A Classic REAL Trains 'n Traction FOTO site!

[siberianmo]

G'day!

I saw Al peeking in and couldn't resist one more ......

Wabash #1601 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Now THAT's a great winter RR scene![tup]

Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Okay, some more for the Wabash #1601

Wabash #1601 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Hello!

A little more activity over here for a change![tup]

Greetings! artpeterson I think Lars has covered the invitation quite well![swg] Are you in or near Chicago[?] Anyway, thanx for the info ....

Here's something that may perk up some interest for a train trip!

Wabash #1601 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[LoveDomes]

Hello Tom

Just stopped by on the way to the bar - running just a tad late today. Weather around here isn't too bad (yet), but we're bracing for a "whopper," so they tell me! Wouldn't you just love to have a job where you can be right or wrong at least 50% of the time AND GET PAID FOR IT! Incredible.[swg]

Nice pix and Fallen Flag. Keep it up - looks like between the guys from the bar and you, we'll make this thread work out.[tup]

I see a new guy - hello artpeterson! Didn't catch very much info from your profile, but then again, mine isn't all that revealing either![swg] I'm sure Tom will appreciate your visit. By the way, if you haven't done so, check out his other thread over at a cyber bar called "Our" Place - it's on this forum of Classic Trains. You just may enjoy it.

Sorry, no pix right now. Gotta run ...

Until the next time!

Lars

[artpeterson]

Hi all -

Great to see all those Milwaukee superdomes and the cars more recent reincarnations, as well - thanks for digging up the images, info, etc. and posting them!

In following up to the Pullman piece posted earlier, I understand WGN TV in Chicago (and its super station sister) are to run a show on Pullman porters, etc. Indeed, a plug for the show aired during their news this am in Chicago. The program is supposed to air in Chicago at 8 pm cst on Saturday; not sure what time it is to air on the super station side of things.

[siberianmo]

G'day!

PASSENGER RR FALLEN FLAG #44

Here’s another Passenger RR Fallen Flag from Classic American Railroads:

Wabash (WRR)

Headquarters: St. Louis, MO

Mileage in 1950: 2,393

Locomotives in 1963:

Diesel: 319

Rolling stock in 1963:

Freight cars: 14,240
Passenger cars: 126

Principal routes in 1950:

Buffalo, NY-Detroit, MI-Fort Wayne, IN-Decatur, IL-Springfield, IL-Moberly, MO-Kansas City, MO
Chicago-Decatur-St. Louis (followed Buffalo-KC Line Bement-Decatur)
St. Louis-Moberly, MO-Des Moines, IA
Brunswick, MO-Council Bluffs, IA
Toledo, OH-Chicago
Bluffs, IL-Keokuk, IA

Passenger trains of note:

Banner Blue (Chicago-St. Louis)
Blue Bird Chicago-St. Louis)
City of Kansas City (St. Louis-Kansas City)
City of St. Louis (St. Louis-Denver-Cheyenne-Los Angeles)
Des Moines Limited (St. Louis-Des Moines)
Detroit Arrow (Chicago-Detroit)
Detroit Limited (St. Louis-Detroit)
Kansas City Express (St. Louis-Kansas City)
Midnight Limited (St. Louis-Kansas City)
Omaha Limited (St. Louis-Omaha)
Pacific Coast Special (St. Louis-Pacific Coast points)
Red Bird (Chicago-Detroit)
St. Louis Limited (Detroit-St. Louis)
St. Louis Limited (Des Moines & Omaha-St. Louis)
St. Louis Special (Kansas City-St. Louis)
The Midnight (Chicago-St. Louis)
“Wabash Cannon Ball” (St. Louis-Detroit)

Of note: Chicago-Detroit service by PRR between Chicago-Fort Wayne; through trains west of Kansas City handled by UP

WABASH CANNONBALL
(unknown author & date)

From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore
From the green ol' Smoky mountains to the south lands by the shore She's mighty tall and handsome and she's known quite well by all
She's the regular combination on the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear the lonesome hoboes call
You're traveling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball
Our eastern states are dandy, so the people always say
From New York to St. Louis with Chicago by the way
From the hills of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
Now here's to Daddy Claxton, may his name forever stand
And always be remembered through the courts throughout the land
His earthly race is over, now the curtains round him fall
He’ll be carried home to Glory on the Wabash Cannonball!

Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Hey Al!!

One more time! The absolute last Pix for former Milwaukee Road #50 ........

Amtrak #9310 (Auto Train) former Milwaukee #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)



Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

[wow] That's quite a rundown on the Streamlined Parlor cars! What a way to travel and wouldn't it be nice if . . . . [?] Thanx![tup][tup]

Just to keep it going, another former Milwaukee #50, just for Al[swg]

Amtrak #9310 (1993) former Milwaukee #50 [courtesy: www.trainweb.org]


Appreciate the insights regarding car #50, always is meaningful when it comes from someone who "knows!"[tup]

Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

Tom hope this fits in today.

STREAMLINED PARLOR CARS OF THE
UNITED STATES
&
CANADA

by Al

INTRODUCTION

The lightweight streamlined Parlor car was to daytime first class rail travel what the Pullman was to overnight first class rail travel.
The railroads of the United States and Canada operated a surprising number of lightweight streamlined Parlor Cars.
Lightweight streamlined Parlor cars basically came in one of two types of seating arrangements. First there were the single swivel seats located on either side of a center aisle. This style of Parlor car seating was most popular in the East and Pacific Coast. In the Midwest many railroads operated Parlor cars with deluxe large upholstered chairs with armrests similar to that found in many Living rooms of families in America at the time. Unfortunately these plu***ype seats were generally arranged with their backs against the car sides below the windows not exactly conducive to viewing the passing countryside. All that was missing was the Ottoman and a roaring fire in the fireplace and you could have been in your own living room. One thing about this arrangement was these parlor seats were easily movable and few Parlor attendants objected to a little rearranging of the seats for viewing as long as the center aisle wasn't blocked and it didn't inconvenience the other Parlor car patrons. On many trains the last car in the train was a Parlor Observation and they generally featured some lounge seating in the Observation end for the Parlor car patrons to enjoy.
The New Haven purchased thirteen new Parlor cars that were delivered in July - August 1948 that seated 52 passengers. These cars had paired seats on one side of the aisle and single swivel seats on the other side of the center aisle. Twelve other Parlor cars were delivered at the same time with 36 Parlor seats eighteen single swivel seats on either side of the center aisle. The New Haven soon found Parlor car patrons complaining about the 2-1 seating arrangement and was forced to replace the double seats with single swivel seats to appease the irate parlor car patrons converting the 52 seat cars to 36 seat seating like the others. The conversion of these cars to 36 seat Parlor cars occurred in the first quarter of 1949.
Interestingly enough this two and one seating for Parlor car patrons would surface once again in the late 1960s and early 1970s only this time it would stay. Not on the New Haven but on the Penn Central and Canadian National. Both railroads added Airline style Galleys to their Parlor cars and called them Club cars with meals included in the fare and served at each Parlor car Patrons seat. The Canadian National railroads 2-1 seating became very popular due to the design and comfort it provided. The Canadian National even offered a complimentary glass of wine with the superb meals served in the Club cars. The caterer used for this service was CARA who also served up Air Canada airline meals as well, but those prepared for the CN Club cars were exceptionally fine fare comparable to first class food on the airline flights.
Other lightweight streamlined Parlor cars besides Parlor seating offered a single 5 seat Parlor Drawing room complete with private bathroom annex. The Parlor Drawing rooms were always popular with companies en route to a conference or trade show. Returning from these shows there were some great Poker Games played in these Parlor Drawing Rooms.
The Pennsylvania Railroad offered the famous Conference Room cars on the CONGRESSIONALS between New York and Washington. These cars with seven Conference rooms and the Telephone room provided many businesses with meeting rooms in route between the two cities and were frequented by fortune 500 companies. It is said that many major business decisions were made in these two cars.
One Northeastern railroad the New Haven not only offered Parlor Drawing Rooms but Parlor Roomettes as well for the individual wishing to have privacy to work or maybe just rest.
It is said that some of the parties that took place in the Parlor Drawing rooms became legendary. In fact many say that if this had been the age of industrial espionage a camera with microphone hidden in the Parlor car Drawing rooms would have yielded the company secrets of many fortune 500 companies. Never mind the blackmail prospects of the company president traveling to a conference with a secretary or girlfriend in the Parlor Drawing Rooms. But there was little to fear as the Parlor car attendants like there sleeping car counterparts were the last word in discretion, they upheld there patrons secrets with no fear of divulging them in the finest Parlor car attendant tradition.
Streamlined Parlor cars were conspicuous by their absence in the South Eastern United States. The one exception was the IC PANAMA LIMITED carrying a Parlor car between Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. In fact the IC PANAMA LIMITED has the distinction of being the only streamlined train to carry two different streamlined Parlor cars in both its northbound and southbound overnight runs between New Orleans and Chicago. The southbound IC PANAMA LIMITED carried a Parlor car between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois and the next morning picked up a streamlined Parlor car at Jackson, Mississippi for the run to its southern terminal at New Orleans. Northbound the IC PANAMA LIMITED operated with a streamlined Parlor car between New Orleans and Jackson where it was set out to await the southbound PANAMA LIMITED the next morning. The northbound IC PANAMA LIMITED picked up the streamlined Parlor car at Carbondale the next morning the same car that had been left by the previous evenings southbound IC PANAMA LIMITED. The northbound then proceeded to Chicago with this parlor car in its consist.
At one time it would have been possible to ride Parlor cars from coast to coast if one had desired and had the time. One could take the NYC EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS in Parlor cars from New York City to either Cleveland or Detroit. After an overnight stay at a hotel in either city one could travel west from Cleveland in the NYC MERCURY or leave Detroit on the same MERCURY or leave in the evening aboard the TWILIGHT LIMITED and arrive in Chicago where one could spend another night in a fine Hotel. The next day one could board one of three trains Parlor cars to Minneapolis the CB&Q TWIN ZEPHYR, C&NW 400 or CMSTP&P HIAWATHA.
At that point one could board the NP MAINSTREETER to Seattle. This train provided Parlor seating for all daytime travel segments the same parlor seating becoming additional Lounge space for sleeping car passengers at night. On the West Coast one could ride from Los Angeles to Vancouver, B.C. in Parlor cars again if one had the time. From Los Angeles one could board the SP MORNING DAYLIGHT to San Francisco or the SAN JOAQUIN DAYLIGHT to Oakland. After an overnight stay in a hotel one could board the SP SHASTA DAYLIGHT Parlor Observation for the run to Portland, Oregon. After another overnight stay one could board the UP pool train to Seattle that for many years-featured Dome Parlor car service. After arrival in Seattle at Union Station one passed under the 4th Ave. underpass to King St. Station and boarded a waiting GN INTERNATIONAL train with Parlor Observation PORT OF SEATTLE or PORT OF VANCOUVER waiting to complete the west coast Parlor car journey. At one time the AT&SF SAN DIEGANS had offered Parlor car service as well but this had been discontinued before WW II.
