Trains.com

World's fair wonder

11067 views
101 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 7:24 PM

seppburgh2
A little off topic, but why are there no more World Fairs? Was at the NYC and the Montreal fairs when I was a kid. Sad to think what kids are missing out on.

The next one is in Dubai: http://www.expomuseum.com/2020/

The last one was inb Kazakhstan: http://www.expomuseum.com/2017/

  1. 2005 Japan
  2. 2008 Spain
  3. 2010 Shanghai
  4. 2012 South Korea
  5. 2015 Italy

The last fairs in the USA were 1982 Knoxville Tenn. and 1984 New Orleans.

I went to this one:

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 6:35 PM

Ah, the 1939 New York World's Fair, the greatest world's fair, at least according to Mom, she was there!  And more than once too!

I'll never forget the ride home from the 1964 World's Fair, and Mom saying "Oh, that was fun, but the 1939 fair was a LOT better!"

"Awwwww, Mommmmmmm...."

Kind of makes sense though, 1939 was the greatest year for movies too,  "The Watershed Year" it's been called by film historians.  Those same historians say you could make a career out of studying the films released by Hollywood in 1939. 

Let's see, "The Wizard of Oz," "Gone With The Wind," "Stagecoach," "Wuthering Heights," "Dodge City," "The Hound Of The Baskervilles..."

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 11:11 AM

Wherever I can get a pizza with double anchovies, bacon, mushrooms, green olives and pepperoni of course. 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 10:39 AM

Miningman

So World Fairs have been replaced by ' look it up on line'. Can't think of anything dumber and less exciting.

 This was supposed to be where 20-30 years into the future and grand human achievement existed. Oh well we still have the lesser insightful and commercial Trade Fairs and Car Shows... for now anyway.

I shudder to think history being replaced by simulations.

We are all getting dumber..... and manipulated.  

 

"Jones1945 explains to Miningman that the Matrix is an illusory world created to prevent humans from discovering that they are slaves to an external influence. Holding out a capsule on each of his palms, he describes the choice facing Miningman:

This is your chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." CoffeeBlindfold

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 9:55 AM

So World Fairs have been replaced by ' look it up on line'. Can't think of anything dumber and less exciting.

 This was supposed to be where 20-30 years into the future and grand human achievement existed. Oh well we still have the lesser insightful and commercial Trade Fairs and Car Shows... for now anyway.

I shudder to think history being replaced by simulations.

We are all getting dumber..... and manipulated. 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 8:43 AM

seppburgh2
A little off topic, but why are there no more World Fairs? Was at the NYC and the Montreal fairs when I was a kid. Sad to think what kids are missing out on

Because there is no need to put every new product and idea from different industries all in one single event anymore. Corporation and the general public from all around the world have a lot of ways to reach their costumer and understand the most updated info of different industries on a daily basis; from the television, radio, publishment, advertisement, exhibition, global fair and today's internet... ComputerCoffee

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 18, 2019 10:35 PM

MidlandMike

World's Fairs are money losers so none have happened in the US for decades.  It seems only losing sporting events are supported.

 

Don't kid yourself.  Somebody's  making money on those sporting events or there wouldn't be any more of them either.  

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Monday, February 18, 2019 9:37 PM

World's Fairs are money losers so none have happened in the US for decades.  It seems only losing sporting events are supported.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 399 posts
Posted by seppburgh2 on Monday, February 18, 2019 8:04 PM
A little off topic, but why are there no more World Fairs? Was at the NYC and the Montreal fairs when I was a kid. Sad to think what kids are missing out on.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 10, 2019 5:02 PM

M636C
 
Jones1945

I guess the SAL added the nose door on 3014, year unknown...

https://www.shorpy.com/node/19490 

The photo I had wasn't that clear...

So there must have been a door in the unwashed area....

So both 3013 and 3014 lacked the nose doors at the World's Fair and had them added later (assuming that the earlier posted photo was of 3013 at the Fair.)

I had seen that entry on Shorpy but had forgotten it...

Peter

My belief is that all the early SAL E-3's had nose doors - configured to push out to be opened.  Otherwise they stayed recessed in the shape of the nose.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Sunday, February 10, 2019 5:33 AM

M636C

 

The photo I had wasn't that clear...

