It was either late 1903 or early 1904, but someone else will win with the exact date. This first, of course, was a test train, and it was only late in 1904 that all steam was removed from Grand Central Station or Grand Central Depot. Operation into Grand Central Terminal did, of course, take place until the Terminal was built and open in 1910.
wanswheel Exactly when did the first New York Central electric train run from High Bridge to Grand Central Station?
Exactly when did the first New York Central electric train run from High Bridge to Grand Central Station?
December 1906.
If you have written material at hand, then I defer to your judgement. Poassiblyi 1903 or 1904 was the first test operation of an S-1 electric locomotive?
Better memory now. Forgot that the first engine change point was Mott Haven, and in 1904, both NYC and NYNH&H trains were hauled by S-motors between Mott Haven and GCS. In 1905 the Harlem Div. changeover was moved to Wakefield or Mt. Vernon, and the New Haven 11,000V 25Hz AC catenary electrificaiton to New Rochelle was opened and then extended to Stamford before the end of that year. High Bridge in 1906 for the Hudson Div. seems reasonable, and someone else can provide the data for North White Plains and Harmon, and then Brewster North/Southwest. Everything but the New Haven, 600V DC underrunign third rail.
daveklepper If you have written material at hand, then I defer to your judgement. Poassiblyi 1903 or 1904 was the first test operation of an S-1 electric locomotive?
The following is from enotes.com within the Northeast Corridor entry:
"... Along with the construction of the new Grand Central Terminal, opened in 1912, the NYC electrified its lines, beginning on December 11, 1906 with suburban multiple unit service to High Bridge on the Hudson Line. Electric locomotives began serving Grand Central February 13, 1907, and all NYC passenger service into Grand Central was electrified July 1. NYNH&H electrification began July 24 to New Rochelle, August 5 to Port Chester and October 6, 1907 the rest of the way to Stamford. Steam trains last operated into Grand Central on June 30, 1908, after which all NYNH&H passenger trains into Manhattan were electrified. On June 22, 1914 the NYNH&H electrification was extended to New Haven, where it would end for many years."
The only correction from this entry is that Grand Central Terminal officially opened on February 2, 1913.
ZO, yes your turn.
Excerpt from Railroad Gazette (1906)
Actual beginning of electric operation of steam railroads is near at hand in New York City. Over the New York Central the first electric train, made up of eight Pullman cars and an electric locomotive, was run on September 30th from the initial electric terminal at High Bridge on the main line one mile north of its junction at Mott Haven with the Grand Central Station and Harlem Line through the Park Avenue tunnel and into the Grand Central station. In another column will be found a full description of present progress in the work of electrification on this road. In brief, the third rail and the transmission system are now practically complete on 17 miles of line, as far as King's Bridge, 10 miles out on the Hudson division, and Woodlawn, 13 miles out on the Harlem Line. The electric locomotives and motor cars have been on the ground since early in the summer, so that steam enginemen have had a chance to become familiar with their operation. The Grand Central Palace on Lexington Avenue has been converted into a temporary station for local trains, and with the exception of certain small though important details, the initial electric zone is ready for regular electric operation.
Excerpt from England's Railway Times (1906)
The inauguration of electric traction on the New York Central Railway, details of which have already appeared in The Railway Times, marks the most important application of electricity to main-line working in the United States. This undertaking involves the use of the continuous-current system with the third rail, and of electric locomotives for the through fast trains and multiple-unit control trains for local service. Over 40 miles have been electrically equipped, terminating at the magnificent new station now under construction in the heart of New York. The accompanying photograph, which we reproduce by courtesy of the Railway Age, of Chicago, was taken at High Bridge, where the steam engine was detached from the incoming express, and its place taken by one of the powerful new electric locomotives which are to haul the trains from that point to the terminus. The rehearsal of the 30th ult. was eminently satisfactory, a speed of 55 miles an hour being reached at certain points, and it is expected that by November 10 arrangements will have been completed for electric locomotives to take the trains regularly between the Grand Central Station and High Bridge.
3406 leaving High Bridge at 2:38 P.M.
http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=psnypl_mss_1206&t=w
3405 returning from Grand Central Station at 3:19 P.M.
http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=psnypl_mss_1205&t=w
Well I seem to have memory that placed everything about two years too early. But give us the dates for North White Plains and Brewster North to complete your analysis, please. Thanks!
wanswheel ZO, yes your turn.
What would be the appropriately named train to take from Chicago if one was going to sail on the Mauritania, Ile de France or Majestic from New York? RR and name, please.
