CSSHEGEWISCH I would say that the songwriter's artistic license was valid and in force.
I would say that the songwriter's artistic license was valid and in force.
I would say that there was a temendous exercise of that Artistic License present in that song!
I would suggest thet another candidate might have been the Santa Fe's SUPER C. It was in existance between 1968 and 1976. It was a premium priced train @ an extra fee of $1400. to $1500. per trailer(?). Chicago to Los Angeles in record times of from 37.5 hrs to 34.5 hrs on second test run. Auto Parts, electronic and USPost Office were major customers.
AT&SF President S. Reed started the service. The train length was usually between 15 to20 cars. It was subject to special handling Rule 10. '...Trains 198 and 891 were allowed passenger tain speeds of 79mph, in ABS territories...' The trains were usually powered by 4 SD45-2's ( which were geared for 90mph) equals 14,00hp. These things were the 'darlings' of the railroad's management, and delays were usually followed by changes in job status for those responsible!
rdamon "The passengers will please refrain" After finding out what that meant as a kid, I spent more time walking on the side of the tracks.
"The passengers will please refrain"
After finding out what that meant as a kid, I spent more time walking on the side of the tracks.
A couple of the old railroad buildings still extant along our line (and still used, albeit as a camp) are a section house and its accompanying tool house. Combine that and hearing the line rdamon quoted always makes me feel bad for the section crews, as they had to deal with that every single day.
I'm sure it was bad enough along our line, with just a few passenger trains a day back in the day. I can't imagine what it was like along a busy mainline...
It also points up why standing on the rear platform at speed wasn't the best idea...
Larry 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...
I don't know if Arlo Guthrie wrote the song but "City Of New Orleans" was appropo in the day and the lyrics showed the relativity. Passenger trains were fast disappearing. I rode one of the late and last Wabash Cannonballs to Detroit in the sixties. Yes, it was sad to see those named trains disappear but times change.
Norm
That song reminds me of 2 other songs , City of New Orleans or truck drivin song ( Ive been every where). Just let your mind wonder, I am too old to believe in Fairy Tales.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
tree68Recall the "Southern Central" freight in the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train runnin..."
But they knew it, and the IC train, were runnin' late...
Thank you Larry, That leaves a much better song in brain then the one that was there.
Recall the "Southern Central" freight in the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train runnin..."
Interesting violation of rule G by the fireman, as well as one of the most original rhymes for "lettin' that whistle blow"...
Twin diesels and 93 cars does not augur well for non-poetic high speed ... unless perhaps he's talking about Centennials or the equivalent.
Is there a high-speed railroad route that so carefully follows the highway route through the given locations in the song?
Somewhere in that time period was the “Super Van,” THE hottest train on the UP, Chicago-Los Angeles, and would fit the song’s train length (but 85-foot flats don’t). So does Salt Lake City. But, Kansas and Denver don’t. So, I would venture to say fictitious with a bunch of assorted truth mixed in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Would be interesting to know what frieght train this song was written about if it was written about a freight train. Sounds like from the lyrics Union Pacific was the railroad. I just do not remember any hotshot trains Chicago to LA via the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas line back in or just before 1980. Other than maybe Amtrak's "Desert Wind" but then it never pulled 93 cars. So my guess is still frieght train...........but was it real or song writer fiction?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ih87iC_OM
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