So there must have been a door in the unwashed area....

So both 3013 and 3014 lacked the nose doors at the World's Fair and had them added later (assuming that the earlier posted photo was of 3013 at the Fair.)

I had seen that entry on Shorpy but had forgotten it...

Peter

I believe the doors were added on them after they were built, therefore there was a brass model for the "smooth nose" version of # 3014. Speaking of SAL's nose door, I guess it was a safety measure for the crews wasn't it? The original nose door design on SAL #4500 was in the line of their needs! 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Thursday, February 7, 2019 6:39 AM

Jones1945

I guess the SAL added the nose door on 3014, year unknown...

https://www.shorpy.com/node/19490

 

 

The photo I had wasn't that clear...

So there must have been a door in the unwashed area....

So both 3013 and 3014 lacked the nose doors at the World's Fair and had them added later (assuming that the earlier posted photo was of 3013 at the Fair.)

I had seen that entry on Shorpy but had forgotten it...

Peter

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Thursday, February 7, 2019 1:12 AM

I guess the SAL added the nose door on 3014, year unknown...

https://www.shorpy.com/node/19490

 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 6:39 PM

How have we got this far without mentioning the song?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Blossom_Special_(song)

The song was written about the train after the E-4s took over (1938) and they appeared in some artwork relating to the song.

There is a good description of the train in Dubin's "Some Classic Trains", which used Trains articles, so it should be in the DVD also.

There ia a photo of 3014 in the December 1971 Trains article, but the locomotive has a dirty mark up the centre of the nose (having been cleaned in a car wash?) but there is no indication of a nose door, as in the model photo above. However 3013 clearly had a nose door as delivered and apparently didn't at the World's Fair.

Peter

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:10 PM

SSW9389

Preston Cook writes about the 567U/567V designs in the Summer 2012 Classic Trains, the E unit issue. See pages 20-21 where Cook writes about the E6. 

 

This is a useful summary...

http://utahrails.net/loconotes/pcook-emd-567.php

and could be read in conjunction with the Kettering paper..

Peter

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: Shelbyville, Kentucky
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by SSW9389 on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 9:38 AM

Preston Cook writes about the 567U/567V designs in the Summer 2012 Classic Trains, the E unit issue. See pages 28-29 where Cook writes about the E6. 

COTTON BELT: Runs like a Blue Streak!
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 6:36 AM

SSW9389

I don't have exact information, but there is a significant difference between the early 567 equipped slant nose E units and the later slant nose E units. The difference is in the engines. The E3s and E4s were built with paired 12V-567 U deck engines. The E5s and E6s were built with the 12V-567 V deck engines. If EMC wanted to show off the engines by comparison, there would be examples of both at the 1940 exhibit. That's my theory. Without original documentation from EMC or SAL I don't know how much further that theory can be taken. The 567 V deck was supposed to be a stronger design, than the 567 U deck engine. The change over to the V deck design occurred in the last quarter of 1939. 

 
I had independently come to the conclusion that EMC1940/SAL 3014 was the prototype E6. I'm familiar with the Kettering paper, I was given a copy in 1972, but it doesn't match engine developments to locomotive models, or at least not obviously. Clearly, Louis Marre who is a professor of English and not an engineer missed the engine change as the difference between E3 and E6.
 
I assume the E3s and E4s all had "U deck" engines as first built.
 
While Preston Cook uses the names 567U and 567V for these engines EMD didn't use such clear terms in the description of locomotives so this change would be missed by those unfamiliar with the changes.
 
Apart from SAL and their E4s, every customer for the E3 got two units only except C&NW (who got four), ACL (one) and KCS who got the prototype 822 along with their allocated two.
 
This could have been limited by the availability of 567U engines at this early stage of production, but after the introduction of the 567V customers could buy as many as they could afford.
 
If I recall correctly, the "U deck" used a complex casting to form the engine top deck while the "V deck" used a fabrication from plates and sections which style has been used ever since. This casting may have limited production volume and hence locomotive sales, as well as being subject to failure in service through cracking. I think GE reintroduced a casting in this location in their 645 engines which simplified production for the smaller numbers involved. Presumably casting design had improved over the decades to avoid the cracking.
 
