The Cannon Ball has been revived for this summer's LIRR timetable. "Hampton Reserve Seating" is avialable in the regular new double-deck equipment assigned to the run (no three-abreast seating in any double-deck LIRR cars), with drinks and snacks provided (prices not included in the ticket). Glad to learn that the LIRR is restoring some of the amenety of genuine parlor car travel, if not the whole bit. Regular seating is also available on the train. so it is a "two-class" train. Passengers with regular commuter tickets can pay a small upgrade charge for "Hamton Reserve".
Information from the New York Division Electric Railroaders Association Bulletin, but any mistakes in memory are mine.
espeefoamer wrote:Did'nt the Long Island run the Cannonball,all heavyweight parlor car train into 1968?
The LIRR "Cannon Ball" was a weekend only operation out of Long Island City to Montauk, and was indeed an all-heavyweight all-parlor car train. The parlor cars were for the most part ex-PRR parlors that were renamed. TRAINS had an excellent article about this operation titled "Parlor Car East" in the late 1960's. LIRR also operated individual parlor cars out of Jamaica on other trains.
The whole parlor car operation continued into at least the 1980's using cars rebuilt from suburban and long-haul coaches.
I do not know what the last completely heavyweight train was.
But I do know that the last regularly scheduled heavyweight sleeper was on the KC-FLA Special from Atlanta to Brunswick. Don't remember the year but I do remember that David Morgan, long time edtior of TRAINS rode it and reported on it. Mid or late 60's I suppose.
About the Pan American-- not only did it get streamlined sleepers iin 1949 it also got them in 1953, the famous "Pine" series sleepers. In 1955 it gor a mix of new and hand-me-down streamlined coaches. About 1957 it got a lightweight t lunch counter-lounge.
By the time it was discontineud, it was probably completely streamlined as to equipment, though no speed up in schedule.
QUOTE: Originally posted by rji2 "The Pan American" on L&N, perhaps?
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper Wasn't the last year of the Orange Blossom Speical 1952?
QUOTE: Originally posted by wjstix The Soo Line never bought lightweight equipment if I remember right, so their trains like "The Laker" would have all been heavyweight-only until they ended passenger service on the Soo in the sixties. (They might have leased some lightweight cars though, from CP or the Pennsy.)
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