Only one all streamlined Parlor car train entered service and that was the postwar NYNH&H MERCHANTS LIMITED between Boston and New York City. The dining and Lounge Observation remained heavyweights as the lightweight diners and Lounge Observations did not arrive until after the train was downgraded with the addition of coaches. All of the Parlor cars beginning in October 1948 in the MERCHANTS LIMITED were streamlined postwar cars. The MERCHANTS LIMITED probably had the shortest career as a streamlined all Parlor train for in just eight months, this once famous all Parlor car train was assigned coaches beginning June 26, 1949.
As popular as lightweight streamlined Parlor cars became they never gained the popularity their heavyweight brethren had. Like Pullman Sleeping cars the heavyweight Parlor cars were attended by Pullman personal in many cases although many more railroads operated the Parlor cars using their own car attendants. During the lightweight streamlined years of rail travel individual railroad crewmen manned many of the lightweight streamlined Parlor cars instead of the Pullman Parlor attendant.
With few exceptions the Parlor cars were trainlined at or near the rear of most trains. Exceptions were the NYC EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS that carried the streamlined Parlors directly behind the head end cars. The reason most Parlor cars were located at the rear of consists usually behind the dining cars was to keep the coach passengers from wondering through, and giving the Parlor car patrons the shortest distance to walk when boarding the train. Some trains such as the NYNH&H MERCHANTS LIMITED and PRR CONGRESSIONALS carried seven or more Parlor cars in there consist. Railroads with the greatest numbers of lightweight streamlined Parlor cars were the NYC, NYNH&H, and PRR. All New Haven and most PRR lightweight streamlined Parlor cars operated in the Northeast corridor between Boston - New York - Washington. Probably the second highest concentration of lightweight streamlined Parlor cars were operated between Chicago and St. Paul-Minneapolis in the 400's of the C&NW, TWIN ZEPHYRS of the CB&Q and HIAWATHAS of the Milwaukee Road. Third heaviest concentration of lightweight streamlined Parlor cars was between St. Louis and Chicago by the GM&O ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ANN RUTLEDGE, Wabash BLUE BIRD, and Illinois Central DAYLIGHT and GREEN DIAMOND.
Few railroads operated Parlor cars in trains that operated overnight with the exception of the CB&Q, IC, NP and SP. These four railroads' provided parlor cars operating in overnight trains, but the parlor car space was not sold after midnight. After midnight the parlor space became additional lounge space for the sleeping car passengers. The IC train as mentioned earlier did not operate the parlor car throughout the night but only operated these cars for parts of the trip.
In the case of the CB&Q it was the original DENVER ZEPHYRS of 1936 and in the new DENVER ZEPHYRS of 1956. Parlor car space was provided in these overnight trains between Denver and Chicago. The eastbound DENVER ZEPHYR sold Parlor space between Denver and Lincoln, Nebraska and the westbound DENVER ZEPHYR sold parlor space between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska. As previously mentioned the IC PANAMA LIMITED carried Parlor cars over two different stages of their nightly runs in both directions. In the case of the Southern Pacific the overnight train that operated with Parlor cars was the STARLIGHT between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The southbound STARLIGHT sold Parlor space between San Francisco and San Jose some evidence exists that parlor space southbound was actually sold as far south as Salinas while the northbound sold parlor space between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. In any event it was not well received and was discontinued within days. The SP STARLIGHT was inaugurated October 2, 1949 with a Parlor car on the rear of each train and the parlor car was discontinued October 31, 1949. The fourth overnight train assigned parlor cars was the NP MAINSTREETER between St. Paul and Seattle. One of the car types built for this train originally was a Lounge and Parlor car. During daylight hours of this trains operation the Parlor seating was sold at parlor car rates and the lounge half of the car was operated as a lounge for the first class passengers from the sleeping cars as well as the parlor space. In the late evenings the Parlor space became additional Lounge space for sleeping car passengers. These cars soon lost their parlor car seating in any event.