Peter
  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: Shelbyville, Kentucky
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by SSW9389 on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:25 AM

Eugene Kettering, EMD Chief Engineer, presented a paper to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in November 1951. The title of the paper was "History and Development of the 567 Series General Motors Locomotive Engine". The part about the U Deck and V Deck engines is covered in the crankcase section starting on page 55. The first E6A, EMC #1940 was a preproduction prototype for the 567 V Deck engine. Kettering writes that the V Deck went into production in early 1940, see page 58. This historical gold mine document is hosted online by Don Strack at http://utahrails.net/pdf/EMD_567_History_and_Development_1951.pdf  

Ed in Kentucky

 

COTTON BELT: Runs like a Blue Streak!
  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: Shelbyville, Kentucky
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by SSW9389 on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 3:38 AM

I don't have exact information, but there is a significant difference between the early 567 equipped slant nose E units and the later slant nose E units. The difference is in the engines. The E3s and E4s were built with paired 12V-567 U deck engines. The E5s and E6s were built with the 12V-567 V deck engines. If EMC wanted to show off the engines by comparison, there would be examples of both at the 1940 exhibit. That's my theory. Without original documentation from EMC or SAL I don't know how much further that theory can be taken. The 567 V deck was supposed to be a stronger design, than the 567 U deck engine. The change over to the V deck design occurred in the last quarter of 1939. 

COTTON BELT: Runs like a Blue Streak!
  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 1:00 AM

SAL #3013

Posted by TPavluvcik on Flickr , George W. Pettengill Jr. photo, C. K. Marsh Jr. collection

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 8:01 PM

M636C
But clearly EMD dates take some interpretation.

Just like the model naming/numbering system(s)!

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 7:06 PM

SSW9389

EMC serial number historian Andre Kristopans has identified three serial numbers associated with the New York 1939-1940 World's Fair. Those serials are 851-852 and 974. According to Kristopans the 851-852 were built in March 1939 and correspond with EMC 1939, 1939B. See http://utahrails.net/ajkristopans/PASSENGERUNITS.php#ea4  

The 1939-1940 New York Worlds Fair was open from April to October both years. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair 

The most obvious thing is that the E4A unit was replaced by the E6A unit after the Fair closed in 1939. 

 
Equally obvious is that the E4B unit was there for the full two years...
 
Why did they replace the A unit but not the B unit after the 1939 season...? Presumably the B unit was repainted to match the 1940 A unit (since the 1939 A unit appeared to be painted differently, assuming that is it in the (third) photo above.)
 
All three of these units went to Seaboard. 1939A becoming 3013, 1940A becoming 3014 and the B unit becoming 3104.
 
Apparent 3013 was wrecked prior to 1948, so the unit displayed in 1964 (assuming this happened) had to be 3014.
 
There seems to be some confusion in Dr Marre's list in December 1971 "Trains". The "delivery" date for SAL 3014 (Nov 39) must be the date it was completed, however that date shown for SAL 3013 (Dec 39) must be its date of delivery to SAL. The date shown for SAL 3104 (Nov 39) can be neither its delivery to the railroad nor its build date, since it was at the fair for both years....
 
The Utah Rails list seems more reasonable in that respect.
 
But clearly EMD dates take some interpretation.
 
Peter
  • Member since
    July 2001
  • From: Shelbyville, Kentucky
  • 1,967 posts
Posted by SSW9389 on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 8:25 AM

EMC serial number historian Andre Kristopans has identified three serial numbers associated with the New York 1939-1940 World's Fair. Those serials are 851-852 and 974. According to Kristopans the 851-852 were built in March 1939 and correspond with EMC 1939, 1939B. See http://utahrails.net/ajkristopans/PASSENGERUNITS.php#ea4  

The 1939-1940 New York Worlds Fair was open from April to October both years. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair 

The most obvious thing is that the E4A unit was replaced by the E6A unit after the Fair closed in 1939. 

