Trains.com

Classic Train questions (50 years or older) Locked

81216 views
710 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:01 PM
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

Johnny

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:27 PM

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)?
 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Thursday, March 12, 2009 2:09 PM

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".

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Thursday, March 12, 2009 8:02 PM

The Milwaukee Road

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Thursday, March 12, 2009 9:38 PM

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. 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Friday, March 13, 2009 6:25 PM

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

Mike

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Friday, March 13, 2009 6:55 PM

WABASH, LACKAWANNA, ERIE, NEW YORK CENTRAL (INCLDING MAIN LINE,WEST SHORE, RW&O [HOJACK EAST ALONG THE ONTARIO SHORE], CANADIAN SOUTHERNQuestion [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.

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Friday, March 13, 2009 8:40 PM

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

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

You're up.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Friday, March 13, 2009 9:09 PM

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.

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:08 AM

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?

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:08 PM

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?

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, March 14, 2009 6:28 PM
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:10 PM

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

Johnny

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:31 PM

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. 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:59 PM

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

Johnny

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Saturday, March 14, 2009 8:27 PM

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

Mark

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:08 PM

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

Johnny

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, March 15, 2009 5:33 AM

[

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Sunday, March 15, 2009 10:02 AM

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:

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:41 PM

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

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, March 15, 2009 5:34 PM

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

Johnny

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, March 15, 2009 6:38 PM

As I said before I've already deleted the question I had in mind in response to Henry's admonition and have reposted it on the "History Quiz" thread in the Trains forum. I'll just pass for now and let someone else have a turn here.

Mark

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, March 15, 2009 9:50 PM

KCSfan

As I said before I've already deleted the question I had in mind in response to Henry's admonition and have reposted it on the "History Quiz" thread in the Trains forum. I'll just pass for now and let someone else have a turn here.

Mark

This is wide open for the next question--the next poster who has a question gets to pose it.

Johnny

Johnny

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Chicago, Ill.
  • 2,843 posts
Posted by al-in-chgo on Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:51 PM

Deggesty

KCSfan

As I said before I've already deleted the question I had in mind in response to Henry's admonition and have reposted it on the "History Quiz" thread in the Trains forum. I'll just pass for now and let someone else have a turn here.

Mark

This is wide open for the next question--the next poster who has a question gets to pose it.

Johnny

Okay, here's one:  Briefly explain how streetcars in N. America came to be called "streetcars" and not "trams," as in England. 

Bonus Point:  Give an example of a transit device called "tram" in North America.  (Hint: It's modern).

 

al-in-chgo
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Central Valley California
  • 2,841 posts
Posted by passengerfan on Monday, March 16, 2009 8:08 AM

Here in the US we had Streetcars and Interurbans.

In Vancouver Canada they had Streetcars and Trams. The Trams were the hevay interurbans operated by the British Columbia Electric. And the streetcars were PCC type operated on the streets of Vancouver. The trams were about twice the size of the streetcars and any collision between the two always resulted in the streetcars getting the short end of the stick. I have no idea how streetcars came to be called streetcars.

Al - in - Stockton

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Monday, March 16, 2009 8:49 AM

The forerunners of streetcars were drawn by horses and I believe were always referred to as horse cars, not streetcars, When they were electrified the name streetcar came into use to distinguish them from the "steam cars" that generally ran on private railroad ROW"s not down the middle of city streets. I believe streetcar and trolley (or trolley car) are synonomous and can be used interchangably. People in the city where I live spoke of riding the trolley and all stops were designated by signs that read "Trolley Stop"

While this sounds reasonable, the real origin of the name, streetcar, may well be more complex than my simple answer.

Mark

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 16, 2009 10:57 AM

al-in-chgo
Bonus Point:  Give an example of a transit device called "tram" in North America.  (Hint: It's modern).

The idea of this is not modern, but calling it a "tram" may be. There is a tram (powered by an electric motor) at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort (we resort to it in summertime only; it's twenty-four miles away and ten degrees cooler), which is up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The tram takes you about 4000 feet up from Snowbird Center to the top of Hidden Peak. You can ride the tram back down or, in the winter, ski down, or, when the trails are open, walk down.  The cars are suspended from cables, and do not touch the ground at any place. In Italy, such were called "funiculars."

I have no idea as to why some people will call a streetcar a "tram"; I had always thought of it as being akin to calling the hood of a car a "bonnet."

Johnny

Johnny

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,535 posts
Posted by KCSfan on Monday, March 16, 2009 1:14 PM

Deggesty

The idea of this is not modern, but calling it a "tram" may be. There is a tram (powered by an electric motor) at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort (we resort to it in summertime only; it's twenty-four miles away and ten degrees cooler), which is up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The tram takes you about 4000 feet up from Snowbird Center to the top of Hidden Peak. You can ride the tram back down or, in the winter, ski down, or, when the trails are open, walk down.  The cars are suspended from cables, and do not touch the ground at any place. In Italy, such were called "funiculars."

I have no idea as to why some people will call a streetcar a "tram"; I had always thought of it as being akin to calling the hood of a car a "bonnet."

Johnny

Johnny's reply reminded me that cable car operations are often referred to as tramways. However, I don't think that's what Al has in mind. Don't the Brits also call the trunk of a car the "boot"?

Mark

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 16, 2009 4:06 PM

KCSfan

Johnny's reply reminded me that cable car operations are often referred to as tramways. However, I don't think that's what Al has in mind. Don't the Brits also call the trunk of a car the "boot"?

I rather doubt that I headed in the right direction. I have heard people in this country call a trunk a "boot"--like the boot on a stagecoach. I have also heard it called a "turtle."

Johnny

Johnny

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter