What was America's finest Passenger Train?

[Anonymous]

Another best in the Midwest, was the Chicago Mercury on the New York Central lines between Detroit,Mich. and Chicago,Il. during late forties and late fifties.


ldolby,Denver,CO.

[Anonymous]

LVRRs Black Diamond. Full service and clean windows to the end... MCFarrand (hometown: Geneva, NY)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Amtrak Jack

I agree with what WAS the best, but what IS:

Acela!

Good point. Moreover, what with two buck a gallon gasoline, clogged and decrepit highways, and roughly 100 million more people in the USA than in the 1950s, there's no reason rail passenger travel shouldn't break even or better in certain markets. Maybe the era of 40 buck a gallon crude will prompt public and private sector folks to put their thinking caps on and do it!

[route_rock]

Golden State hands down.20th Century also,and give me a Chief for good measure.

[Anonymous]

The Empire Builder was (and still is)the best in the west due to the Great Dome Lounge and the Sightseer lounge from Amtrakbeingput near the middle of the train affording all passengers tremendous scenic views. The East was best served by the Broadway Limiteddue to its schedule and services affording scenic vistas in the Allegheny Mountains. Unfortunatelythe 2oth Century and Lake Shore Limited doesn't give good viewing time of the lakeshores it passes.

[Anonymous]

East bound, the Super Chief out of LA
East bound out of Chgo, the 20th Century Limited along with a ATSF pullman car
then the Broadway.

[Anonymous]

CNJ Blue Comet.

[passengerfan]

SP CASCADE was all Pullman all deluxe when first streamlined and the CASCADE CLUB was unforgettable rode the train many times and SP never disappointed me on this route. Far better than Shasta Daylight that train was just to many hours for a coach only trip but Cascade was exceptionally fine.

[Anonymous]

ACL's Champion was a very under rated train in its day.

[agentatascadero]

On what basis? Equipment? Route? RR? Service? We're probably describing favorites, and I have mine too. Perhaps we should revisit DPM's concept of the ultimate, (or was it ideal?), passenger train. Accomodations would have to range from sections(lower berth is the best bed on rails) to master rooms, and didn't we always need those showers in the sleepers? Must have domes for the "back-seat driver" factor in addition to the excellent view. Observation car is mandatory, the view to the rear is second only to that of the dome, or that unlikely cab ride! I prefer open platform, but enclosed will do, round end please for my sense of esthetics. Those who have ridden the Lark or Cascade Club might agree that these represent the best public room on rails, certainly the largest. Must have a foreward lounge, DPM favored the Capitol Limited version, to be near the locomotive action. Coaches? Parlors? That would depend on the route and/or schedule. This does quite nearly describe the Capitol Limited, so I guess that would be my entry for a train which actually existed.

[twhite]

Fjor sheer scenic value, my vote goes to the SHASTA DAYLIGHT in it's prime, when it was pulled by A-B-B PA's and had those incredible wide-vista windows in its coaches. Sure, it was an all-coach trip between Oakland and Portland, but that didn't mean you were chained to your seat. Neat club car, super diner, and later on, one of those quirky home-built 3/4 SP dome lounges. Miles of beautiful scenery up the Sacramento River Canyon to Mt. Shasta, then east-California/Oregon high volcanic plateaus, then Oregon forest crowding in on the tracks, and spectacular, sheer, SCARY Cascade Summit, with the tracks clinging to the narrowest shelf this side of the Silverton Line in Animas Canyon. And finally the Willamette Valley of Oregon just to let you know how lu***he pacific coast can be. Gorgeous trip. Wish Amtrak's 'Coast Starlight' ran the same schedule.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 trains for you.
1- ATSF's Super Chief
2- ACL's Champion
3- PRR's Broadway Limited

[jabrown1971]

HMMMMM-I am partial to the North Coast Limited-love those dome sleepers. I tend to follow the less is more school of thought and have to go with the Wabash Bluebird. I train I only know from memories, everyone elses, not mine.

[mucable]

I'm really surprised at you guys...

Haven't you heard of the IC's Panama Limited?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mucable

I'm really surprised at you guys...

Haven't you heard of the IC's Panama Limited?

I have to second your entry of the Panama Limited....nothing quite like gliding across Central Illinois at 100+ MPH.....waking up in Southern Mississippi with Spanish Moss coated trees passing the windows of your mobile bedroom.

Was truly FIRST CLASS service in it's day.

[The Block House]

How about the Trains of the Middle of the US.
On the IC you had the City Of New Orleans and the Panama Limited on the Kansas City Southern the Southern Bell as well as the Hummingbird on the L&N. All three of three of these trains were work horses as well as fine transportation. You could not find a better meal that "The Kings Dinner" on the IC.

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Theblockhouse

How about the Trains of the Middle of the US.
On the IC you had the City Of New Orleans and the Panama Limited on the Kansas City Southern the Southern Bell as well as the Hummingbird on the L&N. All three of three of these trains were work horses as well as fine transportation. You could not find a better meal that "The Kings Dinner" on the IC.

Those were good trains![:)]
Other than being very prejudiced,The Chesapeake & Ohio's "George Washington"
is the best train that I know of. Look at some of the scenery it went through on the
C & O line. Mountains in WVa. and the Louisville,Ky section through the rolling hills
of the "Bluegrass" state.[:D]

Of course there were a few others;such as B & O's "Capital Limited",etc.
but the George was the best![:D]

[Anonymous]

1. Super Cheif
2. Union Pacific City of San Fransisco
3. The Canadian Pacific

[drjakmd]

SAL's Silver Fleet

[jabrown1971]

How about one that never materialized-cars ordered, built and delivered-the Chessie between Washington and Cincinnati. Would have been a grand train, but alas, it never happened.

[passengerfan]

Funny that the all coach CHESSIE (the train that never was) is mentioned but no mention of the Santa fe Hi-Level EL CAPITAN truly the finest long distance coach streamliner in the land. Ther ride of the Hi-Levels is unmatched by todays Superliners. The old cars were much smoother riding and operated on one of the fastrest schedules in the land. Not one Amtrak Superliner schedule matches a pre Amtrak schedule.

[BurlingtonJohn]

The 1956 Denver Zephyr.

Regards,
Burlington John

[Anonymous]

Super Chief
Broadway Limited
20th Century Limited
Champion

[Anonymous]

I would concur that the SP Daylights were the best in the west... especially during the 1930s (and imho the most beautiful trains ever). And the CRI&P/SP Arizona Limited was a superb train.

[Anonymous]

N&W's Powhatan Arrow,N&W's The Pocahontas and The Cavalier

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm partial to the Norfolk and Western

[Anonymous]

The J's Are by far the best streamlined locos ever but thats just my opinion!!!!

[coalminer3]

How abt. a vote for the NYNH&H Merchants Limited.

work safe

[Anonymous]

EASY.......and best of all, IT'S A TIE!!!......The Atlantic Coast Line's Florida Special and the Seaboard's Silver Meteor. WHEW....I'm glad you didn't ask a hard question. Both were fast and furious....Both had personality....and both were magestic. One rolled on flatter and straighter track at a blistering pace while the other roared through the woods and around curves at breakneck speed. And.........BOTH WERE REAL!!!

[passengerfan]

SUPER CHIEF,EMPIRE BUILDER, CANADIAN, 1970's SUPER CONTINENTAL