What was America's finest Passenger Train?

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the Amcrap era. I did grow up in New England. My uncle worked for the New Haven. How about the Merchants? I would have liked to see some of the B&M-MEC trains to Vacationland, like the Pine Tree, Kennbec, or Flying Yankee.
I think that Amtrak is a joke. It is a waste of taxpayer money. There is not enough service to make it attractive. If the government really wanted it to work, they shoud do things 100%. I work on the D&H. at one point, they had 1.5 trains a day NYC to Rutland, VT. on our line. The last southbound was a deadhead. This reminds me of the Eagles song Hotel California, " You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
When I lived in Hartford, CT, You could not make a round trip from Hartford to Boston via the B&A. It could not be done in one day. I also think that it is a joke how they try to market themselves to airline passengers. We have 1st class. The seat may be 1 inch wider than in the regular coaches, but they are nearly the same. How about parlor cars, which had real furnature, probably better than in most of our houses.
Business people, not politicians should manage things.

[daveklepper]

Considering the train itself, unquestionably the Super Chief, perfect in every way with top service, food, equipment, ride, you name it. But as an overall travel exprience, with the scenery more than making up the difference, and especially in the earlier days when well maintained and kept to schedule, definitely the California Zephyr.

[Anonymous]

AMTRAK!!!

Naw, the old ones were better.

Guess I am just a young and confused kid...[%-)]

[Anonymous]

For best public relations and classiest clientele, I would say there was a tie between The Super Chief and the Twentieth Century Limited.

Erik

[Anonymous]

america's finest passenger train, obviously, would be the central pacific/union pacific combination known as the transcontinental.

it opened up the nation.

[blade]

the california zepher

[Anonymous]

The Peapack-Gladstone to Hoboken, NJ Lackawanna local. I rode it to high school every day in the 1950's, so I speak from personal experiance[:D]

[Anonymous]

Definetly Canadian Pacific´s Trans Canada Limited in 1929. Second to none! Before the depression, trains reached their absolute maximum when it comes to design, service and luxury. This standard was never ever reached again later, not even in the streamliner era. Consisting exclusively of first class sleeping cars, even having a full bath on board (all the later trains never featured a bath, only showers!), this was a true hotel on rails. giving you all the comfort you would also have in a luxury hotel. What else is better than sliding slowly through incredibly beautiful nature for a couple of days, meet new friends and enjoy being serviced like a king? The 20ies were unbeatable when it comes to this. It was the ultimate climax for luxury passenger trains in an era full of richness. And the Trans Canada Limited was the king of rails. Beat that Super Chief!!!

[passengerfan]

How about the Santa Fe train DeLuxe when the trains entered California Male passengers were given a pigskin wallet and women were given fresh flowers. This all happened at Needles wher the Santa Fe grew their own flowers and raised the hogs that provided the wallets. All Pullman heavyweight train fore runner of the SUPER CHIEF. Even the Santa Fe CHIEF was more than a match for most railroads first class trains. When it first entered daily service as a streamliner it was staem powered with new Hudsons handling the train east of La Junta and new Northerns handled the train from their to LA. The ten car trains provided pullman space for 151 passengers and lounge and dining seats for 105. That was more lounge and dining space per passenger than the Twentieth Century or Broadway Limited provided. Only the SUPER CHIEF provided more dining and lounge space per passsenger than the CHIEF.

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt the Best Classic Passenger Train was the California Zypher. And, the most beautiful as well. As a runner up I would vote for the "Empire Builder". These trains had character and poise, scenery and speed.

[PBenham]

Lehigh Valley's Black Diamond, circa 1938. From an Otto Kuhler rebuilt and streamlined Pacific on the point, refurbished parlor cars,an impressive Diner, (rehabbed at Sayre) new "American Flyer"Coaches and Observations Black Diamond,or White Diamond and you had one mighty nice train to spend youir day on. The competition on the Metro New York- Buffalo/Niagara Falls route in daylight included the Central's Empire State Express, which in 1938 was somewhat stale, except for the J3a up front! Lackawanna had the Lackawanna Limited.Its best feature, a Pocono (Northern to those of you in Rio Linda) from the 1929 American (ALCO) order Hoboken-Scranton, then a heavy Hudson the rest of the way!. Poor Erie had their handsome K5 pacifics, but out of Hornell to Buffalo, you rode in a doodlebug!

[Anonymous]

Empire Builder was America's finest passenger train.

[jefelectric]

PRR BROADWAY LIMITED

Because that was the only one I can remember riding before Amtrak took over. Have riden quite a few Amtrak trains and service varies widely. I enjoy the long distance trains because I am now retired and can take the time. They are slow, much slower than the trains of 1930 or 40 were for the same routes. Often take the train from home to Phia, NY or DC. It sure beats driving.

John