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Classic Train Questions Part Deux (50 Years or Older)

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, January 16, 2011 6:45 AM

daveklepper

Unsure, but it may have been in Michigan City and possibly ran as far as Niles.   It definitely included tracks that were not used by the interurban trains.   If I am wrong, then that particular streetcar line was run by some other company, possibly Northern Indian Railways.

Not quite, you're thinking of Northern Indiana Ry, which had a Michigan City-La Porte-South Bend route, among others.  South Shore's streetcar operation was further west.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, January 16, 2011 5:09 AM

Unsure, but it may have been in Michigan City and possibly ran as far as Niles.   It definitely included tracks that were not used by the interurban trains.   If I am wrong, then that particular streetcar line was run by some other company, possibly Northern Indian Railways.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, January 14, 2011 9:58 AM

FlyingCrow

Michigan City, Indiana

AFAIK the South Shore is still running down 11th street (?) in Michigan City.

 

Street railway, as in local streetcar, not street running.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by FlyingCrow on Thursday, January 13, 2011 7:07 PM

Michigan City, Indiana

AFAIK the South Shore is still running down 11th street (?) in Michigan City.

 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:57 AM

More on South Shore.  Like many (most?) interurbans, ths South Shore Line included a street railway operation.  Where did it run and when was it discontinued?

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 2:59 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Super Chief, ATSF, Chicago-Los Angeles

Super Continental, CN, Montreal/Toronto-Vancouver

You got it!  Go ahead and ask the next question.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:56 PM

Super Chief, ATSF, Chicago-Los Angeles

Super Continental, CN, Montreal/Toronto-Vancouver

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:38 PM

New question....

An American railroad and a Canadian railroad each upgraded their premier train by, among other things, adding the same prefix to each line's respective train name.  Name the resulting trains, railroads and endpoints.

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, January 10, 2011 2:29 AM

And I realize I made more than one error.   It was the Federal, not the Embassy, it could not be called a streamliner since much equipment was heavyweight at the time, and I think the interpretation of the center of the continental USA should have been obvious to me.  Great question.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Sunday, January 9, 2011 4:15 PM

ZephyrOverland

 

 FlyingCrow:

 

Ok...here's a poser:

60 years ago, what streamliner would take you the epicenter of E Pluribus Unum?

 

 

This may be off the wall but my interpretation of the question refers to the geographic center of the U.S., around Lebanon, Kansas  If that's the case, the only streamliner which would qualify would be the Rock Island's Rocky Mountain Rocket - albeit the Rocket just passed through Lebanon, not stopping there (per December 1950 OG).

There you go !!!    And I was very careful not to say you could get on or off the train there, but you could a few miles away, at Smith Center, upon signal.     Very good.   Yes  Of course 60 years ago , Alaska and Hawaii were not states so we were talking about the continental US only.

Take it away ZephyrOverland !

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Sunday, January 9, 2011 12:07 PM

FlyingCrow

Ok...here's a poser:

60 years ago, what streamliner would take you the epicenter of E Pluribus Unum?

This may be off the wall but my interpretation of the question refers to the geographic center of the U.S., around Lebanon, Kansas  If that's the case, the only streamliner which would qualify would be the Rock Island's Rocky Mountain Rocket - albeit the Rocket just passed through Lebanon, not stopping there (per December 1950 OG).

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, January 9, 2011 4:21 AM

60 years ago means January 1951.  The center of Union Station was not reached by the B&O trains nor by the PRR trains that terminated in Washington, which stopped at the north of the station concourse .  The trains to the south like the Southerner, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Silver Comet (the latter occasionally with heavyweight cars), East Coast Champion, West Coast Chamption, and Florida Special, were not in the center of the Unions Station but went through a tunnel on the east edge of the station.   Do you mean the PRR Embassy that crashed through the concourse, possible to reach the center by ridiing the GG-1?

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Posted by Texas Zepher on Saturday, January 8, 2011 8:49 PM

The epicenter of "out of many, one".   I presume that since this is used on many seals and coins of the USA this is refering to Washington DC.

If you mean 60 years ago to the date I don't know.  The 1938 "streamlined" Capitol Limited was not really streamlined cars but heavyweights with streamlining....  But the 1939 ACL Champion or the 1939 SAL Silver Meteor were both real streamliners.

If it were May 1941 then I could take the B&O  National Limited.
In June 1941 I could add the RF&P, ACL, FEC Tamiami Champion.
And if it were November 1941  I could add a ride one the Southern's Southerner.
Finally if it was December 1941 one could add the RF&P, SAL Orange Blossom Special. 

