Does anybody knows when the Early Bird Service ended? And did it last long?
I know it launched in 1957 and cancelled the Pacemaker that same year. Ending the Pacemaker freight service for 11 years.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I've asked an NYC list for you. Let's see what the answers are.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
Like so many programs that are sometimes an effort from the marketing department, these things come in with a Bang! and die with a whimper.
So I can't pinpoint an exact date of its termination but here's an ad from the back page of the NYC employee's magazine The Headlight from April 1958, FYI.
I have stacks of other NYC reference material and I'll try to look through it as time permits.
From what I recall, Earlybird was a carload expedited service where Pacemaker was a Less-Than-Carload expedited service both in an attempt to steer traffic away from highway trucks.
When NYC began pushing Flexi-Van in the early 1960s it seems that both Pacemaker and Earlybird flew the coop.
Regards, Ed
Why are all railroad accomplishments bragged about for saving 24 hours? Does that date back to the old daily per diem car use charges being midnight to midnight?
We sped up intermodal trains on our line and they arrived at the New York area terminals early enough for the local inhabitants to steal more stuff before the truckers went to work at 6:00 am. That was just a matter of a few hours, not a whole day.
Charlie
charlie9We sped up intermodal trains on our line and they arrived at the New York area terminals early enough for the local inhabitants to steal more stuff before the truckers went to work at 6:00 am.
Sounds like they need to redo the schedule so the trains arrive with the truckers.
From my understanding that "24 hours faster" was to impress shippers and as you know neither the railroaders or truckers can please them.
Railroader: We get your shipment there 24 hours faster".
Shipper.. "Yes,but,it still takes 4-5 days to get here!
Trucker: We can deliver within 24-48 hours.
Shipper..Yes,but,why does it take 2-3 days to get a empty trailer here for me to load?
Railroader:
Trucker:
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"