Trains.com

Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

741810 views
7952 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 Thursday, June 4, 2020 2:04 PM

Overmod

Damn if Kalmbach didn't just have me report abuse with an answer to this question.  I haven't seen that particular disaster before.  Hopefully it means they are making 'progress' towards the Brave New User Experience (let's have a contest to design the best acronym for it, perhaps starting with a suitable initial jam and fitting a suitable 'backronym' name for the "servicing"...

Anyway, this fits Southern Railway (the full shadow-lined fake fluting coming only in 1949), probably the Tennessean, but it might be the 1940 Texas Zephyr (e.g. Lariat Ridge) if you overlook the power change...

Did the restyled Southerner (which had a different kind of 'streamlined power change' north of Washington) use these silver-painted Pullmans the same way?

 

 

So far as I know, the Southerner, until after the fifties, used only the fluted side cars. I do remeber seeing, in the fifties a car with the imitation flutes painted on, but I do not recall for certain that it was a coach; I do know that it was on train in Charlotte at a decent morning time, so it was not one that was ordinariy equipped with stainless steel cars. 

I did see, in Bristol, heavyweight sleepers on the Tennessean. And there was no attempt to disguise them as lightweights.

Johnny

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Thursday, June 4, 2020 1:05 PM

 ?? Can you clarify? 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:18 AM

Damn if Kalmbach didn't just have me report abuse with an answer to this question.  I haven't seen that particular disaster before.  Hopefully it means they are making 'progress' towards the Brave New User Experience (let's have a contest to design the best acronym for it, perhaps starting with a suitable initial jam and fitting a suitable 'backronym' name for the "servicing"...

Anyway, this fits Southern Railway (the full shadow-lined fake fluting coming only in 1949), probably the Tennessean, but it might be the 1940 CB&Q-C&S/FW&D Texas Zephyr (e.g. Lariat Range/Crest) if you overlook the power change...

Did the restyled Southerner (which had a different kind of 'streamlined power change' north of Washington) use these silver-painted Pullmans the same way?

 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:38 AM

And the E-8s operated over the B&M on the Allouette and occasinally the Red Wing to Boston in pool with B&M's E-7s and one E-8.

A pre-WWII train was considered and marketed by its launching railroad as a streamliner.  Its power (defnitely changed en-routed) could definitely be considered streamlined, and it had stainless steel fluted coaches and diner.  Possibly obs-lounge but unsure of that in my memory, since I rode only coach when I  rode it.  But until several years after WWII its sleepers were standard Pullmans with sides painted silver to match the stainless steel of the coaches.

 

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, June 4, 2020 6:49 AM

CP operations in Vermont were part of the parent company, but Alco-built FA-1 and RS2/3s (and 3 E8s) were assigned there for customs reasons.  The International of Maine division was accounted for separately for tax purposes, and had some equipment so lettered (boxcars and cabooses).  CP's Alcos operated in pool service over the B&M to points in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, just as CPR steam power had done.  The I of M cars were often assigned to newsprint service, where their nominal US ownership made it easier to service printing plants in major US cities.International of Maine boxcar

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 9:36 PM

Both of them full Class 1s set up for ICC reasons.

Isn' it interesting that TODAY it was reported that CP has completed purchase of the Central Maine & Quebec in the United States.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 8:05 PM

The Canadian Pacific     Vermont  and  Msine

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 10:32 AM

You're getting really close.  Unlike the CV/GT/GTW, this railroad did not have a separate U.S. corporate entity (though it does now...)

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 10:21 AM

GTW also operated in Indiana.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 2:28 PM

Ok, so it is the Grand Trunk Western, tghat operated in Illinois and Michigan, run-though power over the CN to the CV in Vermont and the Grand Trunk in Maine. so

Possibly some box cars aftertized a Michigan service or customer.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:38 PM

I'd have said Central Vermont much earlier except you said the state wasn't in the... oh, wait.

Does the railroad have to be CN, buying power to be used Stateside domestically?

Pity it couldn't be Central New England.  Why did that damn boat have to sink?

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 12:21 PM

But Maine Central bought all of its engines from US builders, and didn't have anything labelled for Vermont.  There was a reason this railroad bought US built engines for these two states.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 8:32 AM

The Maine Central operated in Maine and New Hampshire and had run-throughs with the Boston and Maine to both Massachusetts and New York states.

