Trains.com

ROADS & THEIR SLOGANS.

6925 views
44 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 12, 2015 8:55 PM

ACY

Bath & Hammondsport was "The Champaign Route" because the road served N. Y. wine country.  Their 2-6-0 no. 11 in now owned by the Everett RR in PA.

 

Viewing the B&H's tracks at Bath (where I stay when racing at Watkins Glen) - hope Champaign likes 10 MPH track.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 3,006 posts
Posted by ACY Tom on Sunday, April 12, 2015 8:40 PM

Bath & Hammondsport was "The Champaign Route" because the road served N. Y. wine country.  Their 2-6-0 no. 11 in now owned by the Everett RR in PA.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Friday, April 10, 2015 5:36 PM

"Spans The World" - - - Canadian Pacific

NDG
  • Member since
    December 2013
  • 1,620 posts
Posted by NDG on Friday, April 10, 2015 3:32 PM

http://gallery.12mm.ru/albums/userpics/10010/CP-252370.jpg

Note. this car and car to left still have stirrup at right angles to track so Trainmen can climb to brake wheel or roof if car next to a loading platform or other reason.

Employees would board an approaching car using these stirrups and fatalities resulted.

Most were later cut off save for some cars found in MoW service.

Thank You.

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,486 posts
Posted by Victrola1 on Friday, April 10, 2015 2:31 PM

Mid 20th Century Rock Island - The Route of Planned Progress

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 512 posts
Posted by cabforward on Thursday, April 9, 2015 10:46 PM
in dec. '14 i posted a list of rr. slogans and asked for the rrs. that owned the slogans.. there is a website that posts hundreds of rr. names and slogans that describes them.. there are the official slogans and there are the unofficial slogans, some of which are not for family reading.. but the site is terrific.. many rrs. have the same slogan and some rrs. have more than 10.. the listing is by rr. and slogan.. some rrs. have similar names.. easy to confuse them.. the website may have been already cited as a source in this forum; anyway, GO CRAZY! http://www.rlhs.org/Reference/rr_names.shtml

COTTON BELT RUNS A

Blue Streak

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 276 posts
Posted by MARTIN STATION on Sunday, February 15, 2015 1:38 PM

The Dixie Line- NC&STL

The Rebel Route - GM&O

Go Great-Go Great Nothern

Route Superior for Superior Service

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 14, 2015 10:03 AM

Did the bluebonnets run just in Texas?Smile

Johnny

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 1,644 posts
Posted by Wizlish on Saturday, February 14, 2015 9:29 AM

One of the better ones: "Linking 13 Great States with the Nation" (and a boxcar graphic to match).

The 'vomit bonnet' is BNSF 9647:

Don't confuse this with the ATSF freight scheme from which some of the design elements on the nose were taken, which came IIRC in two blue-and-yellow variants -- yellowbonnets and bluebonnets.

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, February 13, 2015 11:55 PM

My own photos from flickr will not post correctly.

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, February 13, 2015 11:53 PM

Ulrich

Grand Truck - "The Good Track Road"..

GM&O "The route of courteous Service".  

 

 

 

 

Close:

It was the Grand Trunk Western

'the Good Track road'

https://www.flickr.com/photos/101431753@N02/14334528395/in/photostream/

 

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:36 PM

"Golden Chariot Route" - Mohawk and Malone (later the NYC Adirondack Division).

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 3,006 posts
Posted by ACY Tom on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:15 PM

There was a line in Eastern North Carolina called "The Mullet Line" for the fish that they carried.  Maybe somebody can refresh my memory as to the name of the RR.

Tom

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: La Grange Illinois USA
  • 131 posts
Posted by 16-567D3A on Friday, February 13, 2015 7:39 PM

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Along the Big 4 in the Midwest
  • 536 posts
Posted by K4sPRR on Friday, February 13, 2015 7:13 PM

In addition to the "Standard Railroad of the World", add "Serving the Nation" for the PRR.

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 1,139 posts
Posted by Gramp on Friday, February 13, 2015 6:32 PM

"Route Rock"

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Friday, February 13, 2015 3:23 PM

I like Union Pacific's "WE WILL DELIVER". But when?

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: northern il.
  • 142 posts
Posted by rdettmer on Friday, February 13, 2015 1:13 PM

how about cheap & nothing wasted?

cnw

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Friday, February 13, 2015 12:16 PM

"The Gut & Liver Line"

 

(Minneapolis & Rainy River RR)

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • 2,560 posts
Posted by 54light15 on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:54 AM

M.T.A. Lyrics

 

These are the times that try men's souls
In the course of our nation's history
The people of Boston have rallied bravely
Whenever the rights of men have been threatened

Today a new crisis has arisen
The Metropolitan Transit Authority, better known as the MTA
Is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population
In the form of a subway fare increase
Citizens, hear me out, this could happen to you

Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

Well, did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
And he's the man who never returned

Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there the conductor told him, "One more nickel"
Charlie couldn't get off of that train

But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned

Now, all night long Charlie rides through the station
Crying, "What will become of me?
How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned

Charlie's wife goes down to the Sculley Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumbling through

But did he ever return?
No he never returned and his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned
Pick it Davey, kind of hurts my fingers

Now, ye citizens of Boston
Don't you think it's a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay?
Fight the fare increase, vote for George O'Brian
Get poor Charlie off the MTA

Or else he'll never return
No he'll never return and his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned

He's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
He's the man who never returned
Ain't you, Charlie?

Songwriters
HAWES, BESS / STEINER, JACQUELINE

Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

 
I've heard that the Boston "Oyster" type card is called "The Charlie card" I have no idea why.
  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:52 AM

   For some reason I'll never understand, this one has always stuck in my mind:

   Be Specific:  Ship Union Pacific

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Mankato, MN
  • 126 posts
Posted by gopherstate on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:20 AM

cabforward
was there a slogan for (northern pac., gr. northern?), with the ram standing on a mountaintop?

Great Northern - Glacier National Park, See America First, Freight Goes Great with Great Northern.
Northern Pacific - Yellowstone Park Line, Mainstreet of the Northwest, Route of the BIG Potatoe.

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Friday, February 13, 2015 9:59 AM

Responding to cabforward: The Northern Pacific had a red and black monad as its herald; the Great Northern had a rocky mountain goat on a peak as its herald.

Yes, it was in Boston that a man had to keep riding, and picking a meal up from his wife as his train went by--because he did not have the nickel to pay the increase in fare that went into effect after he boarded the train. "No, he'll never return."

Johnny

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, February 12, 2015 8:38 PM

Bob Schuknecht
Route of the Black Bear

Algoma Central Rwy.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 512 posts
Posted by cabforward on Thursday, February 12, 2015 8:27 PM

what was the r.r. that had a bright yellow face on the front of their freight locos? the scheme was blue & yellow.. crews called it the "vomit bonnet"..

COTTON BELT RUNS A

Blue Streak

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, February 12, 2015 8:08 PM

Though there were probably many Interurban and Trolley lines that had this moniker... I learned it associated with CRANDIC...

 

Vomit Comet

 

 

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 1,644 posts
Posted by Wizlish on Thursday, February 12, 2015 7:44 PM

cabforward
Were there slogans for the Pennsylvania?

 

Did I miss the page with "Standard Railroad of the World"?  I'd have thought someone would list that almost immediately.

 

Was it Lucius Beebe or E.M. Frimbo who proposed the competitive slogan for D&RGW to use against Rocky Mountain Scareways -- "Through the mountains, not into them"?

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Thursday, February 12, 2015 7:16 PM

The BIG Little Railroad!  The Jersey Central.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, February 12, 2015 4:18 PM

I think the D&RGW's full slogan was, "Through the Rockies, Not Around Them."

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy