What was America's finest Passenger Train?

[Anonymous]

In 1959 at the age of 8, I rode the Milwaukee from South Dakota to Seattle. It was a trip I have never forgotten. If I had known then what they were going to do with the railroads today, I would have tried to even enjoy it more. And perhaps, borrow a cup, saucer, plate and silver setting from the dining car!!!!!!

[underworld]

The Lake Shore Limited!!!! Well, that's the only one I've ever been on in the States.
[:P][:P][:P][:P][:P]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

SP's Coast Dalight. It may not be a diesel but it was considerd the most beautiful
train in the world. Their menus also sounded good.

[Anonymous]

Okay, Okay, Okay, everyone has their opinion and I’m sure that they are valid opinions. Being too young to have actually written many of the trains that have been talked about if I had a time machine I would like to sample some day trains. It’s great to talk about exclusive luxury trains but they were primarily for well-to-do people, not the average person. If I could, I would like to sample the CB&Q’s Morning Zephyr, westbound out of Chicago. Judging from the old timetables it was on quite a hot schedule! I would also like to have tried the IC’s City of New Orleans, southbound out of Chicago. Another good one would be Wabash’s bluebird northbound from St. Louis, complete with vista domes. Of course there would always be the N&W’s Powhatan arrow between Norfolk and Cincinnati, behind steam would be best. Another good one would be the Southern / N&W’s Tennessean, westbound out of Washington. I actually did manage a ride on the D&RGW’s Yampa Valley Mail when I was a kid. Too bad we only went part of the way, just up the Front Range from Denver to Rollinsville and back in one day. And of course we could not forget that SP’s Coast Daylight. For multitrack, urban railroading Pennsylvania’s Congressional would have been great. As you can see I prefer day trains, I like to look at what is going on. I had better sign off now as the more I think about this the more trains I think about. I have to remember Edna St. Vincent-Millay who said: “and yet there isn’t a train that I wouldn’t take, no matter where it was going.”

[Anonymous]

Just two come to the mind of this railfan who was born decades too late to enjoy riding 'em (sniffs).

Best passenger train of all time:

The Twentieth Century Limited.

In the midwest:

The Hiawatha.

Richard Krebes
Livin' by the BNSF (but MNDOT, tear down that retaining wall!) in Long Lake, MN

[jaswar]

TOPS: The Lark - SP
2ND PLACE: The Colorado Eagle MP - DRGW
3RD PLACE: The Panama Limited - IC
4TH PLACE: The Blue Bird - WABASH
Hon. Mention: Florida Special PRR-RFP-ACL

[Anonymous]

The only long distance train I've riden is Amtrak's Southwest Chief from Kansas City to Flagstaff and return to Chicago. I'd sure have enjoyed riding all the famous trains, but I just wasn't old enough before they really went downhill.

I've also riden the Rock Island from LaSalle to Joliet--not really enough to count, and the GM&O between St. Louis and Chicago and points in between. One enjoyable trip on the Abe Lincoln was spent in the club car with my uncle. What 17 year old wouldn't like that? Another trip on the Midnight Special got me a visit into the cab while the mail was being unloaded and loaded. Thoroughly enjoyed every second of it--too bad I couldn't have stayed there for the full trip. Watched the Green Diamond (IC) several times when my Grandfather took me in back yard to see it, but I was pretty young then (he died when I was 4).

[MidlandPacific]

Nowadays, the American Orient Express has to be a contender: saw it at East Glacier a few years ago.

As a ride, though, the forty minutes over Marias Pass is worth the whole lengthy trip across North Dakota and the flat part of Montana: so I'd add the Empire Builder.

And to someone who was just old enough to see it in Southern livery, the old Southern Crescent was the best-looking of my lifetime.

BUT....if I had to include rides I'll never be able to take, I think I would've loved dearly to hop on the CS&CCD at Colorado Springs for the "ride that bankrupt the English language," transferring to the Midland Terminal at Cripple Creek, and then to the Colorado Midland at Divide; stick with the Midland to Grand Junction, than the Grande across Utah to Salt Lake, and then another Grande train BACK to Leadville, and the C&S from Leadville to Como to Gunnison, back to the Grande for the run from Marshall Pass to Salida, on to Alamosa via the Valley Line, and then from Alamosa to Colorado Springs via La Veta Pass and Walsenburg.

But I think there was probably only a nine year window for that trip!

[siberianmo]

This is a great topic and obviously one that brings out all kinds of commentary - including my own!

I recall that while in the military, a high ranking officer once said at a staff meeting, "I encourage open discussions based on facts and experience. Otherwise, opinions are like (let's say - noses), everyone has one! " So, my vote would be for only those trains that I have had the pleasure of being a passenger in.

VIA Rail's Canadian tops my list. I love that train and the trip between Toronto and Vancouver is something special to behold. I think it is North America's finest passenger train of today.

Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited. What a great train and although the scenery surely couldn't compare with that of a cross-continent journey, the amenities were there to be enjoyed. This would be my choice for what "was" the finest.

New York Central's 20th Century Limited. Same commentary as for the PRR's Broadway Limited. This is my second choice for what "was" the finest.

Those are my top three.

When I was a youngster - age 9 - my father put me on a train in Los Angeles bound for New York City. Now that train could have been the Super Chief or one of the Chiefs - changing in Chicago to the PRR. So perhaps, I should say that in the recesses of my aging memory, "One of the Chiefs" surely has to be recognized as a great train too! The more I think about it, the more I recognize that while on board, they all have been and are the finest (to me)!

My final thoughts are about some comments regarding the demise of the American Passenger train. From what I have been able to put together, it was surely not one thing nor one person that did them in. Change is and has been a dynamic force throughout all of time. Sometimes we embrance it fully, other times not. Think about the acceptance of the cell phone, for example. Now think about the current battle over Social Security. Change, as with the changing of the tides, will occur, no matter what the subject. So, where am I going with this? This country's passenger trains simply folded their respective tents much in the manner of the typewriter manufacturers. Other technologies caught up and surpassed the practicality of riding the rails. Yes, the process was accelerated by government subsidies to highways, airports and airlines. Nevertheless, the sand was running out of the hour glass for the passenger trains as we knew them. It was only a matter of time.

Were it not for those of us who dearly love long distance train trips, I wonder whether we would even have Amtrak's version of the famous names of years ago - California Zephyr and Empire Builder immediately come to mind? Long live those trains and long live those of us who continue to support them!

Siberianmo

[Anonymous]

NYC: James Wittcomb Riley
C&O: George Washington
N&W: Powhatan Arrow
B&O: National Limited
PRR: Cincinnati Limited
SouthernRR: Royal Palm
L&N: Humming Bird
I'm prejudice, I'm from Cincinnati! [:D]

[leonardbrand]

Southern Crescent back when she had a high steping steamer on the point.

[Anonymous]

#1- The Santa Fe Super Chief.
#2- The Southern Pacific Day Light Special.
#3- The Norfolk & Western Pohatton Arrow pulled by the 4-8-4 J class.
#4- The California Zypher.

[Anonymous]

Every now and then, someone will make the remark that the Interstate system put the railroad out of business. I don't want to debate this issue but I would like to point out that General/President Eisenhower wanted the Interstate system for national defense reasons. He was so impressed by the way Hitler could move his troops from one front to another on the German Autoban that he wanted a super highway in the United States. I am like y ou. I miss traveling on the railroads like I did as a child but I don't miss being stuck behind some 18 wheeler going up on some steep Smokey Mountain road about 35 mph. I did that with dad in his old black Buick with no AC in August. Progress is terrible isn't it? Oh by the way, those National Guards trucks in camouflage paint--they have the right of way on the Interstate.

[lvt1000]

Reading Crusader both the Budd Train and the RDC Set, D&H Adirondack, Broadway Ltd and for AMTRAK the first iteration of the Montrealer/Washingtonian complete with the ex C&O Diner-Lounges and the Army Hospital cars turned into "Le Pub"

[passengerfan]

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

[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!!!

[coalminer3]

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

work safe

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm partial to the Norfolk and Western

[Anonymous]

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

[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]

Super Chief
Broadway Limited
20th Century Limited
Champion

[BurlingtonJohn]

The 1956 Denver Zephyr.

Regards,
Burlington John

[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.

[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.

[drjakmd]

SAL's Silver Fleet

[Anonymous]

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

[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]

[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.

[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.