Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

[KCSfan]

 My two candidates are:

The Canadian - 4465 km between Toronto and Vancouver 

The Indian Pacific - 4352 km between Sydney and Perth in Australia?

Mark

[wanswheel]

The 3 longest routes seem to be Moscow to Pyongyang, Kiev to Vladivostok, and St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

http://www.transsib.ru/Gallery/index.php?CATEG=ALL&REGION=&TAKENON=&DIR=&LINE=&AUTHOR=&DESCR=kim&HOWMANY=20&NCOLS=2&LNG=EN&SHORT=

http://www.transsib.ru/Gallery/index.php?_&LNG=EN&CATEG=08STE&DIR=&REGION=&LINE=&TAKENON=&DESCR=&AUTHOR=

http://www.transsib.ru/Eng/cat-geo.htm

[passengerfan]

My question is name the five longest passenger train routes in the world and name the trains that operate over those routes.

Al - in - Stockton 

[Deggesty]

wanswheel

Johnny awards Mark the win on grounds of doubt that anyone could top him for quantity. Mark invites a less frequent contributor to be the first to answer his question. Zephyr Overland names dozens more directional trains including West Taku Arm Special.

 

Yes, sin in haste; repent at leisure.

Johnny

[wanswheel]

Interesting developments. Johnny awards Mark the win on grounds of doubt that anyone could top him for quantity. Mark invites a less frequent contributor to be the first to answer his question. Zephyr Overland names dozens more directional trains including West Taku Arm Special. Al sees Alaska and drives a truck right through it. Then today in Trains forum thread, On This Date In Railroad History...

AUGUST 15, 1900

Regular service is commenced over the 3'0" gauge White Pass and Yukon Railway between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

[KCSfan]

Al,

You are our winner. I've just beem playing mind games with you. Up to the time the WP&Y ceased to operate as a common carrier in 1982 it did indeed run passenger service from Skagway to Carcross. At White Pass the line left Alaska from there north it ran through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory so technically that portion of the route was not a US line.

Mark

[passengerfan]

KCSfan

passengerfan

White Pass & Yukon Skagway to Carcross

Al - in - Stockton

Al,

Close but no cigar for you yet. You need to tweak your answer a bit.

Mark

Mark How About White Pass & Yukon Skagway to Whitehorse.

Al - in - Stockton

[KCSfan]

passengerfan

White Pass & Yukon Skagway to Carcross

Al - in - Stockton

Al,

Close but no cigar for you yet. You need to tweak your answer a bit.

Mark

[passengerfan]

White Pass & Yukon Skagway to Carcross

Al - in - Stockton

[Deggesty]

ZephyrOverland

Of course when I'm away from the internet for a couple of days that's when the questions become interesting.  I know that this question is closed but here are some additional "directional" train names for your interest:

And, had you not been a day late, you would be a dollar ahead, with 29 new (was I ever wrong!) and one duplicate. The duplicate confirmed passenger fan's listing of the C&O's West Virginian. You reached way back into history, naming the Plant System and other roads that have long since been taken into larger systems.

Johnny

[ZephyrOverland]

 

Deggesty

No, Henry (and everybody else), this will not go on forever. Indeed, unless someone can come up with 25 names that have not yet been posted, it’s over.

You gave us one, CSSHegewisch gave us eight, KCSfan gave us twenty-five new ones plus eight duplicates Wanswheel gave us five new ones, passengerfan gave us twenty-one new ones plus thirteen duplicates, and x2000 gave us two duplicates--sixty named trains with a compass direction in the name.

We have come quite a way from 1851 or thereabouts, when, if a road had more than one train, one was called "first train" and the second one was called "second train."

