Sorry Buck but the CGW did not figure in this route.
Mark
Dave,
Rochester of course was one end point of this route but neither of the other cities nor the railroads you mention are correct.
Well, the Chicago Great Western has to be in the mix somewhere. In those days "The Maple Leaf Route". (before they became the Corn Belt Route).
I suspect it was Detroit - Chicago - Rochester, and it may have been NYC (MC) - Milwaukee or GTW - Milwaukee. But frankly, wihout OG's, I'm guesing.
I guess I'm at bat so here's a new question.
As the Mayo Clinic gained fame for its excellent staff and facilities an increasing number of patients travelled there for medical treatment. In the late 1930's, largely as a result of this demand for passenger service, a new through Pullman route was established to serve passengers travelling to the Mayo from two large mid-western cities. What was the route of this sleeping car, over what railroads did it run and what trains carried the car?
Next question please?
Mark, still your turn but my mistake. Coolidge wasn't actually President anymore when he said good-bye on the radio from the train. Therefore it was Hoover after all. Oh well.
Mark, yes your turn. I had thought it was Herbert Hoover at Elko, Nevada on the eve of the 1932 election. But today's research brings to light...
Excerpt from Boys' Life, June 1932
Radio and the Presidents
This is a Presidential year. It is a big year for radio, because the microphones will be busy at the national conventions in June, when the two candidates for the White House race are chosen. Then, in the late summer there will be hundreds of political speeches crisscrossed through the air, and finally on Election Night radio will announce the winner.
A number of names are mentioned, prominent among them President Hoover for a second term under the Republican banner, while the Democrats may select John N. Garner, Speaker of the House, Governor Albert C. Ritchie of Maryland, Owen D. Young, Newton D. Baker or Franklin D. Roosevelt, Governor of New York. It is anybody's guess right now. Even a so-called "dark horse" may win. Anyway, there is going to be plenty of excitement on the radio.
Little did they realize during the Civil War period that some day radio broadcasting would take the place of the soap-box orator. In Lincoln's time scientists were just beginning to get a peek at wireless.
James Clerk Maxwell of the University of Edinburgh outlined theoretically and predicted electromagnetic waves as used in radio today. That was in 1867. It was a number of years later that Heinrich Hertz proved Maxwell's theory was correct, and it was not until 1891 that Guglielmo Marconi signaled by wireless across his father's estate at Bologna, Italy. Few, if any, foresaw the day ahead when radio would play an important role in the campaign for the Presidency; when Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays would be the theme of broadcast entertainment; when the voice of the nation's Chief Executive would be heard around the world, while millions listened in.
The Presidential broadcasts of 1932 are quite a contrast with the addresses of Lincoln and the Presidents who were in the White House before him. Lincoln's Gettysburg speech was heard by only a few hundred who gathered at the famous battlefield on November 19, 1863. Print recorded his words for future generations. Radio would have enabled millions to hear him, but the words would have traveled in the twinkling of an eye off into the emptiness of space.
After Lincoln's day several Presidents were elected before wireless became practical. Theodore Roosevelt sent radiograms. He was the first President to greet the King of England by wireless. But to President Wilson goes the distinction of being the first Chief Executive to have his voice broadcast. It was on Memorial Day in 1919, when the President was at sea on board the SS George Washington, that his voice traveled through space on the wings of radio.
He addressed the crew shortly after noon that day, while the ship was bringing him home from the Peace Conference in France. At Otter Cliffs, Bar Harbor, Me., where the Naval radio station NBD was located, the sailor operators clamped an earphone to the mouthpiece of a telephone transmitter so that those at the White House might be able to hear the President. But the words were not clear. They faded. The ship was rolling in a heavy sea, and that was blamed for the waxing and waning signal. Nevertheless, it was a historic broadcast, the first by a President of the United States.
Several times later President Wilson used the facilities of the then infant radio network which comprised two or three stations. There was no transcontinental chain of broadcasters in those days.
President Harding was the first to employ radio to carry matters of national importance to his countrymen. On the trip into the West that ended in his death at San Francisco, he used the microphone when he spoke at St. Louis and again at Vancouver. The St. Louis speech was brought to New York by telephone line for broadcasting over WEAF. It was heralded as a remarkable achievement. It revealed the possibilities that lurked in network broadcasting on a national scale.
When Calvin Coolidge entered the White House he found national radio facilities at his disposal. Practically all of his public addresses were on the air, and he participated in a number of special programs. When he left Washington at the conclusion of his term, a microphone was held up at the rear platform of the train so that the nation could hear him say good-bye to Washington, as he and Mrs. Coolidge waved farewell at the Union Station. In his several years as President, Mr. Coolidge spoke thirty-seven times on the radio.
President Hoover in 1930 used radio twenty-seven times and twenty-nine in 1931. He spoke over a network of stations which is believed to reach every radio-equipped home in the land.
And now there are those who are wondering if the inaugural ceremonies in 1933 will be televised! One thing is certain - it will be a record-breaking broadcast. Who will be the main speaker?
I'll guess Calvin Coolidge.
Not FDR. There's a picture, which enlarges, at link.
http://fdrsdeadlysecret.blogspot.com/2011/02/epilepsy-of-franklin-delano-roosevelt.html
FDR His 1944 nomination acceptance speech on board the Ferdinand Magellan in San Diego.
Who was the first President to speak to the nation by radio from a train?
Mike
wanswheel The Transcon or Transcontinental Limited? Chicago to Los Angeles, with coast-to-coast through cars from the Commodore Vanderbilt (NYC) and the General (PRR). I don't know what the final name of it was.
The Transcon or Transcontinental Limited? Chicago to Los Angeles, with coast-to-coast through cars from the Commodore Vanderbilt (NYC) and the General (PRR). I don't know what the final name of it was.
DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING.DING
We have a winner!
The Transcontinental was the train I was looking for. Inaugurated in June 1946, the train left Chicago in the late morning, and carried several New York/Washington-LA sleeping cars that were handled east of Chicago via the PRR and NYC. At this time, the Transcontinental was the only UP train that carried NY/WASH-LA sleepers. The train was scheduled to minimize layover time in Chicago for coast-to-coast passengers and was started in the midst of a nationwide postwar speedup of train service and the beginning of several transcontinental sleeping car lines.
Besides carrying the coast-to-coast sleepers, the train also operated a Chicago-LA 10 section Observation, diner, and 3 coaches. Between Salt Lake and Los Angeles the train also carried an 12-1 sleeper and coach. Initially the train also carried a through Chicago-Denver coach and 12-1 sleeper that was transferred to the Columbine at Omaha. Note that there was no advertised lounge facilities at all on this train - could this be due to the lack of such cars available?
As you see in the ads that Wanswheel posted, the NYC called this train the Transcontinental Limited. Was this the intended name of the train? I haven't seen anything to confirm that, but I'm sure the NYC didn't just make that name up. In the June 1946 Official Guide the train is named the Transcontinental in the UP, CNW and PRR representations. Sometime later in the summer the trains name was shortened to Transcon.
Was this train successful? It was gone by October 1946, which should say something. One factor could be that the train's schedule was similar to that of the Los Angeles Limited. In fact the eastbound Transcon and Los Angeles Limited was scheduled to run only 90 minutes apart. After the Transcon was terminated, the coast-to-coast sleepers and presumably some coach capacity were transferred to the Los Angeles Limited.
In one of my hints, I mentioned that this train was involved in a major derailment. On September 24, 1946, a westbound run of the Transcon derailed near Victorville, CA, causing several deaths. Excessive speed on a curve may been the cause.
Thanks to all who replied - Wanswheel, you have the next question.
I feel confident Wans has the correct answer. As president of the C&O Robert R. Young "shamed" the industry into providing through coast to coast sleeping car service with his ads that proclaimed "A hog can cross the country without changing trains - but you can"t".
