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Classic Train Questions Part Deux (50 Years or Older)

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Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 11:43 AM

Yup.  Most of the distances NKP handled the cars were fairly short.  CERA box trailers had normal train air on their radial couplers.  The cars were handled in short cuts, so the relative underframe strength wasn't an issue.  Most of the activity had dried up by the time any ICC orders about arch-bar trucks in interchange service kicked in.

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Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 8:01 AM

I think I remember reading about such an arrangement between the Indiana Railroad (the interurban) and the Nickle Plate (NYC&StL).  'No reason that steam railroad would not have had similar arrangements with the C&LE, Detroit-Toledo, and Northen Ohio.

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 6:41 PM

Although later better known for "High Speed" freight service, this steam road handled interurban trailers for short distances for several connecting lines.  Although several other trunk lines shared its territory, it was the only road that regularly did so.

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, September 30, 2019 1:54 PM

That's it!.

The sections and their assigned washrooms were arranged on each side of the aisle thus from one end of the car: public washroo,: private section, 2 private washrooms (each taking 1/2 the space of a section, and thus were not as roomy as a regular washroom), private section, and then 5 ordinary sections. From the diagram, these private sections had curtains, just as the other sections did, so the porter was not hampered in preparing the berths as they were hampered by the aisle walls in enclosed sections. The only advantage (as I see such) to these sections was that the occupant(s) did not have to wait to use the washroom.

 

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Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, September 26, 2019 7:03 PM

The cars were probably a response to the Pickwick Night Coach, a double-deck Pullman-style road coach.  Pacific Greyhound bought 10 around 1930, probably for LA-SF service.

The 16 section cars cars were originally rebuilt (to plan 2412H) for SP's Sunset and Lark (used between LA and SF on both trains), with ten standard section plus four sections paired with four of the lavatories set up as "private sections".  Car names started with "Dale". Most of the cars were rebuilt in 1937 to plan 4042B (10 sec, 2DBR, 1Cpt) and named for colleges.  Four similar cars were rebuilt for Southern.

The names of the cars rebuilt to plan 2412H cars that were painted for Southern Ry. and named after important southerners:

Marshland -> John T. Morgan -> wrecked in 1933 on PRR at Tuxedo MD

Nacora -> Daleview -> John T. Morgan (1933)  -> Smith College

Trollope -> John Slidell -> Tufts College

Krantwood -> John Morehead -> Salem College

Graytown -> Henry W. Grady -> Heidelberg College

All four of the names had prevously been used on other cars assigned to Southern, built new  in 1925 and 1929.

All of the rebuilds were plan 4042B 10 secs, 2 DBR, 1 Cpt. and ended up in Southern Railway ownership.

 Thanks again to the Pullman Project database.

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Posted by Jones1945 on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 5:46 PM

Deggesty

In 1931 and 1932, Pullman rebuilt 20 16-section cars to have 14 sections and 6 washrooms. What was the reason for the 4 additional washrooms?

Incidentally 4 of these cars were rebuilt for service on a a New York-New Orleans train.

I guess it was because of the Jim Crow laws, racial segregation. The population of African Americans in New Orleans is still high nowadays, and the south was governed by the party that passed the Jim Crow laws, African Americans were not allowed to vote, serve on juries and local office...... Just a wild guess. Coffee

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 11:32 AM

Overmod

You got this out of Neubauer's list while reviewing the four Williams, didn't you?

 

Nope, Passenger Car Catalog Pullman Operated Equipment 1912-1949 by Kratville.

This work shows diagrams of the floor plans of various cars.

The new names of the cars were Henry W. Grady, John T. Morgan, John M. Morehead, and John Slidell. 

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 9:58 PM

You got this out of Neubauer's list while reviewing the four Williams, didn't you?

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 8:41 PM

In 1931 and 1932, Pullman rebuilt 20 16-section cars to have 14 sections and 6 washrooms. What was the reason for the 4 additional washrooms?

Incidentally 4 of these cars were rebuilt for service on a a New York-New Orleans train.

Johnny

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 1:10 PM

1932 cars eventual disposition:

William Davison -> Bluefield (1950) sold to AEC 1650 (1961)

William Lewis Sharkey -> Vicker (1940) to AEC 1652 (1961).  There were three William Lewis Sharkeys, the first built new in 1925.

William Rufus King -> Pembroke (1940).  Another William Rufus King was rebuilt in 1940 from Naughton (1916)

All of this info from The Pullman Project's database.

 

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Posted by NP Eddie on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 9:30 AM

Rob:

Thank you for adding information to the above post.

Ed Burns

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Posted by NP Eddie on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 9:25 AM

Johnny has it!!

One book I have shows a broadside of the "William Wyatt Bibb".

Next question to you.

Ed Burns

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Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 6:46 AM

The former Willam Rufus King/Stonewall Jackson ended up on NdeM as Cacahuamilpa (1950)

The four 1932 cars are listed in Pullman records as rebuilds from cars formerly assigned to PRR. 

Ravensworth (1911) -> William Davidson

Binstead (1911) -> William Lewis Sharkey

Beach Haven (1910) -> William Rufus King

Bucyrus (1917) -> William Wyatt Bibb

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, September 23, 2019 7:49 PM

In 1929, Pullman built four 8 section, 1 drawing room, and 2 compartment cars for the Southern Railway Crescent Limited. During the Depression, the train ran without a name,, but simply as #37 and $38. After the Depression, it was renamed Crescent, and Amtrak operates a train with the same name--but it runs on NS all the way between Washington and New Orleans, and not through Montgomery.

The cars wer named William Davidson, William Lewis Sharkey, William Rufus King, and William Wyatt Bibb, all of whom were politcal men in the South (US Representative, Senator, and Vice-President, and state governor--not necessarily in that order. In 1932, they were renamed, in order, George Wythe ("With"), Robert P. Hoke, Stonewall Jackson, and P.G.T. Beauregarde--all men of note in the South..  

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Posted by NP Eddie on Monday, September 23, 2019 4:37 PM

Dave and Jones1945:

Nope--I forgot that the Capitol Limited was on Amtrak--we rode it from Chicago to PGH about two years and had to wait for three or so hours for a train to Harrisburg.

Keep on digging.

Ed Burns

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Posted by Jones1945 on Monday, September 23, 2019 4:17 PM

Speaking of B&O Capitol Limited, here is a comparison of the consist to its primary rival, PRR's Liberty Limited in 1938:

The Capitol Limited (11 cars):

 (wiki)

  • Baggage-dormitory
  • 8-section 1-drawing room 1-compartment sleeping car
  • One dining car,
  • Three to four 8-section 5-double bedroom sleeping cars
  • 14-section sleeping car
  • Two 12-section 1-drawing room sleeping cars
  • Sleeper-buffet-lounge with a drawing room and three compartments. 

 

PRR's Liberty Limited (7 cars):

 (wiki)

  • One lounge Car (Drawing-room, three Double Bedrooms, Buffet),
  • 14 sections heavyweight Pullman sleeper,
  • 12-5 lightweight Pullman sleeper
  • 10-5 lightweight Pullman sleeper
  • One dining car,
  • One coach with reclining seat which was regularly assigned,
  • Observation car with two master bedrooms, one double bedroom, and a buffet lounge.[4] 
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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, September 23, 2019 3:01 PM

just guessing:   B&O Capitol Limited, four authors

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Posted by NP Eddie on Monday, September 23, 2019 12:02 PM

ALL:

I am going to jump into this forum with a new question:

This train (the name still used by AMTRAK) had four new heavy weights built for the train in 1929. In 1932, these four names were used on rebuilt sleepers.

Hint: All four had the prefix "William" in their name.

Name the railroad those four operated on and the name of the train.

What did all four "Williams'" have in common.

Happy researching!

Ed Burns

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, August 26, 2019 11:06 AM

rcdrye

I think Johnny (Deggesty) has it.