Only Maine was shown on equipment.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 8:00 AM

The railroad was part of a much larger railroad, and indeed transportation, system.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, May 31, 2020 8:38 PM

Monon - Hoosier

oops,  wrong time zone

 

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Sunday, May 31, 2020 3:21 PM

Bit further north.  The names of the states are not in the corporate name of the railroad.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, May 31, 2020 2:48 PM

OK, Central of Georgia, operated in Georgia and South Carolinaz

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Sunday, May 31, 2020 12:30 PM

While Bangor & Aroostook's "State of Maine Products" cars were well known, it's not the railroad I'm looking for.  BAR only operated in Maine.  Right time zone, though.

The Alco and EMD units did operate in two other states in pool service with another railroad.

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Sunday, May 31, 2020 12:02 PM

I immediately thought Bangor and Aroostook but every account Ive read says it operated entirely within Maine and it had no Alcos on the roster. 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, May 31, 2020 9:51 AM

Bangor and Aroostick operated in both Maine and Vermont and had insulated box cars lettered "State of Maine Potatoes."

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Saturday, May 30, 2020 5:34 PM

This railroad bought diesels from Alco and EMD for operation only in two states, and had freight cars lettered for one of the states.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, May 29, 2020 8:47 AM

rcdrye

OK then.. The NP's North Coast Limited - also originally from St. Paul to Portland via Seattle.  Portland cars rerouted via SP&S from Pasco to Portland in 1909.  Extension east to Chicago via C&NW in 1911, moved to CB&Q in 1918.

 

Bingo! The North Coast Limited was the train I was looking for.

From its inauguration in 1900, the NCL operated as a St. Paul-Portland train via Seattle (Unlike GN's Oriental Limited, running to Seattle only with through Portland cars.) The SP&S line from Spokane to Portland was open for passenger service in November 1908, but another pair of NP transcontinentals (Northern Pacific Express/Atlantic Express) was the main recepient of this change, getting through Portland cars in its consist as well as being extended to/from Chicago via CB&Q in May 1909. NCL was cut back to Seattle, with no through cars to Portland via SP&S (at least until late 1910).

It wasn't until December 1911 that NCL was extended to Chicago via C&NW.

Rcdrye, you get the next question.

 

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Friday, May 29, 2020 6:02 AM

OK then.. The NP's North Coast Limited - also originally from St. Paul to Portland via Seattle.  Portland cars rerouted via SP&S from Pasco to Portland in 1909.  Extension east to Chicago via C&NW in 1911, moved to CB&Q in 1918.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, May 28, 2020 7:55 PM

rcdrye

GN's Oriental Limited, begun 1905 as a St. Paul-Seattle train with through cars to Portland via Seattle.  Truncated to Seattle only, with cars handled via the SP&S to Portland around 1907, extended to Chicago via CB&Q in 1909.

 

Not the train I was looking for, but you are getting very close....

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, May 28, 2020 7:27 PM

GN's Oriental Limited, begun 1905 as a St. Paul-Seattle train with through cars to Portland via Seattle.  Truncated to Seattle only, with cars handled via the SP&S to Portland around 1907, extended to Chicago via CB&Q in 1909.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, May 28, 2020 4:15 PM

rcdrye

Let's try the Soo-Dominion.  Endpoint moved from Portland Oregon to Vancouver BC on the west.  Truncated on the east from an all Soo Line (well, WC) routing Chicago, made up for by using the C&NW's much faster Viking for a Chicago connection.  Since the reroute got the train off Crow's Nest Pass and the Spokane International onto the CPR main line, even the connection to Portland (GN) was probably as fast as or faster than the Soo-Spokane line.

 

Nice try, but Soo-Dominion is not it. When the western endpoint was changed from Portland to Vancouver, I could be wrong but I believe there were no through cars to Portland maintained. Also on the eastern end, the connecting line handling the train was simply changed from Soo to CNW - it was not extended.

I need to say, though, your answer contains one of the cities that is part of the answer I'm looking for.....

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:36 PM

Let's try the Soo-Dominion.  Endpoint moved from Portland Oregon to Vancouver BC on the west.  Truncated on the east from an all Soo Line (well, WC) routing Chicago, made up for by using the C&NW's much faster Viking for a Chicago connection.  Since the reroute got the train off Crow's Nest Pass and the Spokane International onto the CPR main line, even the connection to Portland (GN) was probably as fast as or faster than the Soo-Spokane line.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, May 28, 2020 11:41 AM

LAST CLUE:

This was a western transcontinental train.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Sunday, May 24, 2020 11:31 AM

ANOTHER CLUE:

The truncation and extention of the trains route both occurred before WW1.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, May 21, 2020 11:30 AM

ANOTHER CLUE:

Three years separated the truncation and extention of this long-distance train.

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