What road had a train given a name that, at first sight, seems to be that of a solid, but is that of a liquid. Please give road, name, and all three endpoints (in the last days of its operation, it had only two endpoints).
Johnny
The Detroit Mercury, which in the opposite direction was the Cincinnati Mercury and the Cleveland Mercury (the survivor), really two trains, but at tims combined into one between Toledo and Detroit. New York Central (Incl. Big Four)
The Chicago Mercury from and to Detroit was a separate train entirely. New York Central System, Michigan Central.
The survivor was the Detroit - Cleveland service.
DeggestyWhat road had a train given a name that, at first sight, seems to be that of a solid, but is that of a liquid.
This can't be the Mercury, which was named for a god.
Be like asking 'what train was given a name that, at first sight, seems to indicate it was painted a safety color' for the Orange Blossom Special. Orange blossoms are not orange. NYC did not name their train for a silvery and somewhat toxic liquid. (Although it might be said that they did name it after the god of thieves, oddly appropriate considering NYC's history... ;-} )
Deg.,, read the question. It does not say the train was named after Mercury the lquid that looks like a solid.
The questions says "at first sight"....... I certain I have A right answer, maybe not THE right answer.
Do you have a better answer? If you don't, why did you complain about mine?
I doubt that most people think of mercury as being a solid (except in the Arctic or Antarctic), since it does not freeze until the temperature drops to -40 degrees C or F. The Greek name for mercury can be translated as "water silver."
A competing road in the same area of the country had a train named for the same substance--and there was no doubt as to what was intended. This train had one end point in common with the subject of the question.
Johnny, I believe the train was the Frisco's Black Gold which ran between Ft. Worth thru Dallas to Tulsa. Black gold referring of course to the liquid crude oil.
Mark
Mark, that is the train I had in mind. Until close to the end of its operation, it ran from Tulsa to Dallas, dropped a sleeper, and then went to Fort Worth for the end of its run.
I considered tossing another clue in as to its name--the substance also had a name which combined the name of a state with the name of a beverage, and no one in his right mind would drink the beverage with that combined name..
I think of the time following WW2 as the era of the modern streamliner but the freight departments were also at that time coming up with some innovations of their own including faster schedules and named freight trains. Two railroads teamed up to pare 24 hours off what had been a three day schedule between three middle American cities. The expedited service ran over both roads in named freight trains. What were the names of these trains, the two railroads and the cities they served?
Deggestythe substance also had a name which combined the name of a state with the name of a beverage, and no one in his right mind would drink the beverage with that combined name..
Except maybe Buddy Ebsen? ;-}
KCSfan I think of the time following WW2 as the era of the modern streamliner but the freight departments were also at that time coming up with some innovations of their own including faster schedules and named freight trains. Two railroads teamed up to pare 24 hours off what had been a three day schedule between three middle American cities. The expedited service ran over both roads in named freight trains. What were the names of these trains, the two railroads and the cities they served? Mark
I must have been having one of those "senior moments" when I posted the above because I made a big mistake as to the time frame. This expedited freight service and name trains started running prior to, not following, WW2.
Western Maryland and Wheeling and Lake Erie (with P&WV and RDG) ran the Alphabet Route service from Hagerstown MD to Toledo OH. WM handled cars from Baltimore. WM And Reading served Harrisburg with Reading carrying connecting traffic to CNJ and NYNH&H, and Nickel Plate connections at Bellevue serving Chicago and St. Louis. Trains were symoled as Alpha Jets.
I have to defend myself. If one comes upon a test-tube of Mercury, until one comes close, it looks from a distance, at first glance, as a round bar of silver, nickel, or titanium. Only when you get close to it, do you know it is a test-tube of Mercury. Takes me back to high-school chemistry lab. Good nostalgia.
And black gold is a name, not a substance. There is old gold, yellow gold, etc., but zero black gold, If people know what you are talking about, that black gold means oil, like black diamonds mean coal (Lehigh Valley Black Diamond and my 353 Coffee cup), then you are talking about a liquid to begin with and there is no first glance that it is a solid.
At least that is my take on the question in question. But I always enjoy RC's qustions so please carry on! And the name with the State? Still waiting for that.
Move further west Rob. One of the railroads actually ran two trains, on different routes, that shared a common name. These ran from cities A and B to city C where they connected with the named freight trains of the other road that ran to city D.
Maybe you are looking for MP trains from Colorado and Texas to St. Louis, connecting with a Chicago and Eastern Ill.train to Chi., but I can't think of the name you want.
No Dave, those are not the ones. Here's a hint. Until these expedited schedules were put in effect a third railroad had a virtual monopoly on one of their routes.
narig01Not the Blue Streak Merchandise? Rgds IGN
KCSfan narig01Not the Blue Streak Merchandise? Rgds IGN No but the route of one of the trains started in the same city as did the Blue Streak. This train also ran on a line parallel to the Cotton Belt for about 130 miles. Mark
One word in this trains name described a group of people as well as their tangy style of cooking. Rather unusual since neither the train nor the railroad ran through the part of the country where these people lived. One of the connecting trains on the other railroad had a nautical name and the other a name that described what a Minuteman was.
Here's todays hint. The trains ran to or through two cities famed for their musical heritage. One for the blues and the other for jazz music.
I'm kind of in over my head here. I can find references to Frisco Fast Freight from about the right era, serving both St. Louis and Memphis. I can also find some references to Rock Island serving Memphis with fast freight, and of course Cotton Belt (see earlier post) did as well. What I can' find are any lists with names that come even close to your description (IC's Creole being the lone exception, but it was a passenger train.)
Other music cities that might meet your description are Nashville and New Orleans, but I never learned the names of fast freights serving those cities.
Rob and Dave, you're both getting close. New Orleans and Memphis were the two cities. One of the trains was the "Creole Xxxxx".
KCSfan Rob and Dave, you're both getting close. New Orleans and Memphis were the two cities. One of the trains was the "Creole Xxxxx". Mark
The only other railroad I can think of serving both New Orleans and Memphis was the Missouri Pacific.
rcdrye The only other railroad I can think of serving both New Orleans and Memphis was the Missouri Pacific.
You're forgetting the IC and the Southern? Could of been one of them.
Would the Minuteman clue involve it being a Great Rocket?
narig01The railroad I would think is the Gulf Mobile and Ohio. The railroad that had had a monopoly was the Illinois Central. I can not think what the freight train would be. The thought would be something about a Rebel. Just SWAG'ing Rgds IGN
Yes, the IC was the road that had the monopoly on merchandise traffic between two of the cities. But none of the named freights I'm looking for were GM&O trains and none were Rebels or Rockets.
Here's a big hint. This fast freight service ran from St.Louis and Kansas City to New Orleans.
Has to be MP. Creole Eagle?
rcdrye Has to be MP. Creole Eagle?
Sorry but that isn't the right road. Remember this service ran in the named freight trains of two railroads.
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter