could be Santa Fe? The NYC cars would have already been six years old when the train was assembled. These look newer. Can anyone point me to more information on the history and disposition of these cars? Looks like ten coaches and the HW turtle-roofed combine. It would seem that vestiges of the electrical train-line would still be visible on the car ends after returning to railroad service.

I'd like to make a reasonable representation of this train in HO.

Thanks much, Ed

[rcdrye]

Pullman built 10 cars to Rock Island specs without any interior furnishings for the GE special.  Cars were later fitted out as 72 seat chair cars by CRI&P and numbered and named as follows:

352 Lake Michigan

353 Englewood

354 Chicago

355 Lake of the Woods

356 Tucumcari

357 Enid

358 Gulf of Mexico

359 Grinnell

360 Dalhart

361 Spirit Lake

Car 352 Lake Michigan was rebuilt to business car 101 (still Lake Michigan) in 1953.  Infofrom Car Names Numbers and Consists (Wayner Publications 1972)

[gmpullman]

Thank You!

That makes perfect sense. I can see the number 358 in one of the scenes in the video and the "General Electric" in the center of the car is long enough for a car name to ba applied as well.

I appreciate the information,

Regards, Ed

[BaltACD]

gmpullman

Hello,

Stemming from a recent thread in the Model Railroader forums I have been trying to find more information on GE's More Power To America special train that toured the US from April 24, 1950 and perhaps into 1951.

The demonstrators, No. 8375 A-B Alco PA and PB2s became New York Central 4212 and 4304 respectively in August of 1951.

Very interesting film! Note the model railroad operated by the cab controls of the 44 tonner at 7:10.

So, for my dilemma.

I am seeking information on the passenger equipment used for this train. It appears to have REP (rear-end-power) supplied by the trailing baggage car or combine and as seen in the video, there are electrical jumpers between the cars. 

They look like Pullman Standard lot #6721 fluted coaches built for New York Central or could be Santa Fe? The NYC cars would have already been six years old when the train was assembled. These look newer. Can anyone point me to more information on the history and disposition of these cars? Looks like ten coaches and the HW turtle-roofed combine. It would seem that vestiges of the electrical train-line would still be visible on the car ends after returning to railroad service.

I'd like to make a reasonable representation of this train in HO.

Thanks much, Ed

Very interesting - this is a demo train that I had never heard of.  Also notice that not a single computer was seen!

[FlyingCrow]

Want to have yourself a reasonable HO model of this train..???   

Well, then...voila!  http://unionstationproducts.com/_52013.html

Years ago, I took an AHM coach and made all my own fluting and kitbashed up DALHART for a friend of mine.   This looks a whole lot easier!

 

[sgriggs]

Ed, This is a great video. Thanks for posting. Scott