The B&O's Columbian was it's entry into the all coach train market between New York & Chicago, however, it's prime market was Washington to Chicago. In 1948 it was reequiped with a Pullman-Standard streamlined equipment that included the East's first dome car. The Columbian ran on a schedule that followed the Capitol Limited by 10 minutes. The Columbian ran on it's own until it was consolidated with the Capitol Limited in the middle 50's, even then it was identified separately in the public timetables, in high traffic periods during this time it would operate separately.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The 52-seat and 54-seat coaches on the Pacemaker were less comfortable than the 44-seat long-distance coaches on the Trailblazer. But it is interesting that neither train lasted as long as the all-Pullman flagships. When coaches were added to the General, the Trailblazer was dropped, and ditto for the Pacemaker when coaches were added to (not sure, think the Commodor Vanderbilt?)
The dining car food on both trains was excellent, though. I do not recall how the expense compared with the flagship trains.
Here's a link about the history and equipment of the NYC Pacemaker, www.american-rails/pacemaker. It will provide you much of the information you may be looking for.
In the NYC/Chicago passenger market the Pacemaker was number two, unlike the dominance of the Century over the Broadway, the Pacemaker took a back seat to the popular PRR Trail Blazer.
Yes, the Pacemaker. I'm sorry, but I cannot give you any detail on it.
Johnny
Hi, Did the NYC have a coach equivalent to the 20th Century Limited? The Santa Fe had the Super Chief / El Capitan pair, the PRR had the Broadway / Trail Blazer pair. Any information would be helpful. Thank you.
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