Trains.com

Classic Train Questions Part Deux (50 Years or Older)

856712 views
8197 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Friday, July 10, 2020 6:08 AM

I know Mr. Klepper knows what this is.  

If no one answers this in the next little while, I'll try a different question.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Monday, July 6, 2020 9:21 AM

Other thread (answered - LaSalle Street Limited, NYC 1910-1911, CRI&P Omaha-Chicago 30s ) . Overmod is still looking for the upgraded intercity link killed by a highway improvement.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, July 6, 2020 8:58 AM

All-right, the CA&E had one named eastbound Aurora - Chicago Wells Street Express. and I think it was the only named train on the Interurban.  But I forget the name, and there is no reason the Central could not have used it earlier for a New York - Chaigo Limiited.  Possibly some name associated with Chicago Board of Trade?  

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, July 5, 2020 10:53 PM

I thought this had been answered!

A notable consequence of ending service was that, as I recall, one of the railroad's cars was left in the (elevated) terminal when the track approach was taken down.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Sunday, July 5, 2020 10:30 PM

Bumping this up...any more clues, especially since this question has been around since early May?

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Monday, June 8, 2020 2:15 PM

Overmod

 

 
rcdrye
Hartford-Bristol-Waterbury (New Haven)?

 

Not at all what I was thinking.  but is that route wholly grade-separated, with a tunnel, and wiped out nearly at a stroke by one road improvement?

 

 

No, but it was an early route that was used by railbuses, and was wiped out by I-84.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, June 8, 2020 1:23 PM

rcdrye
Hartford-Bristol-Waterbury (New Haven)?

Not at all what I was thinking.  but is that route wholly grade-separated, with a tunnel, and wiped out nearly at a stroke by one road improvement?

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Monday, June 8, 2020 9:46 AM

Hartford-Bristol-Waterbury (New Haven)?

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, June 7, 2020 3:44 PM

Now you're too far east.  This is in one of your favorite stomping grounds.  Tunnel and grade separation surely identify it...

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, June 7, 2020 9:41 AM

Boston and Worcester?  But not grade-separated entering Boston, where Boston Elevated streetcar tracks were used east of Chestnut Hill.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Saturday, June 6, 2020 4:12 PM

Mr.Smith is correct in the first half of his thinking.  And Mr. Klepper almost certainly aware of the answer...

The critical thing has to do with a certain road improvement.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: FEC MP334
  • 961 posts
Posted by ZephyrOverland on Saturday, June 6, 2020 2:52 PM

Bumping this up.....any more clues?

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, May 21, 2020 11:19 AM

Try further east.  At comparable latitude.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:40 PM

I don't have the answer, but I feel like this is an interurban, perhaps in Ohio?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:08 AM

Bumping this so it doesn't get lost.  If this question is too weird, feel free to pose something different.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, May 4, 2020 12:31 PM

An Eastern railroad was notable for nearly halving the distance between two important cities with a fully grade-separated route, including a tunnel and a horseshoe curve.  A road improvement abruptly ruined its profitability, and it turned briefly to using early railbuses for at least some of its runs; that and a couple of wrecks in quick succession led to its being more or less summarily shut down.

Name the road, the cities, and the type of bus that was used.  Extra credit for pictures (which I expect will be forthcoming!)

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, May 4, 2020 10:20 AM

Overmod got the name and reason so he gets the next question.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, May 3, 2020 2:35 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
My apologies for the delay.  For a brief period in the 1960's, EL 5 and 6, the "Lake Cities", operated under a different name.  What was the name and reason for the change?

Would that be "World's Fair" -- for 'fairly' obvious reason in '64 and '65?

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, May 3, 2020 2:33 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

My apologies for the delay.  For a brief period in the 1960's, EL 5 and 6, the "Lake Cities", operated under a different name.  What was the name and reason for the change?

 

I do not recall the name (a Guide that has the information is in a box in my closet, and it is a lot of trouble for me to dig it out), but if I have the right idea, it had to do with the World's Fair in New York.

Johnny

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, May 3, 2020 10:27 AM

My apologies for the delay.  For a brief period in the 1960's, EL 5 and 6, the "Lake Cities", operated under a different name.  What was the name and reason for the change?

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 3:51 AM

Waiting for South Shore's question.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 7:10 PM

Overmod

Am I correct in thinking that one of the railroad museums has preserved a Buffeteria car, and has made a request for funds to restore it?

 

At IRM - https://www.irm.org/donations/milwaukee-road-126/

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 4:43 PM

Am I correct in thinking that one of the railroad museums has preserved a Buffeteria car, and has made a request for funds to restore it?

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 4:22 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Milwaukee Road, with its "Buffeteria" cars on the Morning Hiawatha.

 

You win a cellphane-wrapped sandwich!  Buffeteria cars provided table seating and buffet-style service, but did have a real food service attendant. The last train on the Milwaukee with an MILW diner was the Pioneer Limited, only for breakfast.  The City of Everywhere ran with one or more UP diners, depending on the season.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:30 AM

Milwaukee Road, with its "Buffeteria" cars on the Morning Hiawatha.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 10:00 AM

 

 

 

 

 

Wabbash?

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:40 AM

The service only shared part of the name with SP's Automat Buffet.  The midwestern train carrying these cars still carried first class daytime equipment, including an observation car.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:04 AM

Couldn't be the Pennsylvania, could it?

Automatic buffet?  mid-Fifties?

Of course they still had a potload of diners operating 'elsewhere' while that was being run.

We won't go into SP automatic/automat service.  There are some essential requirements for actual restaurant automats that are difficult ... or self-defeating ... for railroad use.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 6:39 AM

Deggesty

The Rock Island had Snack Beverage cars.

 

The  railroad I'm looking for still had two trains carrying diners in 1970; one of them did not make it to "A day", though the other did.  The cars used for the reduced-service dining shared part of their name with a much-hated near-equivalent invented by a western railroad in the same era.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 7:48 PM

The Rock Island had Snack Beverage cars.

Johnny

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter