Jack May rode Ellis's Hoosier State and Southwest Chief

[daveklepper]

Copied from the Tranist Forum, Three Modern Streetcar thread:

On the following morning we were up too early for the hotel's breakfast, as we had to get to the Amtrak station in time to ride the Hoosier State to Chicago, which was scheduled to depart at 6:00 a.m.  We taxied over and found a waiting room filled with very sleepy people.

I had been looking forward to riding this train, as it was being operated by the Iowa Pacific Railroad, a company set up by Ed Ellis to offer an alternative to Amtrak's run-of-the-mill intercity rail service.  He contracted with the State of Indiana and Amtrak to take over the operation of the train, which runs four days each week to supplement the Cardinal, Amtrak's tri-weekly long-distance service between Chicago and Washington D. C./New York City.  Rather than simple coach seats with a snack bar dispensing food, we would have breakfast in a dome diner, as the amenity was included in the price of the business class tickets we purchased.  The heritage coaches from the golden era of lightweight streamliners, the dome car and the locomotive were painted in the snappy Illinois Central Railroad color scheme of yore and we looked forward to our ride.

And we were not disappointed; everything was as promised.  The meals were cooked fresh in the kitchen of the dome car and served by a very personable and attentive staff, and we enjoyed riding upstairs so much that we stayed in our dome seats for the entire journey.  We left on the advertised at 6:00 a.m. and remained virtually on time for the entire [leisurely] journey, arriving on track 16 at Chicago's Union Station, 196 miles away, at 9:42, 23 minutes early (no doubt the result of padding in the schedule to avoid lateness from unforeseen problems).  Since we moved from Eastern to Central time, the trip actually took 4 hours and 42 minutes, resulting in an average speed of around 40 mph.  For the record, the train's rolling stock specifically consisted of dome Summit View and coaches Durant, Du Quoin and Dyersberg.

I feel very fortunate to have ridden this intercity train, as the State of Indiana's experiment with Iowa Pacific came to an end on February 28, 2017, when the private company could no longer afford to operate it under the terms of its contract.  I think Ed Ellis tried very hard, but probably bit off more than he was able to chew.  At least for a time he restored the type of excellent service that rail passengers in the 1950s expected--and got.

Unlike the previous day, Wednesday, September 28 was gloomy with periods of rain.  While Dick went home (he lives in Chicago), John and I spent the time before our departure for Kansas City riding Metra.  We took a bus over to Millenium station and rode the next double-deck eMU to Blue Island over the former Illinois Central Electric.  The underground terminal looked good, not at all the like the gloomy basement it was in the old days.  I've taken this excursion, which includes returning to the Loop over the old Rock Island, on many an occasion in the past, and it was just as enjoyable as ever.  For the record, we left on the 11:15 local, which switched onto the mostly single-track electrified branch after Kensington at 11:48, and arrived on time at our destination in Blue Island at 12:02.  Unfortunately, we didn't pass a South Shore Line train, as one was arriving just as we boarded the Metra double-decker.  My nose was glued to the front window after Kensington, as I've always enjoyed riding this backyard-style line, which appeared to be in very good shape.  After crossing the busy pavement to the Vermont Street station of the former Rock Island (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRmdS76oXw4), we rode the 1:03 train that arrived from Joliet on time and used the "suburban" route to downtown Chicago (rather than the mainline).  Unlike the outbound electric train, this inbound run was highly patronized and we arrived at the platforms of the former La Salle Street station at 1:48.  Both trains operated on time; I did not take any photos because of the poor weather.

Dick soon joined us at Union Station and we boarded the Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which also was parked on track 16, the same one used when we arrived on the Hoosier State.  It too operated on time, leaving at 3:00 and arriving in Kansas City, 437 miles away, at 10:03 (10:11) for an average of about 63 mph.  The seats in the Superliner coach were very comfortable and our dinner in the full-service diner was excellent.  By the time we arrived the skies had turned clear, a good omen for our plans to ride and photograph Kansas City's streetcar line on the following day.

We taxied to our Hampton Inn in the Country Club section of town, where we occupied a room for three (I used the sofabed) and were offered a good complimentary breakfast in the morning.

[charlie hebdo]

Out of date

[daveklepper]

So what?   How many experiences of riding Ed Ellis's service have been posted?  Very few.   I found it interesting and thus shared it.  You don't have to read what does not interest you. 

I would have posted it earlier if received earlier.

And you did not pay anything for it.

[charlie hebdo]

I merely stated a fact.  You needn't get nasty.  Be glad at least someone noticed your post.  It should have stated when he rode these trains.

[daveklepper]

Then my apologies to you.  I thought you were registering a complaint.  But nearly all readers know Ed Ellis's experiment ended, and the posting does say so; and in fact, Jack's analysis is more recent.  The trips took place on 28 and 29 September 2016.

[Electroliner 1935]

I feel glad that I got to experience what Ed Ellis did with the Hoosier. I took it to Indy to participate in a Cincinnati RR Club's tour of Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops and the Indiana Transportation Museum (RIP). Unlike Jack, I elected to return to Chicago on the dog. It was faster even though it got off the Interstate to go into downtown Lafayette and Gary plus went to the 95th St CTA station enroute to Chigago. Bus had a governor that gave it a top speed of 67 mph on highway. Train speed was max  of 60 mph with some stretches of 40 and 20 coming out of Chicago. Food was good, crew excellent. Four employees from Iowa Pacific (Chef, Server, and two coach attendents) and three from Amtrak. Amtrak normally would have just had an Engineer and conductor but this trip had an assistant conductor. 

[daveklepper]

Thanks for your report.   But how were timekeeping and general cleanliness?

[Electroliner 1935]

daveklepper

Thanks for your report.   But how were timekeeping and general cleanliness? 

OK Dave.

The Hoosier State left CUS on time and ran at speeds up to 40 mph on the UP (former C&EI} to Dolton, at which point it slowed to 20 mph. Passing UP's Yard Center it stopped at CP 1020, Then crawled through Thornton Jct onto the CN (former GTW) where we got up to 79 for the short run to the connection to CSX (former Monon) at Maynard. On CSX we did speeds up to but never exceeding 60 mph. Arrived all stops ahead of time and waited for the schedule departure time. Arrived IUS about twenty five minutes before the advertised. Had the line to ourselves (no meets) that night. Noted that the switch at Crawfordsville did not require us to stop and throw it as happened on a precvious trip on the Cardinal. Train was clean, coaches (3) were former long haul (I think SF) and were clean. Load leaving Chicago was about 75-100 coach and about 30 first class. Most of the coach load was LaFayette as I walked the train before Crawfordsville and found two coaches empty and the third had about 25 passengers. 

Food was freshly cooked to order and tasty. My memory fails me as to what it was. 

[daveklepper]

Thanks.  Good report.  A model.

[charlie hebdo]

Thanks, Dave

[ROBERT WILLISON]

Nice job Dave and charlie.  The train might not have been successful from a financial point of view, it was an interesting experiment all the same.

For many of us, it reminded us of how passenger trains were  ran pre amtrak by the  private railroads.  The good old days of Budd cars, diners and domes.

Always a good discussion.

[rrnut282]

There are rumors, the only reason the experiment failed, was IP missed a detail or two in the payments section of the contract when figuring costs.  In other words they thought they were making money until it was pointed out.