I learned of several that were quite unknown to me, such as the Texas Santa Fé trains. I will query Southern States and Southern States Special as being Southern; I know that the SAL (and RF&P) operated a Southern States Special (which operated on the same schedule with the Cotton States Special north of Hamlet. Also, I remember the B&O as operating a West Virginian; I can’t say that the C&O did not. For a time, at least, the Southern had two schedules for the Carolina Special, which was two trains east of Asheville (one to Goldsboro, N. C., and the other to Charleston, S. C.). One was called Carolina Special (North Carolina Train), and the other Carolina Special (South Carolina Train). At other times, it showed only one schedule, with all the equipment.

You may notice that passengerfan gave us both Southland PRR/L&N/CG/ACL and Southland L&N. Yes, before the Perry Cutoff was constructed, the L&N had a Southland, which carried various sleepers.

Now for the solution. I doubt greatly that anyone can come up with more than 25 new names. So, the winner is KCSfan (also known to us simply as "Mark.").

I hope you found this more interesting than some of the questions I have propounded.

Johnny

 

Of course when I'm away from the internet for a couple of days that's when the questions become interesting.  I know that this question is closed but here are some additional "directional" train names for your interest:

Eastern and Southern Express - PRR - Chicago-Louisville

Eastern Limited - North Shore - Chicago-Milwaukee

Eastern Oklahoma Mail - MKT - Kansas City-Deninson

Eastern Slope - BM - Boston-Intervale

North Adams Special - NYCHR BA - New York-North Adams

North Country Mail - DSSA - Duluth - Marquette

North Texas Express - MKT - San Antonio-Dallas

North Western Fast Mail - CNW - Minneapolis-Chicago

Northern Lakes Special - CNW - Chicago - Cisco Lake

Northern Special - LN - Cincinnati-Louisville

Southeastern Limited - Frisco/SR - Kansas City-Jacksonville

Southern Fast Mail - IC - Chicago-New Orleans

Southern Illinois Express - CEI - Chicago-Thebes

Southern Michigan Express - DM - Cheboygan-Bay City

Southerner - PRR - Pittsburgh-Washington

Southerner - RFP/SAL - Washington-St. Petersburg/Miami

Southwest Empire - B4 - Cleveland/Cincinnati-St. Louis

Southwest Express - RI/SP - Chicago-Kansas City-Los Angeles

Southwestern Day Express - CGW - Oelwein-Kansas City

Southwestern Limited - CGW - Minneapolis-Kansas City

Southwestern Special B4/LSMS/NYCHR - St. Louis/Cincinnati-New York

West Coast Day Limited - SAL - Jacksonville-St. Petersburg

West Coast Limited - CoG/G&SF/Plant System - Atlanta-Tampa

West Indian Limited - RFP/ACL - Washington-Jacksonville

West Taku Arm Speical - White Pass - Skagway-Carcross

West Virginia Express - CO - Cincnnati-Clifton Forge

West Virginian - C&O - Washington-Cincinnati

West Virginian - B&O - Baltimore-Chicago

Western Flyer - RI - Memphis-Oklahoma City

Western North Carolina Speical - SR - Asheville-Jacksonville

 

[henry6]

Johnny, it was one of the best and most fun and enlightening questions in a long time...did anyone mention the Southern Crescent?...and hope there are more to come.

[KCSfan]

Our recent questions have entailed some lengthy answers so I'll strive for brevity with this question . I  hope one of our less frequent contributors is the first to answer and gets a chance to ask their question.

What was the last narrow gauge (3 ft) common carrier line in the US to carry passengers.? Name the railroad and the end points between which it ran just prior to the end of passenger service.

Mark 

[Deggesty]

No, Henry (and everybody else), this will not go on forever. Indeed, unless someone can come up with 25 names that have not yet been posted, it’s over.

You gave us one, CSSHegewisch gave us eight, KCSfan gave us twenty-five new ones plus eight duplicates Wanswheel gave us five new ones, passengerfan gave us twenty-one new ones plus thirteen duplicates, and x2000 gave us two duplicates--sixty named trains with a compass direction in the name.

We have come quite a way from 1851 or thereabouts, when, if a road had more than one train, one was called "first train" and the second one was called "second train."