COTTON BELT: Runs like a Blue Streak!
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by M636C on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 7:27 AM

daveklepper

And I did see the to-be-Seabord E-3,4,6 in 1939 and its replacement in 1940, and not having recorded numbers, ages 7 and 8, of course thought they were the same locomotive! 

 

I viewed my first EMD locomotive in 1953, at the age of 5. I've subsequently identified it as Victorian Railways B63, on display at Sydney Terminal Station. I have clear memories of the day, including noticing that this was the first locomotive I'd ever seen without buffers. But like Dave, I didn't notice the number on the day...

Peter

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 6:38 AM

And I did see the to-be-Seabord E-3,4,6 in 1939 and its replacement in 1940, and not having recorded numbers, ages 7 and 8, of course thought they were the same locomotive! 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 5:50 AM

daveklepper

Are you sure the GM Train of Tomorrow was scrapped as early as 1964-1965?  I photographed the interior when it was displayed in The Bronx in 1948.  I rode the train after it was bought by the Northern Pacific and used as their traiby n for the three-railroads, three-trains-each-way Portland - Seattle pool servcie in 1961.  It was actually built by Pullman, had no really experimental features  - Excep that the dome was just after the Q's Silver-Vistq conversion, and before Budd production domes.

Thank you for the question and these precious photos, Dave! Was that you who holding the camera?

To be more precisely, the EMD E7A #765, later become UP #988 was retired in 1963 and "was sent back to EMD in 1965 and either rebuilt as an EMD E9A that was subsequently renumbered 912 or traded in on a new E9A; the records of EMD and the Union Pacific do not clearly indicate which occurred" (Ric Morgan "The Train of Tomorrow), the rest of the "Train of Tomorrow" train set: While Star Dust, Dream Cloud, and Sky View were retired from 1961 to 1964 and ultimately scrapped in 1964 at McCarty's Scrap Yard in Pocatello; only the Dome Observation Lounge ( Moon Glow) was "discovered" in 1990 and saved by the Golden Spike Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society.
(Source: http://utahrails.net/pass/train-of-tomorrow.php  & Ric Morgan "The Train of Tomorrow )


http://www.themetrains.com/gm-train-of-tomorrow-consist-04-moon-glow-dome-lounge-observation.htm

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 5:17 AM

I was 16 at the time.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 5:08 AM

Are you sure the GM Train of Tomorrow was scrapped as early as 1964-1965?  I photographed the interior when it was displayed in The Bronx in 1948.  I rode the train after it was bought by the Northern Pacific and used as their traiby n for the three-railroads, three-trains-each-way Portland - Seattle pool servcie in 1961.  It was actually built by Pullman, had no really experimental features  - Excep that the dome was just after the Q's Silver-Vistq conversion, and before Budd production domes.

 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • 1,618 posts
Posted by Jones1945 on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 3:05 AM

Overmod

I don't remember seeing GP35 1964 (or much of the GM exhibit at all) when I was there that year (in part this was because we were a Ford family and didn't care much for 'the General')

I was going by a piece I remember in Trains that said GM had displayed ... somewhere, not very prominent ... at least one slant-nose E unit that had been taken in as a trade-in, which I recall as being THE unit that was displayed at the earlier Fair  -- then rather promptly scrapped it afterward.  It should be relatively easy to fact-check this for someone with a functional Complete Collection.

Let me take a wild guess. GM has been proud of their diesel product, especially their E units, so they displayed an E unit which had a chance to drop by in the World's Fair before it was sent to scrap yard as a tribute or informal celebration to there own good old successful product. 

M636C

So in theory at least, EMC 1940 was built as an E-3, fitted with an E-4 nose door and delivered as an E-6 after display at the fair. It is shown as delivered 20 January 1940, so could not have appeared in the show for 1940.

It is this unit that was said to be displayed at the 1964 fair after being traded in on an SDP-35.

But what was the unit displayed during the 1940 Fair session? Was it the unit in the third photo?

Dr Marre's article in the December 1971 "Trains" pages 38-47 does not identify any second E unit as being displayed.

Peter

Thank you very much for the informative and very detailed response, Peter! 

SAL E4A(?) with nose door.

American-Rails.com

SAL #3014 (without nose door) 

  

SAL #3015 E6A with nose door.

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