Atlantic Limited, and I think it was the Erie!
ZO, the Erie's Atlantic Express comes to mind as a possibile answer.
Mark
Still would like the dates for electrification to White Plains and Brewster North if someone can supply. Thanks. I was first with Atlantic and Erie, but possibly Ezpress rather than Limited is the right answer. I never used the Atlantic Exprss or Limited. I and my family used the Erie several times when I was a youngster, and I think I recall seeing the name on the departure board at the Jersy City (Pavonia) Terminal. I did ride the EL's Lake Cities a few months before it was discontinued, from Hoboken to Chicago, Pride of Youngstown sleeper to Youngstown and coach the rest of the way, diner only to Huntington, but the meals were excellent.
Zo, if Express is right and Limited is just wrong and never was used for this train, by all means give the question to Mark. Thanks.
daveklepper Still would like the dates for electrification to White Plains and Brewster North if someone can supply. Thanks. I was first with Atlantic and Erie, but possibly Ezpress rather than Limited is the right answer. I never used the Atlantic Exprss or Limited. I and my family used the Erie several times when I was a youngster, and I think I recall seeing the name on the departure board at the Jersy City (Pavonia) Terminal. I did ride the EL's Lake Cities a few months before it was discontinued, from Hoboken to Chicago, Pride of Youngstown sleeper to Youngstown and coach the rest of the way, diner only to Huntington, but the meals were excellent. Zo, if Express is right and Limited is just wrong and never was used for this train, by all means give the question to Mark. Thanks.
The train I'm looking for is neither the Atlantic Limited nor the Atlantic Express. I know of at least 75 Atlantic Expresses and 8 Atlantic Limiteds, but the name I'm looking for was more unique. Both you and Mark are thinking in the right direction - consider the other means of transportation.
From Louis F. Grogans book, The Coming Of The New York and Harlem Railroad: electrification opened to Wakefield 1/28/07 while building to North White Plains finished in 1910 To Brewster completed in late 1983 with service in the spring (April) of 1984.
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ZephyrOverland wanswheel: ZO, yes your turn. What would be the appropriately named train to take from Chicago if one was going to sail on the Mauritania, Ile de France or Majestic from New York? RR and name, please.
wanswheel: ZO, yes your turn.
WAG: Something named or with the name "Ocean"
I'll leave for someone else to get the correct answer.
Thx IGN
narig01 WAG: Something named or with the name "Ocean" I'll leave for someone else to get the correct answer. Thx IGN
Nice try, but no.....
Another WAG.Perhaps something en Francais?
narig01 Another WAG.Perhaps something en Francais? Thx IGN
Nope...don't get hung up with the names of the ships.....
Here's a wild thought.... The Erie's Atlantic Express
I've been wracking my brain trying to think of a train with a nautical themed name that ran out of Chicago. I can't think of a one other than the Atlantic Express which several of us have mentioned already. I'll try a different approach and suggest the GTW's International Ltd.
FlyingCrow Here's a wild thought.... The Erie's Atlantic Express
That would be too easy....nope. Also this was proposed in an earlier posting.
KCSfan I've been wracking my brain trying to think of a train with a nautical themed name that ran out of Chicago. I can't think of a one other than the Atlantic Express which several of us have mentioned already. I'll try a different approach and suggest the GTW's International Ltd. Mark
Again, the Atlantic Express was already proposed and it isn't the International Limited. Remember, you already have the trains endpoints: Chicago-New York. Also, the schedule of this train allowed a minimum layover time in New York for passengers who had an evening departure on one of the liners.
Think about this - When you are taking one of the liners, you are also embarking on a certain type of voyage. This certain type of voyage is the crux of the trains name.
Also, this was not a new train. This train was renamed from an existing train and the previous name was, in essence, a railroad name.
The Admiral? PRR
daveklepper The Admiral? PRR
nope...
Commodore Vanderbilt?
Excerpt from The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review (1865)
About the time Vanderbilt sold out his interest in the Nicaragua-California line he had laid the keel of a new steam-ship, to be called the North Star. She was built, as all his vessels have been, under his own supervision, in a very complete manner, and splendidly fitted up with all that could tend to gratify or please. He had now become a man of great wealth. From the little boy of sixteen with his hundred-dollar sail-boat, he had gradually but surely crept up, accumulating and so using his accumulations that now his vessels plowed almost every sea, and his enterprising spirit was felt in every part of our country. It has never been his plan to put away his money in a chest, nor yet to simply invest it, but rather, in the fullest sense of the word, to use it. Consequently, it is said that to-day he employs more men, directly and indirectly, than any other person in the land. Having, then, from so small a beginning, worked out such great results, he proposed in May, 1853, to make the tour of Europe, with his family, in the North Star. The undertaking was a novel one, and yet, as has been said, in some respects a grand one. By means of this excursion a display of American enterprise and skill was made which was of essential service to the country. But besides that, for a single individual, without rank, without prestige, without national authority, to build, equip, and man such a noble specimen of naval architecture, and to mantain it before all the courts of Europe with dignity and style, was an extremely happy and suggestive illustration to the Old World of what the energies of man may accomplish in this new land, where they are allowed to have full play, uncramped by oppressive social institutions or absurd social traditions. Cornelius Vanderbilt is a natural, legitimate product of America. With us, all citizens have full permission to run the race in which he has gained such large prizes, while in other countries they are trammeled by a thousand restrictions.
For the purposes, then, of this excursion, the North Star was built and furnished. This was the first steamer fitted with a beam engine that ever attempted to cross the Atlantic. Many steamship men considered engines thus built impracticable for ocean steamers; but Vanderbilt, by his experiments on this and many other vessels, has, we think, established the fact that they are eminently suited for sea purposes, as well as river navigation. But we shall not attempt any description of the capabilities or of the beauty and elegance of this vessel as it then was. It is enough to say, it was perfect in all departments. Thursday, the 19th of May, 1853, was the time fixed for sailing; but as she was leaving her berth the strong current of the ebb-tide caught her on the quarter, and swung her upon a reef of rocks at the foot of Walnut Street. The damage being slight, however, was soon repaired, and on the following day she was on her way to Southampton. To give an account of this excursion, or even a small portion of what was seen or said, would require more space than we can spare, and, besides, is foreign to our purpose. In almost every country visited, they were received by all the authorities with great cordiality, as well as great attention. At Southampton the North Star formed the topic of conversation in all circles, and the party was honored with a splendid banquet, at which about two hundred persons sat down. When in Russia, the Grand Duke Constantine and the Chief Admiral of the Russian Navy visited the ship. The former solicited and obtained permission to take drafts of it, which duty was ably performed by a corps of Russian engineers. In Constantinople, Gibraltar, and Malta, the authorities were also very cordial and polite. But in Leghorn (under the government of Austria) the vessel was subjected to constant surveillance, guard-boats patrolling about her day and night - the authorities not being able to believe that the expedition was one of pleasure, but imagining that the steamer was loaded with munitions and arms for insurrectionary purposes. After a very charming and delightful excursion of four months, they returned home, reaching New York September 23d, 1853 - having sailed a distance of fifteen thousand miles. This certainly was an expedition worthy and characteristic of the man who undertook it, and met with that decided success which his efforts ever seemed to insure.
wanswheel Commodore Vanderbilt?
Nope.....
A fragment of the name has already been mentioned in previous posts....
More food for thought - Once upon a time there was a train called the Airliner. On the surface, it sounds weird for a train to be named after another form of transportation but in reality the name refers to a railroad concept of a straight line. The train name I'm looking for is somewhat similar in that you would not normally associate part of this name with rail travel, but unlike the Airliner, there is no rail industry reference to this name.
More WAG's to keep things going . Something with "Voyager" in it?
Or should we be looking at "Atlantic"?
narig01 More WAG's to keep things going . Something with "Voyager" in it? Or should we be looking at "Atlantic"? Thx IGN
The latter....
Here are some more hints:
This name was used in two time frames.
In the first time frame-
this train was operated as an all-Pullman, extra fare run
In the second time frame-
it was neither all-Pullman nor extra-fare
it transported New York cars via connecting trains
the name really didn't make sense in light of its consist
Was there an Internaitonal Limited that operated via Canada between NY and Chicago at one time? Later, possibly the Chicago - Toronton International Limited handled through cars to NY via the Lehigh Valley, running through Hamilton instead of Toronto. Just a guess..
daveklepper Was there an Internaitonal Limited that operated via Canada between NY and Chicago at one time? Later, possibly the Chicago - Toronton International Limited handled through cars to NY via the Lehigh Valley, running through Hamilton instead of Toronto. Just a guess..
There was never a Chicago-New York International Limited. It always was a Chicago-Toronto-Montreal train. Yes, there way have been Chicago-New York Pullmans via LV, but the train I'm looking for was a Chicago-New York train for a time. (HINT- I said New York, not Jersey City or Hoboken)
I have a final clue which I'll give tomorrow to hurry this on.
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