That is correct, and you beat me to it. Once I saw that NYC was correct, I remembered the conversion of some R-1 electric freight locomotive (freight because they lacked train heating boilers, although they were used in passenger service in emergencies) from 600V dc to 1500V dc for South Shore operation.
CSSHEGEWISCHStill looking for a response on my South Shore question, I didn't think that it was that tough.
During the 1960s didn't the South Shore rebuild some former NYC electrics for freight service? IIRC they were numbered into the 700 series.
With all the east coast rail experts on line. Has anyone know the correct answer to this question but me? What was the name of the railroad of the first railroad accident in the USA? Where did it happen in the USA?
The wire car and the express cars were originally IRR 375-377, not sure on the renumbering. South Shore's two steeplecab switchers (1004-1005, IIRC) went to Niagara Junction since they were too light for South Shore but nothing from Niagara Junction went to South Shore. NYC is the correct Class 1, though.
Before you ask about these, South Shore's two boxcab locomotives from the pre-Insull AC electrification went to St. Clair Tunnel Co.
And was not the wire car from the same series as the two express cars? All three were the three heavyweights (or medium-weights) that were not converted for one-man operation but remodelled to include an RPO section?
The Niagra Junction was a switching subsidiary of the New York Central, so I assume my first answer was correct. And it may have gone into NYC service before going to the South Shore.
The only secondhand equipment on South Shore from an interurban was wire car 1100 and express cars 503-504 from the Indiana Railroad. Consider a Class 1 as the original owner.
The South Shore may have picked up a Niagra Junction switcher and rewired it for 1500V. Most migrated to Grand Central terminal to replace the old S-1's, but one could have gone to the South Shore. Other possiblities would have a locomotive from the Sacramento Northern, Piedmont and Northern, Niagra St. Catherins and Toronto, or Illinois Terminal. Or the North Shore!
Not quite. The IC steeplecabs were sold to South Shore by way of Iron & Steel Products in 1941. You are in the right area, the correct answer is a secondhand locomotive.
After the Illinois Central dieselized its Chicago Lake Front FREIGHT electrification, after WWII, it sold (some?) of its steeple-cab electrics to the South Shore. I believe this was after the South Shore bought its "Little Joes", the GE's originally built for Russia. So, even thought these locomotives were much older than the Joes, they came to the South Shore later.
I was aware of the Chicago Tunnel Company prior to the flood in 1994 and already had a copy of "40 Feet Below" at the time. On to the next question: What was the last straight electric locomotive to be placed in service by the South Shore Line?
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I was watching what I believe to be the movie Grand Central Station on TV years ago and was totally enamored with scenes of Chicago Tunnel tracks and equipment along with the L chase!
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Paul,
Light up your stogie and ask the next question, The Chicago Tunnel Company operated from 1906 to 1958 hauling primarily parcels, coal, ashes and building construction excavation material on 60 miles of 2' gauge tracks under the streets of the city. They had a fleet of about 3000 cars and 149 mine style electric locomotives that drew 250v DC current from overhead wires by means of trolley poles. The following site is most informative and full of pictures of the tunnels and rolling stock.
http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html
Mark
Bridgeton and Harrison, which abandoned its Bridgeton - Harrison line early but continued operating Harrison - Saco Junction, the latter the connection with Maine Central. I think this was abandoned in 1940. The Monson Railroad may have lasted much longer, but I question if it was truly a common carrier, as my memory says it was owned by its only shipper.
Saw the abandoned roadbed, some ties still in place, between Bridgeton and Harrison when I attended summer camp at Ironwood, on Long Lake, north of Sebago Lake in the Bridgton area, summers 1948 and 1949. Campers were taken by bus from the Portland, ME, RR station. But on one return trip we road parlor on the Yankee Clipper from Boston and had an I-5 4-6-4 up front to New Haven.
Sorry , I should have checked the preceding posts. Of course the Chicago tunnel operated afterward!
I am not certain when the Monson quit. It nmay have outlasted the Chicago Tunnel, quitting at the end of WWII. .
I will say that it's the Chicago Tunnel Company, which quit in 1959.
Not the Edaville either. This railroad was a stand alone operation not a part of a larger company.
You are referring to common carriers, I presume.
Edaville lasted much longer (it wasn't started until later) but it was not a common carrier - though it was part of a commercial operation - Ocean Spray cranberries.
Bob
Sorry, Bob, but this RR remained in operation until quite a later date.
The Bridgton & Harrison Railroad, in Maine. I think it quit in 1941 or '42.
Bob Hanson,Loganville, GA
What was the last 2' gauge railroad to operate commercially in the US? Tourist and amusement park lines exclided.
Here are two more City trains not mentioned:
- City of Decatur - Illinois Terminal - St. Louis-Decatur
- City of Mexico - MP/TP/NdeM - St. Louis-Mexico City
Mark wins! The City of Las Vegas was later known as the Las Vegas Holiday Special. The Nickel Plate Ltd became the City of Cleveland eastbound and the City of Chicago westbound; it did continue to operate Chicago-Buffalo and the route was not truncated. I do not know why Cleveland was honored instead of Buffalo; may have been due to Cleveland serving as NKP's headquarters city. The name change occurred several years before the N&W takeover. The City of Kansas City name migrated to the UP after, first, the N&W discontinued its version, and later, discontinued its end of the City of St. Louis. In the last years before Amtrak N&W cut the Blue Bird back to a Chicago-Decatur run (replacing St. Louis) and called it the City of Decatur. At roughly the same time UP (and partner Milwaukee Road) consolidated all of its Cities into one train between Chicago and North Platte NE; the combined train was known informally as the "City of Everywhere".
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Johnny,
The City of Las Vegas is a new one to me. I never knew the UP had a train with that name. Now that you mention it I do vaguely remember the City of Cleveland. IIRC it was a truncated version of the old Nickle Plate Ltd which formerly ran between Chicago and Buffalo.
Shame on you, Mark. I just looked them up, and you omitted two of the famous--the City of Cleveland, which the NKP ran between Chicago and Cleveland, and City of Las Vegas, which UP ran between LA and Las Vegas (I would have missed both if I had not looked through a 1958 Guide). Incidentally, it was possible to spend all night in the "City of Cleveland" (5 DB lounge car) when riding the City of Cleveland.
Johnny
City of Miami - Chicago-Miami IC/CofG/ACL/FEC
City of New Orleans - Chicago-New Orleans IC
City of Memphis - Nashville-Memphis NC&StL
City of Kansas City - St. Louis-Kansas City WAB
City of St Louis - St, Louis-Los Angeles WAB/UP
City of Los Angeles - Chicago-Los Angeles CNW/UP
City of San Francisco - Chicago-San Francisco CNW/UP/SP
City of Portland - Chiocago-Portland CNW/UP
City of Denver - Chicago-Denver CNW/UP
Addendum: City of Milwaukee 400 - Chicago-Milwaukee CNW
There were a number of passenger trains named "City of....". Name as many as you can, with railroads & routes.
Thanks Mike...I grew up along the DL&W and thus a DL&W fan and an E8 fan. But those PA's certainly had lines and power to turn heads and move trains: Erie, LV, Sante Fe, NYC that I can recall most. Even had a cab ride in the D&H PA's over Belden Hill and through the tunnel! Great machines!
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