 

I answered the P&I question several months ago, and my question (overnight service between Columbia and Atlanta) was taken care of. Right now, I am out of it. I believe that all is in order now.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, August 26, 2019 10:22 AM

Not sure where BLS53 came from with his posting.  I still don't have an answer on my bottle train query, although rcrdye is getting close.  The bottle train was originally from Interlake's blast furnace in East Side to the finishing mill in Riverdale.

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 rcdrye on Monday, August 26, 2019 9:37 AM

I think Johnny (Deggesty) has it.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, August 26, 2019 1:07 AM

Who currently has this?  I didn't have the right answer.

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Posted by BLS53 on Sunday, August 25, 2019 11:53 PM

rcdrye

 

 
daveklepper

And CSX also uses it?

 

 

 

CSX no longer operates in the area.  The ex-NC&StL line was abandoned some time after the NC&StL/L&N merger.

 

Your question, Johnny!

 

NC&StL never used the bridge. At the time, they had plans to extend their trackage to St. Louis, but that never happened.

L&N took over the NC&StL in 1957. They ran a daily local from Bruceton TN to Paducah until 1981. The tracks were removed from Murray KY northward, a few years later. 

The Paducah & Illinois, was on paper only. Strictly concerned with the Metropolis bridge ownership rights and responsibilies of the railroads who used it. The P&I never owned any locomotives or rolling stock.

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, July 26, 2019 11:37 AM

rcdrye
I think one of the ends was Burns Harbor.

That would be this guy.  Currently with this name, owned by ArcelorMittal, useta be Beth Steel.

Meanwhile, the facility in East Chicago appears to have been called InLAND Steel at some point, Indiana Harbor ... I don't know whether East or West; this may have something to do with the disjoint operations.

I have no idea where that 'Riverside' came from...  of course it's Riverdale.  A little history from the Web:

The Acme Steel Furnace Plant on the east side of the river at 108th Street was part of a company with multiple roots. The original steel making plant on the site was Federal Furnace which opened in 1908. It merged with By Products Coke Corporation which in 1905 had opened a coke plant at 112th and Torrence Avenue. The merger was named Interlake Steel.  Eventually a conveyor was built across the Calumet River linking these two operations. Acme Steel which began operation in this area in Riverdale in 1917 later merged with these companies and was known as Interlake Steel.  In 1984 Acme Steel spun off from Interlake and remained in operation until late 2001 when it went out of business after being in bankruptcy for a number of years. ISG bought the Riverdale plant of former Acme but not the 89 acre furnace plant or the 102 acre coke plant.  The site still has some of the few remaining examples of the type of equipment used to make steel in this area. It had the last remaining blast furnace in the Chicago area until it was torn down in July of 2004.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, July 26, 2019 10:30 AM

IHB was not involved in the original routing.  Acme, later known as Interlake Steel, had the most disjointed steel mill in the Chicago area.  Coke ovens were located at 112th and Torrence, blast furnaces were across the Calumet River at 108th and Burley, and the finishing mill (still in operation) is in Riverdale (not Riverside).

Interstate Steel is a steel service center (warehouse) operator only.  One of my rugby teammates was a sales rep for that firm.

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 rcdrye on Thursday, July 25, 2019 7:05 PM

I know the move was on the EJ&E (at first) but I can't find the names of the plants, though I think one fo the ends was Burns Harbor.

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, July 25, 2019 11:11 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
The original endpoints were both Interlake Steel facilities and the routing was over a single railroad.

Well that rules out fairly conclusively what I thought it was: from LTV (now Arcelor Mittal) in East Chicago to the old Acme mill in Riverside (closed 2001, reopened 'under new management' in 2003).  Probably south on the ex-South Chicago & Southern 'Bernice Cutoff' line (ex-PRR?) then west on IHB at Burnham; Riverside being close to Dolton Junction.

(At least some of the Acme facilities may have been ex-Interlake Steel, but I haven't found good sources that show which was which.  You didn't mean InterSTATE, by any chance?)

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, July 25, 2019 11:04 AM

.

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, July 25, 2019 11:01 AM

.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, July 25, 2019 10:28 AM

The original endpoints were both Interlake Steel facilities and the routing was over a single railroad.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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