I learned of several that were quite unknown to me, such as the Texas Santa Fé trains. I will query Southern States and Southern States Special as being Southern; I know that the SAL (and RF&P) operated a Southern States Special (which operated on the same schedule with the Cotton States Special north of Hamlet. Also, I remember the B&O as operating a West Virginian; I can’t say that the C&O did not. For a time, at least, the Southern had two schedules for the Carolina Special, which was two trains east of Asheville (one to Goldsboro, N. C., and the other to Charleston, S. C.). One was called Carolina Special (North Carolina Train), and the other Carolina Special (South Carolina Train). At other times, it showed only one schedule, with all the equipment.

You may notice that passengerfan gave us both Southland PRR/L&N/CG/ACL and Southland L&N. Yes, before the Perry Cutoff was constructed, the L&N had a Southland, which carried various sleepers.

Now for the solution. I doubt greatly that anyone can come up with more than 25 new names. So, the winner is KCSfan (also known to us simply as "Mark.").

I hope you found this more interesting than some of the questions I have propounded.

Johnny

[henry6]

KCSfan

Henry,

It's was Johnny's question so we need to hear who he declares the winner. I sense your impatience but I'm sure we will hear from him soon so don't get too frustrated in the meantime.

Mark

Oh far from impatient!  I think this is great.  Truly...I do.  These answers show the ubiquitousness of railroading and the depth or shallowness of railroad marketing back in the day.  Of course, it could be a show of optimisim if not romaticism.  Little roads with high hopes and big roads with little budgets.  I hope somebody is taking notes and making a list.  It will be really interesting.

[KCSfan]

henry6

This is neat...what I expected...a wide open barrage of trian names from all points of the compass....and there are more to come... only question is, who has the answer to start the next question, or are we gonna go with this forever...fun! Love it!

Henry,

It's was Johnny's question so we need to hear who he declares the winner. I sense your impatience but I'm sure we will hear from him soon so don't get too frustrated in the meantime.

Mark

[x2000]

The New York Centraol also had a North Star (I think it ran Sat nights NY - Chi) and a South Shore Express (mostly mail Chi - NYC, eventually lost its name and I think was just known as 43)

[passengerfan]

Heres my 3:30 AM list of trins:

North American C&NW

North Coast Limited NP

North Express PRR

North Shore Limited BA/NYC

North Star Limited M&STL

North Star M&STL

North Wind New Haven/B&M

North Woods Hiawatha CMSTP&P

Northeastern Limited IC

Northern Arrow PRR

Northern Michigan Special DM&N

Northwestern Limited C&NW

Southland L&N /CofG/ACL/FEC

South Shore Express LI

South Wind PRR/L&N/ACL/FEC

Southern Belle KCS

Southern Express ACL/N&W

Southern States Sou

Southern States Special Sou

Southern Railway Express Sou

Southern Tier Express Erie

Southerner Sou

Southland Express L&N

Southland (L&N

Southwest Limited (CMST&P

Southwestern Express CGW

Southwestern Limited NYC

West Coast SP

West Pointer NYC

West Shore Express NYC

West Texan C&S/FW&D

West Virginian C&O

Western Express B&O

Western Express CP/MC

Westerner CofG

Eastwind NYNH&H

Thats my list all pre streamlined except for a couple

Al - in - Stockton

 

 

 

[henry6]

This is neat...what I expected...a wide open barrage of trian names from all points of the compass....and there are more to come... only question is, who has the answer to start the next question, or are we gonna go with this forever...fun! Love it!

[wanswheel]

Southern Tier Express (Erie) Jersey City to Buffalo

South Plains Express (AT&SF) Sweetwater to Lubbock

West Texas Express (AT&SF) Amarillo to Lubbock

Eastern Express (AT&SF) Lubbock to Amarillo

North Star (NYC) New York to Cleveland, also the name of a 4-4-0 built in St. Albans, VT in 1872.

