Classic Train questions (50 years or older)

[Deggesty]

Classic Trains questions

3-14-09 8:08 am MT, Henry6 asked, " What famous railroad president is buried next to what famous author? Where?"

3-14-09 5:28 pm MT, Wanswheel answered, and asked, "What train was named so that you’d know which railroads ran it?"

3-14-09 6:10 pm MT, Deggesty answered the question.

3-14-09 6:31 pm MT, Wanswheel confirmed his answer.

3-14:09 6:59 pm MT, Deggesty asked the question, "What winter-season train of about fifty years ago had a name similar to that of a year-round train that was operated by the same railroad?"

3-14-09 7:27 pm MT, KCSFan answered the question.

3-14-09 8:08 pm MT, Deggesty confirmed the answer.

Please, I don’t think that either thread has been corrupted by the other one.

Mark, you now have the responsibility for answering two questions (this thread and Classic Railroad). Don’t try to smoke both cigars at the same time.

Johnny

[KCSfan]

Henry,

Thanks for pointing that out. I've deleted my question and will repost it if Degesty declares me the winner of his latest question on the other thread. I think it would help if we changed the name of one of the two threads to better distinguish between the two and thus eliminate future mix ups.

Mark

[henry6]

I think the two questions threads have been mixed up here...so I am going to jump in and try to straighten things out:

.  All of you waiting to board the Royal Palm or any train going south, please go to the station on the other side of the tracks...do not rush, the train will not leave without you but please be quick as we have to make a movement on this track.

Thank you.

Wans, you got it all right with a pic of Samuel Clemens apparently enjoying his view of the Chemung Valley up at the farm. (Er, by the way, the Statler Bros. song was "Elvira", but I interspersed the lyrics with "Elmira" a few times for kicks, too.)

Now that the crowds are out of the way, we may resume with you, wans, in the engieer's seat: conduct:

[KCSfan]

[

[Deggesty]

KCSfan

The SR's Royal Palm and New Royal; Palm running between Cincy and Jacksonville with through cars to Miami.

Mark

You did mean to write New Royal Palm (no semicolon after the "Royal")?

In the off season, the Royal Palm carried through cars between Detroit and Miami. In the winter season, the Royal Palm carried a ten or eight section, restaurant-lounge car; in the off season, it carried the observation car that the New Royal Palm carried. Also, the FEC operated the New Royal Palm as a separate train, with its own schedule. 1953-54 was the last season of the New Royal Palm.

Yes, this is the only instance I know of in which two trains with similar names were operated by the same road.

Next question.

Johnny

[KCSfan]

The SR's Royal Palm and New Royal; Palm running between Cincy and Jacksonville with through cars to Miami.

Mark

[Deggesty]

What winter-season train of about fifty years ago had a name similar to that of a year-round train that was operated by the same railroad?

Johnny

[wanswheel]

Johnny, that's right, you're up.  Now remember, this is this thread and that other thread is the other thread.  Which thread is this?  I forgot. 

[Deggesty]

wanswheel

What train was named so that you'd know which two railroads ran it?

I don't know that it was given the name so you would know which two roads ran it, but the name Zephyr Rocket identified the train as being operated by the Q and the Rock Island/

Johnny

[wanswheel]

 Elmira, my favorite Statler Brothers song.

What train was named so that you'd know which two railroads ran it?

Mike

http://pro.corbis.com/popup/Enlargement.aspx?mediauids={95f0c189-6d69-4c7f-8ff7-89d21d0dff84}|{ffffffff-ffff-ffff-ffff-ffffffffffff}&qsPageNo=1&fdid=&Area=Search&TotalCount=21&CurrentPos=10&WinID={95f0c189-6d69-4c7f-8ff7-89d21d0dff84}

[henry6]

It was a surprise to me in spite of it being so logical!  My wife and I were driving around and saw a sign that said, "Mark Twain's Gravesite".  So followed into the site and found Jervis B. Langdon shoulder to shoulder with him.  wans, you didn' t name the city...do you have a map or a pic of that to finish the answer?

[wanswheel]

http://www.historyofredding.com/HRtwainquotes.htm

http://www.csx.com/?fuseaction=employees.retirees_news-detail&i=49913

[henry6]

Did everyone get a good night's sleep?  Good.  Not sure I really did, but did come up with a new question anyway...

What famous railroad president is buried next to what famous author?  Where?

[henry6]

WOW...I just looked at the map you posted and I am flabergasted!  I worked right off the top of my head having never seen the map and I was just as vague on the interburban's as the map is!!!!  I don't see Wabash but I know virtually all roads of the northeast were represented in Buffalo at sometime, somehow by some circumstance or another. 

Let me sleep on things tonight so as to conjour up someting sensable.

[wanswheel]

Henry, whatever is on this map, including the New York, Chicago And.

http://docs.unh.edu/NY/buff01ne.jpg

You're up.

[henry6]

WABASH, LACKAWANNA, ERIE, NEW YORK CENTRAL (INCLDING MAIN LINE,WEST SHORE, RW&O [HOJACK EAST ALONG THE ONTARIO SHORE], CANADIAN SOUTHERN [TO DETROIT], LINE TO WARREN, PA, AND OTHER SMALLER LINES), NICKLE PLATE, PRR, B&O (BR&P), LV, TH&B, CN, AND PROBABLY A HAND FUL OF INTERURBAN LINES TOO.

[wanswheel]

On what railroads could folks shuffle off to Buffalo in 1901?

Mike

[Texas Zepher]

wanswheel

The Milwaukee Road

That would be correct.  A thorn in the Q's (and other Hill lines) side from that point forward.  They had a shorter, less grade, hence quicker route to the twin cities, and Seattle.  The NCL & Empire Builder struggled to meet the schedule of the Hiawatha's.

Your turn. 

[wanswheel]

The Milwaukee Road

 

[Texas Zepher]

Texas Zepher

In 1873 the CB&Q railroad looked to connect to the Twin Cities.  They started several railroads to do this.  Some building south, others building north, and some in between.   While these railroads had the best route to St. Paul the CB&Q did not end up with it.  Which railroad got the route (ignoring recent mega mergers)?

  First hint - the CB&Q collectively called these railroads the "river roads".

[Texas Zepher]

Deggesty

wanswheel

TZ, I'm sorry for changing my answer (Century and Broadway 1938). Please ask the next question.

TZ, please, do you have a question?

Hehehe I wasn't offended or anything.  Just didn't want people to think I blew off your post and said the same thing!  You were certainly welcome to take the question.  I don't necessarily get on every day.

But we are here so here is the question ---> 

What railroad's major shop facilities were eventually shut down due to an unfortunate set of circumstances (took years for this to unfold) that stared when a hopper car's brakes failed and the car smashed into (almost through) the rear wall.

Name the shops and the railroad. 

Edit - crumb.  I have to retract that question.  It is not older than 50 years..    Grumble...

Ummmm -

In 1873 the CB&Q railroad looked to connect to the Twin Cities.  They started several railroads to do this.  Some building south, others building north, and some in between.   While these railroads had the best route to St. Paul the CB&Q did not end up with it.  Which railroad got the route (ignoring recent mega mergers)?
 

[Deggesty]

wanswheel

TZ, I'm sorry for changing my answer (Century and Broadway 1938). Please ask the next question.

Mike

TZ, please, do you have a question?

Johnny

[wanswheel]

Johnny, according to History of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad by John F. Stover, the Columbian was air-conditioned on May 24, 1931, the National Limited on April 20, 1932 and the Capitol Limited on May 22, 1932.

TZ, I'm sorry for changing my answer (Century and Broadway 1938). Please ask the next question.

Mike

[Deggesty]

Mike, you topped me. I did not know about the Columbian. You gave the answers I was looking for, with the Capitol Limited and the George Washington, and 1932.

Your question. Sorry, TZ.

Johnny

[Texas Zepher]

Deggesty

what were the first two completely air-conditioned trains, and what in year was the equipment put into service?

B&O Columbian 1931.
B&O Capitol Limited 1932.

edit - well wait a minute, that was not the answer Wanswheel had when I started posting this message.  But it was the answer that was there when I submitted the post...

[wanswheel]

B&O Columbian 1931. National Limited and Capital Limited 1932.  C&O George Washington 1932.

http://photoswest.org/photos/20103001/20103091.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c18000/3c18600/3c18640v.jpg

Mike

[Deggesty]

Texas Zepher

Deggesty

I'll guess that the California Limited had the longest run

Yup that would be the one, from November 27, 1892, to June 15, 1954.  The California Limited was also the backbone workhorse of the railroad as the train ran in 7 to 20 sections.   It was replaced with the San Francisco Chief running on the "south" main.

Yes, what a let-down from being the premier train to being simply a workhorse. Even in 1953, when it was operated through Great Bend, it had through sleepers between Chicago and LA and Oakland--but no diner west of La Junta.

New question: what were the first two completely air-conditioned trains, and what in year was the equipment put into service?

Johnny

[Texas Zepher]

Deggesty

I'll guess that the California Limited had the longest run

Yup that would be the one, from November 27, 1892, to June 15, 1954.  The California Limited was also the backbone workhorse of the railroad as the train ran in 7 to 20 sections.   It was replaced with the San Francisco Chief running on the "south" main.

[Deggesty]

I'll guess that the California Limited had the longest run (as in a Broadway run).

Johnny

[Texas Zepher]

passengerfan

so will let someone else ask a question.

I've passed on several so I'll take this one.  An easy one..

Of all the transcontinental trains run by the Santa Fe.  Which one that ran from Chicago to LA had the longest duration (number of years in operation).