Three railroads offered streamlined trains with parlor car service between the two largest cities in Texas Dallas and Houston. The SP provided two daily streamliners the HUSTLER and SUNBEAM, The CB&Q provided the SAM HOUSTON ZEPHYR and the Rock Island provided the TEXAS ROCKET.
Only four Railroads provided lightweight streamlined parlor cars operating in international service between Canada and the United States. They were the Great Northern in the Northwest between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. The CNR-GTW route between Toronto and Chicago was another international parlor car route. The CPR route between Toronto and Detroit, and the D&H - NYC route between Montreal and New York.
The Canadian Railroads seemed to keep their Parlor car services in the so-called Canadian corridor between Quebec City and Windsor.
The NdeM purchased nine former NYC lightweight streamlined Parlor Observations but there is no record of them operating south of the U.S. border in Parlor Car service, instead were operated as Lounge cars.
Parlor car seating on some trains numbered as few as nine while other trains operated with two or more complete parlor cars while still others like the PRR CONGRESSIONAL operated with as many as seven parlor cars accommodating up to 223 Parlor Car passengers per trip. When the streamlined All Parlor MERCHANTS LIMITED entered service with up to ten Parlor cars and parlor seating for 301.
Streamlined Parlor cars shared car bodies with coaches where 1/2 of the car was coach seating and 1/2 was parlor seating. Other streamlined parlors shared the same car bodies with Dining, and Lounge facilities. While on at least one Railroad the Parlor seating shared a car body with Baggage space, this car rode at the front of the train. Their were also all room Parlor cars those built for the PRR CONGRESSIONALS Dome Parlors found on the Wabash BLUE BIRD and Dome Parlor Observations such as those found on the CB&Q VISTA DOME TWIN ZEPHYRS, KANSAS CITY ZEPHYRS and DENVER ZEPHYRS besides once again the Wabash BLUE BIRD.
Car manufacturers American Car & Foundry, Bombardier, Budd Company, Hawker Siddeley, Montreal Locomotive Works, Pullman Standard, Rohr and St. Louis Car Company built lightweight streamlined Parlor cars. Bombardier built the L-R-C trains for VIA Rail Canada. Hawker Siddeley built the TEMPO trains for Canadian National Southwestern Ontario services. Montreal Locomotive Works built the CN Turbo trains. St. Louis Car Company built the three MU electric multiple unit Parlor Observations for the Illinois Terminal. American Car & Foundry, Budd Company and Pullman Standard constructed the bulk of all lightweight streamlined Parlor cars. As this is written three other companies have joined the ranks of Parlor car manufacturers Alstom, Talgo and Morrison Knudsen.
The Canadian Pacific built at least one streamlined Parlor car while Milwaukee Road built all of there lightweight streamlined straight Parlor cars as well as the famous Beavertail Parlor Observations and the post WWII SKYTOP Parlor Lounge observations. Several Railroads modernized and in some cases streamlined old heavyweight cars to Parlor cars, among those roads were the Baltimore & Ohio, Great Northern, Illinois Central, Lehigh Valley, Monon, New York Central and St. Louis - San Francisco. Both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific converted modern streamlined Coaches to streamlined Parlor cars the only two roads to do so.
Two manufacturers built modern narrow gauge parlor cars to a turn of the century design and are included in this article because I like them. These were WP&Y parlor cars manufactured by Coast Steel Fabricators of Vancouver, B. C. and Pacific Car & Foundry of Renton, Washington.
Those trains that operated with two or more Parlor cars consistently were the following:

ALTON - GM&O


ABRAHAM LINCOLN

ANN RUTLEDGE

B&O
ROYAL BLUE

CNR

MORNING RAPIDO

AFTERNOON RAPIDO

MORNING TURBO

AFTERNOON TURBO

C&NW

TWIN CITIES 400

CB&Q

MORNING TWIN ZEPHYR
AFTERNOON TWIN ZEPHYR

CMSTP&P

MORNING HIAWATHA

AFTERNOON HIAWATHA

IC

DAYLIGHT

GREEN DIAMOND

PANAMA LIMITED

NYC

EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS

MERCURY

NYNH&H

MERCHANTS LIMITED

YANKEE CLIPPER

PRR

CONGRESSIONAL

SENATOR

SP

MORNING DAYLIGHT

NOON DAYLIGHT

WABASH

BLUE BIRD

At the other extreme were trains like the prewar KCS SOUTHERN BELLE with nine Parlor seats and two three person Parlor Staterooms. The ten Parlor seats of the first DENVER ZEPHYRS operated by the CB&Q and the 11 parlor seats and 5 seat Parlor Drawing Room of the 1956 DENVER ZEPHYRS. The FRISCO FIREFLYS offered 10 Parlor seats.
Several Railroads owned but a single lightweight streamlined Parlor car such as the C&EI, RF&P, SP&S and UP.
Largest owner of modern streamlined parlor cars was the NYNH&H.
Many streamlined Parlor cars were simply numbered while others like sleeping cars were named or numbered and named both.
During the heavyweight era Pullman offered Parlor cars ranging from 24 seat Parlor with a 5 seat Parlor Drawing Room to 36 parlor seat cars. There were 12 seat parlor 5 seat Parlor Drawing Room Buffet Lounge Sunroom cars and just about every combination in between.
In 1941-42 Pullman sold 325 heavyweight Parlor cars to the railroads to convert to coaches or dining cars. In one case two of these cars sold to the Great Northern were converted to coaches and later after WW-II the GN shops rebuilt the two into streamlined Dining Parlor Observations assigned to the GOPHER and BADGER between the Twin Cities (St. Paul - Minneapolis) and the Twin Ports (Duluth - Superior). This is the only known example of heavyweight parlor cars first converted to heavyweight coaches and later to streamlined Dining-Parlor-Observations.
During peak travel periods like thanksgiving and Christmas many old 12-1 heavyweight sleeping cars were pressed into service as parlor cars by day and sleeping cars by night.
Many railroads felt the parlor car was a thing of the past by the time WW II ended but many had said the same thing during the great depression.
In one instance during the heavyweight car era the C&NW introduced heavyweight 400 trains between Chicago and the Twin Cities. What set these heavyweight trains apart from any other was they operated with two Parlor cars in each train set. One was Railroad owned and operated the other was Pullman owned and operated. From my research I have come to the conclusion these were the only trains in North America to operate with a railroad owned and Pullman owned Parlor car in the same consists.
Streamlined Parlor seating was introduced in the very first diesel powered three car articulated streamliner the Budd built CB&Q owned 9900 ZEPHYR of 1934, later known as the PIONEER ZEPHYR. The Union Pacific's first streamliner the M-10000 better known as the CITY OF SALINA was an all coach streamliner.
The railroad with the greatest number of named trains operating with lightweight streamlined Parlor cars was the NYNH&H who incidentally purchased the largest number of lightweight streamlined Parlor cars. The NYNH&H trains operated with lightweight streamlined Parlor cars were as follows.

NYNH&H

AMBASSADOR

BANKERS

BAY STATE

COLONIAL

GILT EDGE

MAYFLOWER

MERCHANTS LIMITED

MURRAY HILL

PATRIOT

PURITAN

SUNDOWN

YANKEE CLIPPER

42ND STREET

The only Electric Interurban line to operate streamlined Parlor cars was the Illinois Terminal. They purchased three from St. Louis Car that were Parlor Observations and assigned them to trains between St. Louis and Decatur and St. Louis and Springfield.
As the ranks of roads offering Parlor car space began to shrink some roads offered their lightweight streamlined parlor cars for sale to other roads. The MP purchased four used streamlined Parlor cars from the C&O for assignment to the MISSOURI RIVER EAGLE and COLORADO EAGLE between St. Louis and Kansas City. Later when the MP discontinued parlor car services the cars were rebuilt to coaches. Another road the SP rebuilt three former parlor cars into 3/4 length Dome lounge cars in their Sacramento shops extending their operational service lives into Amtrak. Another road found that its Parlor Observations were better rebuilt to straight coaches where their was no need for the extra switching to always keep them on the rear of a consist.
When the NYC and PRR found they were short of Parlor cars they simply assigned lightweight streamlined sleeper Lounges to serve as Parlor cars. They simply changed the numbers assigned to these cars and in most cases removed the names from the cars while they were assigned to Parlor car service.
The LI railroad purchased a large number of lightweight streamlined sleeper Lounges, Sleeping Cars, and Lounge cars used from other railroads for Parlor car assignments to the far reaches of Long Island in diesel hauled trains.
Both Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada the national passenger carriers of the United States and Canada have both purchased new Parlor cars since they came into existence.
The northeastern United States was the most popular area for Parlor car operations and diminished as one traveled west. Least likely area of the United States to find streamlined Parlor cars was the southeastern area.
The most popular area for parlor cars in Canada was the so-called Canadian corridor between Quebec City and Windsor, Ontario. Parlor car service never included western Canada or the Maritime Provinces during the streamline era.
Most scenic Parlor car services the GN INTERNATIONALS service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Least scenic route providing streamlined Parlor car service was that between Chicago and St. Louis on the Wabash BLUE BIRD. Fastest streamlined Parlor car service was probably the PC METROLINERS between New York and Washington, D.C. As this is written Amtrak is about to introduce the new ACELA service to the northeast that will exceed the operating speeds of the METROLINERS and consists will include parlor cars. Besides the ACELA Amtrak recently introduced Talgo trains with Parlor car service and in California Parlor cars can be found in the SAN JOAQUINS, CAPITOLS, and SURFLINERS.
Today several tourist operations operate Parlor cars most notable is the Royal Hudson tours of the British Columbia Railway. Several Museums have examples of heavyweight and lightweight Parlor cars on display that are fine examples of what Parlor cars were all about.