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_view.cfm?photoid=20567485&id=49

[Great Western]

 

but I didn't realize that the replies had to be 'train name' specific,  just thought it was any railroad name.

Back to lurking.

[KCSfan]

As you will see from the length of this list I've had a good bit of free time today. The trains shown are from a mid-fifties OG. I'm sure there were many others in earlier times.

North Wind - NH/B&M/CV/MeC

East Wind - NH/B&M

Southwestern Ltd, Easterner, Northerner, North Shore, North Shore Ltd, South Shore Exp - NYC

Southland - PRR/L&N/CofG/ACL

South Wind - PRR/L&N/ACL/FEC

Northern Arrow - PRR

East Coast Champion - PRR/RF&P/ACL/FEC

West Coast Champion - PRR/RF&P/ACL

West Virginian, West Virginia Night Exp - B&O

Westerner - NKP

Southerner - PRR/Sou

Southern Exp, Southwestern Ltd, Northwestern Ltd - IC

Southern Belle - KCS/L&A

Southerner - MP/T&P

Westerner - T&P

North American, Northwestern Ltd - CNW

Northwest Spcl - UP

West Coast - SP

Grand Canyon-Northern Sec, Grand Canyon-Southern Sec - SF

Midwest Hiawatha, North Woods Hiawatha, Southwest Ltd - Milw

North Coast Ltd - CB&Q/NP/SP&S

Western Star - CB&Q/GN/SP&S

Mark

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Here's a few entries:

Southern Express/IC/Chicago-New Orleans

Southwestern Ltd/NYC/New York-St. Louis

Western Star/CB&Q-GN/Chicago-Seattle

Southerner/PRR-SR/New York-New Orleans

Southern Belle/KCS/Kansas City-New Orleans

North Coast Ltd/CB&Q-NP/Chicago-Seattle

Westerner/NKP/Buffalo-Chicago

South Wind/PRR-L&N-ACL-FEC/Chicago-Miami

[henry6]

Lackawanna's #7: The Westerner.  And there were several other roads, including NKP connection (?), with trains named "Westerner".

[Deggesty]

Great Western

Here is my entry:

 Northern Pacific.

Well, well; I knew of the NP railroad, but I did not know of a train with that name.

Johnny

[Great Western]

 Well, I suggest we only name one each.  Then lots of folks get a go and who knows some lurkers may join in.

 Here is my entry:

 Northern Pacific.

 

[henry6]

The response here should be enormous!  How many Westerners, Easterners, Northern or Southern Expresses, Southwest or Nortwest Limiteds,  Zephers or other wind and mail directions can we find...it could tie up this thread for days without end.  A more difficult and more precise question would probably be to name a railroad that did not have a train with a direction name!

[Deggesty]

KCSfan

Since Johnny was the fustest with the mostest (14 trains) he is our winner. I know of three other trains that were not mentioned; The Neptune (New Haven) even though it was named for the King of the Seas not the planet, the Comet (New Haven) and the Sunflower (MP). I still don't get the connection of the Ponce de Leon with any celestial body and am waiting for Mike's translation to explain it for my edification.

Mark

And, I should not have included the NYC Mercury's, since they were named for the fleet-footed messenger of the Roman gods, Mercury, and not for the planet.

Next question: many trains had a compass direction in their names (East, Western, Northeastern, etc.) How many can you name? Edit: add the roads that operated them.

Johnny

[Deggesty]

wanswheel

In 1230, Don Pedro Ponce married Dona Aldonza de Leon, daughter of Alfonso IX, the King of Leon.

Apparently, in the thirteenth century, the royal family of Leon was known simply as "Leon."

Not knowing that it was a part of his family name, I had thought that the "de Leon" simply meant that he was from Leon, as many Spaniards were identified in that manner.

Johnny

[KCSfan]

wanswheel

Leo is a northern constellation. 

Thanks Mike for the explanation. I try to learn at least one new thing each day and you've enabled me to meet that quota for this date. I really wish he had found a fountain of youth 'cause I really could use a swim in it

Mark