All the domes were NOT pulled from LA on the City of Everyhwere combined train. I enjoyed seeing 844 up ahead on the last eastbound City of LA, I think from Rawlins to Cheyenne. The dome diner was pulled but other domes did remain on the train.
Well there was the Challenger Streamliner but my reference indicates that was 1954, long after the time frame.
Likewise The NP went to the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited " and Santa Fe had domes since 1951, forcing" the UP to adopt to the Wabash Domeliner name and it became the Challenger Domeliner but all the dome fever was in the mid-fifties also.
The Challener Domliner was merged with the City of Los Angeles in off seasions in 1956. 1970 all the domes were pulled and all the westbound trains out of Chicago were combined into one. Often unoffically called the City of Everywhere which lasted until Amtrak. After Amtrak it was the "City of San Francisco".
But since the dates are wrong I am stumped.
narig01 AWAG(another WAG) Crap tables (LOL hey it is vegas) On another WAG motor bus connections ? Thx IGN (Yes these really are wild guesses)
AWAG(another WAG) Crap tables (LOL hey it is vegas)
On another WAG motor bus connections ?
Thx IGN
(Yes these really are wild guesses)
Nope and nope......
The following is a reinteration of the question and the various hints given -
In 1935, the UP established the Challenger, a train that considered innovative because of the accommodations and services it offered. A number of years later, the UP established another train with its name reflecting another travel innovation. Give the name the train as it was originally named, the name at the end of its career, the endpoints, and what was the travel innovation the train was highlighting?Hint: it wasn't the AerotrainAnother hint: I don't believe this train used any type of unusual equipment.- Think of the travel innovation (and eventually the name) from the passengers point of view.Another hint - This train was basically merged out of existence. - "The answer approximates the time frame you gave". (ca. 1946)"I mentioned when I initially asked the question that it wasn't the Aerotrain - therefore it it couldn't be the City of Las Vegas/Las Vegas Holiday Special. BUT - you got one of the endpoints right." (Los Angeles)Another hint - the train I have in mind was involved in a major derailment near the end of its career.Another hint - the "novelty" that this train featured was foisted upon the industry by the actions of a president of another railroad.Another Hint - During this time period, the Chief and Golden State Limited also offered this. But only the UP train was named to reflect this type of service.
To the above I'll add - This wasn't a City train. Also, to add to the time frame, this train existed in that window where passenger levels were still near their wartime highs after WWII, but the big drop was just starting.
FlyingCrow Just the GOLDEN STATE. The "Limited" part of the name was dropped in 1947. Well, the UP was the only operator of pure dome diners on several trains. This route hosted UP 3 & 4, the Utahan; UP 103 & 104, the City of Los Angeles; UP 9 & 10, the City of St Louis; and UP 107 & 108, the Challenger Domeliner. Plus the City of Las Vegas, etc. They had a feature similar to the Turquoise Room (Santa Fe) called "The Gold Room". Beyond this I'm void of any more ideas.
Just the GOLDEN STATE. The "Limited" part of the name was dropped in 1947.
Well, the UP was the only operator of pure dome diners on several trains. This route hosted UP 3 & 4, the Utahan; UP 103 & 104, the City of Los Angeles; UP 9 & 10, the City of St Louis; and UP 107 & 108, the Challenger Domeliner. Plus the City of Las Vegas, etc. They had a feature similar to the Turquoise Room (Santa Fe) called "The Gold Room". Beyond this I'm void of any more ideas.
I did mean the Golden State Limited. And as for the UP trains, there were others - one of them is the train I'm looking for.
narig01 Absolute WAG Slot Machines? I was going to say merged out of existence by merging with another train. I would think that the train that it would have been merged into would be the City of Los Angeles which would have cars from the City of Everywhere. As to the train did the UP run a day train from Los Angeles? Thx IGN
Absolute WAG Slot Machines?
I was going to say merged out of existence by merging with another train. I would think that the train that it would have been merged into would be the City of Los Angeles which would have cars from the City of Everywhere.
As to the train did the UP run a day train from Los Angeles?
Slot machines? nah....
Don't forget, there were other UP trains going to LA besides the City of Los Angeles. Also, don't read into the "novelty" too deeply. For the time this train existed, it was the only LA train on the UP that offered this.
Another Hint - During this time period, the Chief and Golden State Limited also offered this. But only the UP train was named to reflect this type of service.
daveklepper Looking at the two endpoints, Las Vages had only one railroad line serving it, and that was and is today the UP. I don't know of any train merged out of existance there. Just discontinuation and startup and discontinuation with Amtrak. But he Golden State Rocket was started after WWII and may have had some passenger comfort or convenience that I don't know about. Unless you consider an automat car a passenger conveninece in that he or she can get a meal any time, not just when the diner is open. And possibly, in a fit of clair voyance, the SP and RI did get together to try it out while retaining the dining car, for a while. And then when the Cotton Belt was part of the SP directly, the RI had to start with train-offs and while on the SP, while it lasted, possibly the Golden State was merged into the a regular train. That is the only answer I can come up with. LA was not served by many railroads, and I cannot think of any othe train with a novelty started after WWII. The Golden State Limited was probably the established train.
Looking at the two endpoints, Las Vages had only one railroad line serving it, and that was and is today the UP. I don't know of any train merged out of existance there. Just discontinuation and startup and discontinuation with Amtrak.
But he Golden State Rocket was started after WWII and may have had some passenger comfort or convenience that I don't know about. Unless you consider an automat car a passenger conveninece in that he or she can get a meal any time, not just when the diner is open. And possibly, in a fit of clair voyance, the SP and RI did get together to try it out while retaining the dining car, for a while. And then when the Cotton Belt was part of the SP directly, the RI had to start with train-offs and while on the SP, while it lasted, possibly the Golden State was merged into the a regular train. That is the only answer I can come up with. LA was not served by many railroads, and I cannot think of any othe train with a novelty started after WWII. The Golden State Limited was probably the established train.
When I say merged out of existence, I mean that cars that were carried ontrain A were transferred to Train B and Train A's schedule no longer existed, but A's capacity was added onto Train B.
If you look at my original question, I mention that this primarily a UP train, but cars from other railroads were operated on this train with Los Angeles as an end point.
Another hint - the train I have in mind was involved in a major derailment near the end of its career.
Another hint - the "novelty" that this train featured was foisted upon the industry by the actions of a president of another railroad.
FlyingCrow Well, I'm going to finally jump in here and say CITY OF LAS VEGAS....later renamed LAS VEGAS HOLIDAY SPECIAL. LA to ...well...where else. Like they say at the craps tables ..."Winner Winner Chicken Dinner"...maybe???
Well, I'm going to finally jump in here and say CITY OF LAS VEGAS....later renamed LAS VEGAS HOLIDAY SPECIAL. LA to ...well...where else.
Like they say at the craps tables ..."Winner Winner Chicken Dinner"...maybe???
nope....
I mentioned when I initially asked the question that it wasn't the Aerotrain - therefore it it couldn't be the City of Las Vegas/Las Vegas Holiday Special. BUT - you got one of the endpoints right. Look at my other responses and put the pieces together.
narig01 I was going to say City of Denver, & internal combustian, but City of Salina predates that. Am I any closer? thx ign
I was going to say City of Denver, & internal combustian, but City of Salina predates that. Am I any closer? thx ign
Not really. Remember, the name reflects the travel innovation. In your example, the train was called the City of Denver, not the Internal Combustion. Also, in another post I mentioned that the time frame was the immediate post WWII time period.
henry6 Didn't this train start out as the Portland Rose then the City of Portland?
Didn't this train start out as the Portland Rose then the City of Portland?
Nope - The train was established as a new schedule, but as I said before, it eventually was merged out of existence with an established train. Portland was not an endpoint.
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