TTFN AL

[passengerfan]

Tom you just had to post a picture of one of the Princess California Sun Express ex Milwaukee domes. Got a tour of one of these in LA just before they entered service and travled on a Coast Starlight when one of them was bringing up the markers. When the Milwaukee owned the domes they were notorious for heat in the summer a problem they never really overcame during the summer months. The air conditioning was always overworked on the dome level. On the CN even though summers were hot it wasn't as hot as the the upper midwest US. Those owned by the CN were remodeled and looked I think better than they ever did in Milwaukee days.
When Princess purchased the cars for the Sun Express they solved the air conditioning problem by adding the extra heavy capacity units mounted on top of the domes. In addition to the regular air conditioning they were actually quite ideal for the California summers. The dome mounted air conditioners actually were special units constructed by an RV manufacturing concern although the actual air compressors were from frigidaire. The cars were absolutely magnificent as rebuilt by Princess and probaly the best they ever looked internally.
Their California Sun Express sewrvice was a failure due to high prices for what was offered. The cars operated between Los Angeles and Oakland with passengers having a side bus trip to Hearst Castle. The trips were two and three days one way and as i recall very expensive. Anyway the cars are now with their fifth and sixth owners and who knows how many years they will continue to operate for how many more owners.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

Hello Al

It's a good idea to prepare for the eventuality of life - which is death. The material things we leave behind can and should be designated for new "homes," which is what I too am preparing to do.

Have a thought for you AND Russell - while you guys are on "other" Forums and Threads - are YOU mentioning "Our" Place[?]] Hope so, for it is through guys like you and the Posts on this Thread that get us some "new blood." Think about it!

And yet another on the Milwaukee #50:

Princess California Sun Express #800482 (1990) former Milwaukee #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

Hey Tom love the Milwaukee Road pictures posted by Russell, Lars and yourself.

I have about a two inch stack of research material on the domes owned by the Cruise operators all I have to do is find the time to put it in some kind of order for a possible book. Two of the former Milwaukee Dome cars recently left Alaska for new home in Colorado. Maybe if I live another forty years I can put all of my rail material together. Anyway when I am gone its all going to the California State Rail Museum in Sacramento.

Russ the 170 diner was originally one of two built for the Midwest Hiawatha in Milwaukee shops in June 1948.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

G’day!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #55

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the The Pullman Company from a 1946 advertisement in my personal collection.

1 Pick the place you want to go and write for reservations. When you get word there’s room for you, see your railroad ticket agent and . . .

2 Reserve Pullman space for a trouble-free trip that will get you there safely – in more comfort than you’ll get going any other way!

. . . . . How to start on your vacation . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . WITHOUT A WORRY IN THE WORLD . . . . . . . . . .

3 No worry about weather, roads or mountains in an all-steel Pullman car. Pullman’s been the safest way of going places fast for more than 80 years!

