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Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 11:42 AM

KCSfan

Since Lucy's husband, Desi Arnaz, was Cuban, how about the Havana Special? PRR - ACL - FEC between NY and Miami.

Mark

You're getting the jist of my clue, but focus on Ms. Ball only.

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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 2:02 PM

Maybe the Star, a Lehigh Valley train running between NY and Buffalo. I keep trying ZO but I'm running out of ideas.

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 2:09 PM

KCSfan

Maybe the Star, a Lehigh Valley train running between NY and Buffalo. I keep trying ZO but I'm running out of ideas.

Mark

Mark,

Another good guess and technically this name could qualify but the name I'm thinking of reflects an attribute she was known for.

 

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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 3:13 PM

ZephyrOverland

Another good guess and technically this name could qualify but the name I'm thinking of reflects an attribute she was known for.

 

Dammit ZO I don't know of any trains named zaney.  LOL

Mark

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Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 9:20 AM

As recounted in the book on the New Haven in the McGinnis days, the couple did do a comedy act on a typical New HAVEN commuter on their television show.  So, McGinnis had the New Haven operate a special show train for people along the line to attend their show.   I think they also rode the train.

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Posted by KCSfan on Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:56 AM

ZO, well I'm stumped and it appears others are too. Got any more hints you can offer without giving away the answer?

Mark

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, November 18, 2010 9:49 AM

KCSfan

ZO, well I'm stumped and it appears others are too. Got any more hints you can offer without giving away the answer?

Mark

Well....

The train I'm looking for existed in the early 1940's..........and again, focus on one of Ms. Ball's obvious attributes.

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Posted by Southerngreen1401 on Thursday, November 18, 2010 12:42 PM

I believe you are talking about the Red Ball Express.  But I do not know who own that express.

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, November 18, 2010 1:21 PM

Southerngreen1401

I believe you are talking about the Red Ball Express.  But I do not know who own that express.

No, that's not it.  The Red Ball Express sounds like a freight train.  I'm looking for a passenger train name.

 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, November 19, 2010 9:10 AM

ZephyrOverland

 

 KCSfan:

 

ZO, well I'm stumped and it appears others are too. Got any more hints you can offer without giving away the answer?

Mark

 

 

Well....

The train I'm looking for existed in the early 1940's..........and again, focus on one of Ms. Ball's obvious attributes.

 

I'll give this another day at which time I'll reveal the answer.

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Posted by KCSfan on Friday, November 19, 2010 4:13 PM

ZephyrOverland

 The train I'm looking for existed in the early 1940's..........and again, focus on one of Ms. Ball's obvious attributes. 

I'll give this another day at which time I'll reveal the answer.

ZO, since I'm fresh out of ideas,  the only way I'll ever come up with the answer is to pour through OG's. I have a gap in my issues however and skip from March 1937 to January 1946. If you could tell me the train was running at either time, I'll start researching and bet I find it. If it wasn't operating at either of these times I'll have to give up and just await your answer.

Markk

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, November 19, 2010 5:13 PM

KCSfan

 

 ZephyrOverland:

 

 

 The train I'm looking for existed in the early 1940's..........and again, focus on one of Ms. Ball's obvious attributes. 

 

I'll give this another day at which time I'll reveal the answer.

 

 

ZO, since I'm fresh out of ideas,  the only way I'll ever come up with the answer is to pour through OG's. I have a gap in my issues however and skip from March 1937 to January 1946. If you could tell me the train was running at either time, I'll start researching and bet I find it. If it wasn't operating at either of these times I'll have to give up and just await your answer.

Markk

 

The train only existed in the early 1940's.  Another hint - it was NOT a streamliner.

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Saturday, November 20, 2010 8:30 AM

ZephyrOverland

It would have been a natural for Lucille Ball to ride this train.

Name the train, railroad(s) and endpoints.

OK, its time to reveal the answer - the answer is:

Red Head 

Dallas-Houston

C&S(CB&Q) - Dallas-Teague

Burlington-Rock Island  -  Teague-Houston

This train ran in the early 1940's, along with the Sam Houston Zephyr and the Texas Rocket on the Ft. Worth-Dallas-Houston run on the above mentioned routing.  The Red Head was a local train on a daytime schedule, and was 2-3 hours slower than its streamlined running mates.

Mark should have a crack at the next question because of his tenacity and the fact that he even danced with the answer with his first submission.  Take it away KCSfan!

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Posted by KCSfan on Saturday, November 20, 2010 3:23 PM

ZephyrOverland

Red Head 

Dallas-Houston

C&S(CB&Q) - Dallas-Teague

Burlington-Rock Island  -  Teague-Houston

Thanks ZO. This was a very good question and a real puzzler. Before asking the next one I'd like you to confirm something for me. I thought the C&S ran only as far south as Dalhart. If that's right, the Red Head would have run on the FW&D from Dallas to Teague.

On to a new question. If you were in the market for a new sofa or bedroom suite what train would be most appropriate for you to ride? Name the train, its end point terminals and the RR which operated it.

Mark

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Saturday, November 20, 2010 4:21 PM

KCSfan

 ZephyrOverland:

Red Head 

Dallas-Houston

C&S(CB&Q) - Dallas-Teague

Burlington-Rock Island  -  Teague-Houston

 

Thanks ZO. This was a very good question and a real puzzler. Before asking the next one I'd like you to confirm something for me. I thought the C&S ran only as far south as Dalhart. If that's right, the Red Head would have run on the FW&D from Dallas to Teague.

On to a new question. If you were in the market for a new sofa or bedroom suite what train would be most appropriate for you to ride? Name the train, its end point terminals and the RR which operated it.

Mark

The Merchant's Express, Boston - NY/Penna? 

 

al-in-chgo
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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Saturday, November 20, 2010 8:39 PM

KCSfan

I thought the C&S ran only as far south as Dalhart. If that's right, the Red Head would have run on the FW&D from Dallas to Teague.

Mark, you are correct - I should have said FW&D Dallas-Teague.

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, November 21, 2010 8:26 AM

al-in-chgo

The Merchant's Express, Boston - NY/Penna? 

 

Sorry Al But no cigar for you yet. Not the Merchant's Express but keep trying.

Mark

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Sunday, November 21, 2010 6:24 PM

Ah...the FURNITURE CITY SPECIAL I believe.....  Chicago to Grand Rapids (and also Muskegon) over the Pere Marquette.

Cool

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL
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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, November 21, 2010 8:01 PM

You nailed it Buck - Light up a stogie and ask us another question. Incidentally the 1937 OG shows the Furniture Dity Special (and several other PM trains) carrying an "Imperial Salon Car for coach passengers" in addition to a buffet-lounge car. This is a new one on me and I'd like to hear from anyone who knows about this type of car.

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Sunday, November 21, 2010 8:51 PM

KCSfan

Incidentally the 1937 OG shows the Furniture Dity Special (and several other PM trains) carrying an "Imperial Salon Car for coach passengers" in addition to a buffet-lounge car. This is a new one on me and I'd like to hear from anyone who knows about this type of car.

The Imperial Salon car was a heavyweight deluxe chair car which featured 2-1 seating and was used on the C&O, Pere Marquette and the L&N.

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Sunday, November 21, 2010 11:03 PM

ZephyrOverland

 KCSfan:

Incidentally the 1937 OG shows the Furniture Dity Special (and several other PM trains) carrying an "Imperial Salon Car for coach passengers" in addition to a buffet-lounge car. This is a new one on me and I'd like to hear from anyone who knows about this type of car.

 

The Imperial Salon car was a heavyweight deluxe chair car which featured 2-1 seating and was used on the C&O, Pere Marquette and the L&N.

 

 

Was the "Imperial Salon" car subject to first-class and occupancy charges, as a parlor car operated by Pullman would be?  -  al

 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Monday, November 22, 2010 9:36 AM

al-in-chgo

 

 ZephyrOverland:

 

 

 KCSfan:

Incidentally the 1937 OG shows the Furniture Dity Special (and several other PM trains) carrying an "Imperial Salon Car for coach passengers" in addition to a buffet-lounge car. This is a new one on me and I'd like to hear from anyone who knows about this type of car.

 

 

The Imperial Salon car was a heavyweight deluxe chair car which featured 2-1 seating and was used on the C&O, Pere Marquette and the L&N.

 

 

Was the "Imperial Salon" car subject to first-class and occupancy charges, as a parlor car operated by Pullman would be?  -  al

The Imperial Salon car was basically a "branded" chair car for coach service.  As far as I know no surcharges were ever applied to coach service utilizing these cars.

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Monday, November 22, 2010 2:06 PM

Great stuff, wanswheel!  Thank you.  -  al

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, November 22, 2010 3:06 PM

Yes, Mike. It's a lot safer to look at the timetable on line thanit is to look at the cold C&O timetable I have, which is in danger of falling apart.

Consider all the branchline service as well as THREE trains a day between Washington/Old Point Comfort and Cincinnati.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Monday, November 22, 2010 7:16 PM

Ok, since I'm "IT" apparently...here we go:

This "conglomerate" of railroads was once part of the Frisco sphere of influence....then removed and handed over to a competitor.

1.   What is the name of the "conglomerate" ?

2.  Name four or more of the roads included in the group.

3.  Who ended up with them?

BONUS

4. A pass on this conglomerate would NOT be good for what travel?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone... Stick out tongue

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL
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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, November 22, 2010 10:16 PM

FlyingCrow

Ok, since I'm "IT" apparently...here we go:

This "conglomerate" of railroads was once part of the Frisco sphere of influence....then removed and handed over to a competitor.

1.   What is the name of the "conglomerate" ?

2.  Name four or more of the roads included in the group.

3.  Who ended up with them?

BONUS

4. A pass on this conglomerate would NOT be good for what travel?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone... Stick out tongue

Was the Gulf Coast Lines (the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico, the Beaumont, Sour Lake and Western, and the Orange and Northwestern) associated with the Frisco? In 1916, the GCL was not directly associated with any other road, but it ended up in the Missouri Pacific and so now is a part of the UP.

The eastbound Sunset Limited travels over the BSL&W from Houston to Beaumont (all eb traffic on the UP is on this line; wb traffic is on the T&NO). I do not know if Amtrak would honor a pass on this train or not.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 11:34 AM

Johnny...... you got the answer so the floor is all yours.

GCL were originally controlled by the same syndicate that controlled the FRISCO SYSTEM, C&EI and ROCK ISLAND SYSTEM.       GCL included several other roads; the San Antoinio , Uvalde & Gulf for one, but NOT the International & Great Northern (or I-GN as later known) as may be commonly thought.    While the I-GN ended up in the MOP camp along with the GCL, it was leased to the MKT for 8 years.    The Gulf Coast Lines were finally absorded directly into the MOP in 1956.     They had been removed from the FRISCO when the syndicate fell apart.        FYI....there's actually a book that talks about all these RR syndicates and what happened to them called "Enterprise Denied" by Albro Martin.     

My 1914 GCL pass states, on the back, "Not Good for Travel To or From Political Conventions in the State of Texas".   So there, you dogcatchers!!!!  No freebies!!!   Smile

Next question please !

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL
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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 6:29 PM

AB, the only restriction I ever saw on a pass was that it was not good on trains 37, 38, 45, 46, 47, and 48.

For several years, the Southern Railroad operated a train with a name that suggested something to eat. However, it was not intended to refer to food, but to a common name for the residents of a certain state (as a North Carolinian is often called a "Tarheel"). What was the name of the train? In what state did it run? What cities in the state were its endpoints? What was its original equipment? If you can, state what service the equipment also provided in addition to its daytime run.

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Posted by Southerngreen1401 on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 6:55 PM

Southern Railroad is wrong.  The name is Southern Railway.  Only people not in the south call it a railroad.  I am looking at my Southern Railway information on passenger trains to see this answer.

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