?

 

 

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Saturday, January 8, 2011 7:31 PM

Ok...here's a poser:

60 years ago, what streamliner would take you the epicenter of E Pluribus Unum?

 

 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, January 7, 2011 8:28 PM

FlyingCrow

I'll take a stab..... seems I read this in an old book named :"Pioneer Railroad" .   You know, one of those published during a railroad's 100th anniversary.

 

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

Buck, you got it.  That phrase was used by the C&NW in the years before WWI as a tag line for their overall passenger service. 

You have the next question.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Friday, January 7, 2011 8:06 PM

I'll take a stab..... seems I read this in an old book named :"Pioneer Railroad" .   You know, one of those published during a railroad's 100th anniversary.

 

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, January 7, 2011 7:25 AM

Texas Zepher

 

 ZephyrOverland:
Which railroad had "The Best of Everything?"

 

 

Which railroad had it, or which railroad used it as a slogan?   For no particular reason,  I'm guessing the Boston & Maine. 

 

I put that in quotes because it was a slogan used by a railroad.  I am looking for the railroad that used that phrase.  It wasn't the Boston and Maine.

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Posted by Texas Zepher on Thursday, January 6, 2011 10:18 PM

ZephyrOverland
Which railroad had "The Best of Everything?"

Which railroad had it, or which railroad used it as a slogan?   For no particular reason,  I'm guessing the Boston & Maine. 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Thursday, January 6, 2011 8:51 PM

FlyingCrow

Take it away...your turn.

Which railroad had "The Best of Everything?"

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Saturday, January 1, 2011 6:03 PM

 

Was it the PRR Trail Blazer?

 

 

Dinner Sure was, Zephyr.   I'm sure it was somewhat of a "novelty" until WW2 came along and those who had nowhere else to crash on a crowded train appreciated the convenience of a handy place to stash their stuff.

Take it away...your turn.

 

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Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, January 1, 2011 4:05 PM

Windy City Whistlers

Excerpt from The Life of James McNeill Whistler by E.R. & J. Pennell (1908)

The American Whistlers are descended directly from John Whistler, of the Irish branch. In his youth, he ran away from home and enlisted in the British army as a private, and the legend is that Sir Kensington Whistler, an English cousin, an officer in the same regiment, objected to having a relative in the ranks. John Whistler, therefore, was transferred to another regiment, in which he was colour-sergeant, just starting for the American colonies to join Burgoyne's army. He arrived in time to surrender at Saratoga, October 17, 1777. After this, he went back to England, received his honourable discharge from the army, and later eloped with Anna, daughter of Sir Edward Bishop, or Bischopp. He liked what he had seen of the colonies and, with his wife, returned and settled at Hagerstown, Maryland. He again enlisted, this time in the United States army. He was wounded in St. Clair's defeat by the Indians, November 4, 1791, rose to be captain in the First U.S. Infantry, with the brevet rank of major and served in the war of 1812 against Great Britain. In 1803 he was stationed at Detroit; later at Fort Dearborn, which he helped to build; and Fort Wayne, in what was then the North-West-Territory, later Indiana. According to Mr. Eddy, Whistler once said to a visitor from Chicago:

"Chicago, dear me, what a wonderful place!  I really ought to visit it some day - for, you know, my grandfather founded the city and my uncle was the last commander of Fort Dearborn!"

Excerpt from The Pictorial History of Fort Wayne, Indiana by B.J. Griswold (1917)

[Captain John] Whistler made the trip from Detroit to the site of Chicago, by way of the Straits of Mackinaw, accompanied by his wife, his son, Lieutenant William Whistler, and bride, and a younger son, George Washington Whistler. Troops marching overland from Detroit to the site of Chicago arrived at their destination at almost the same time that Whistler's schooner reached the end of its journey. After the erection of the stockade and blockhouses, Whistler became the commandant.

Excerpt from Chicago and the Old Northwest 1673-1835 by Milo Milton Quaife (1913)

The propriety of designating Kinzie the "father of Chicago" is dubious. No one individual can properly claim exclusive right to this title. The event which, more adequately than any other, signalizes the beginning of modern white settlement here was the founding of Fort Dearborn; and the man who with more propriety than any other may be regarded as the "father" of the modern city is Captain John Whistler, who built the first fort and for seven years dominated the life within and around its walls.

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Saturday, January 1, 2011 3:18 PM

Was it the rear car on the (1955) General Motors Aerotrain? 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Saturday, January 1, 2011 11:34 AM

FlyingCrow

The Next Question

This train featured a lounge observation with luggage racks.   Train Name and Railroad.

Was it the PRR Trail Blazer?

 

 

 

[/quote]

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Saturday, January 1, 2011 8:40 AM

Deggesty

 

I remember seeing  the interior picture of such an observation car, but I do not remember for certain what road it was. I'll guess the KCS' Southern Belle. I thought the car looked odd with the racks.

 

Nope......try again!!!  Confused

 

It does look odd indeed.    * Years and years ago I was actually part of the KC RR Museum...we obtained KCS Tavern Obs "Hospitality"....no luggage racks there. ****

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, December 31, 2010 10:30 PM

FlyingCrow

Thanks, Dave, and Happy New Year to everyone as well from not so sunny Florida (right now)

 

The Next Question

This train featured a lounge observation with luggage racks.   Train Name and Railroad.

 

 

 

 

I remember seeing  the interior picture of such an observation car, but I do not remember for certain what road it was. I'll guess the KCS' Southern Belle. I thought the car looked odd with the racks.

Johnny

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Friday, December 31, 2010 12:14 PM

Thanks, Dave, and Happy New Year to everyone as well from not so sunny Florida (right now)

 

The Next Question

This train featured a lounge observation with luggage racks.   Train Name and Railroad.

 

 

 

 

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Posted by ZephyrOverland on Friday, December 31, 2010 9:47 AM

Just wanted to wish everyone here a healthy, prosperous and

Happy New Year!

Here's to more interesting and engaging classic train questions in 2011!

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Posted by daveklepper on Friday, December 31, 2010 4:42 AM

The next question is yours.   I believe George Washington Wistler also engineered the Boston and Albany's route between Springfield and Albany, through the Birkshires.

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Thursday, December 30, 2010 6:29 PM

Stick out tongue Wow...Dave.    That's a good one, but because I took 2 classes in American Art years ago....I remembered it.  And for another reason...I'll mention at the end

ART?  No, not American Refrigerator Transit, but art-art....as in a famous artist and NOT his mother.   While James Whistler painted his mother's portrait and it became an American icon, his FATHER, George Washington Whistler along with William Gibbs McNeill were the primary civil engineers for the B&O.    GW Whistler was so close to his friend McNeill, that James actually has 3 first names, McNeill being the third.

George went to tsarist Russia (and died there) to do the work on the Moscow-St. Petersburg rail line.    

A descendant relation of Wm Gibbs McNeill family, C.W. Gibbs, became chief engineer of the Rio Grande Southern as well as other Mear's lines.   HIS grandson, John Gibbs Engstrom, was or is one of the owners of Athearn, Inc. after Irv Athearn passed away.

While I lived in Phoenix years ago, I became friends with John Engstrom, who was then an Sn3 modeler like myself and Jan Rons, and owner of one of the rare, beautiful silver Otto Mears passes....he showed it to me.

Whew.

 

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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, December 30, 2010 4:24 AM

Actually, there were hundreds of possible routings.   Rembember that the NYC allowed side trips to Niagra Falls, and possibly even to Toronto with use the CP from Toronto to (Windsor) Detroit.   Or you could go via Cincinnati or Indianapolis!   The PRR allowed to go via Washington and even via Detroit using the Wabash to Fort Wayne (did this eastbound).   With side trips to Princeton, and Atalntic City!   The B&O also had many options.   And while through LV cars ran on the CN-GTW, the LV would ticket you via the Nickel Plate, and the Lackawanna would ticket you via the CN-GTW if you wanted it.   Then there is the real screwey possibility of using the LV to Willksbarre, the Laural Line interurban (like the North Shore, the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley wrote tickets on any railroad as well connecting bus lines!   One ticket summer of 1952 Wilksbarre - Carbondale, L&WV -  D&H!) to Scranton, and then the Lackwawanna west from there.   And I didn't include the C&O, reachable in Washington via either the B&O-P&R-CRRNJ combination or the PRR, and usually ending up on the NYC Cincinnati - Chicago.   But the C&O did run its own Cincinnati - Hammond, IN local, with through ticketing on the South Shore to Chicago.

Question:   Name the American railroad engineer (design engineer, not locomotive engineer) who designed and oversaw the construction of the original Moscow - St. Petersburg Railroad, and give as much information on his background and biography as you can in say no more than 1000 words.   (Of course he did USA railroad design and construction work as well!) 

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