4 No worry about privacy or sleep. Your air-conditioned Pullman space is all your own, with big, comfortable beds it’s a joy to stretch out in!

. . . . . . . . . . WHEN YOU GO ON YOUR VACATION . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GO PULLMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE SAFEST, MOST COMFORTABLE WAY OF GOING PLACES FAST!


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Hello Lars & Russell - great to have you two visit over here today!

See, Russell this is the "alternative thread" for all kinds of stuff that we don't normally get away with over at the bar![swg] Pix all the time, if that's what works ..... no script, no nuttin' other than the hope that participation will spring forth from the Posts provided. Hope you plan on Posting these on Sunday Photo Posting Day! for I've encouraged one and all to do that - after all, the effort should be "rewarded"![swg]

Thanx Lars - I'm runnin' a bit dry with the Milwaukee Road - even though there's an abundance still out there. I just haven't got the time it requires to search and research whether this or that is copyrighted or not. Surely am trying to play the game straight - but man is it time consuming! Of course, you know that. Appreciate your participation here and at the bar. Means a lot.

Okay, enough gushing and on to my next Post.

Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[Trainnut484]

Back again Tom. Almost forgot another Milw Rd classic:

Milw Rd #170 Kansas City Union Station. Click to enlarge:


Take care,

Russell

[Trainnut484]

Hi Tom, thought I would stick my head in to see whatsagoin on here. Great stuff for sure (Sointenly)

Here are my contributions to the Milw Rd theme today. Click to enlarge:

Milwaukee Rd E2 at St. Louis Transportation Museum


Milwaukee Rd 4-8-4 261 at KC Union Station for KC Rails Expo premeire


Enjoy [8D]

Russell

[LoveDomes]

Hi Tom

[wow] I heard all the noise coming from over here and just had to find out what was going on![swg][:D]

Nice chronology going on with that Milwaukee Road #50 ..... saw them over on trainweb.org or com (can't recall what the diference is!) - anyway, interesting.

I'm on the way over to the bar to get "in" on the "Theme for the Day!"

Here's my contribution for this thread:

Milwaukee Road #54 (from: www.trainweb.com)


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Another of that well traveled Milwaukee Road #50 . . . . . .

Holland-America #50 Kenai former Milwaukee #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Nice follow-up, Al - as usual![tup][tup]

Continuing on with the Milwaukee Road #50, check this out:

VIA Rail #2400/2700 former Milwaukee #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

Just came home Tom and saw your picture of the CN Dome so thought I would add a little text to your picture.

Canadian
National Dome Cars(CN)
by Al

The Canadian National went on a used passenger car-shopping spree south of their border unequalled by any other railroad. The CN was trying to win back passengers with Red-White-Blue fares and other innovative ideas, and was quite successful in this effort with passenger loadings rising each year reversing the trend south of the border and on Canadian rival CP.
Among the cars purchased were six Super Domes from the Milwaukee Road that had become surplus to their needs following the discontinuance of the OLYMPIAN HIAWATHA in 1961. The cars remained in Milwaukee Road service until sold to the CN in June 1964.
The six Super Domes underwent a major refurbishing before entering CN service as Sceneramic-domes. The lower level Café-Lounge of these cars remained as before with 28 seats. New upholstery, carpeting and paint gave these lower level lounges a warm cozy atmosphere. The biggest changes were in the dome level of these cars. As built they featured 68 coach type seats in the dome level eight singles and 60-paired seats. When CN refinished the dome level they featured a 13-seat coach seating area at the forward part of the dome 5-pairs and 3-singles. At the rear of the dome level was another coach seating area for 16 passengers’ 6-pairs and 4-singles. All of these seats were refurbished in bright attractive colors getting away from the once drab interiors. The center of the dome level featured lounge seating arranged in singles, doubles, triples and foursomes. The CN installed a small bar just ahead of this 27-seat lounge served by dumbwaiter from the lower level. The total seating capacity of these cars after CN refurbished them was only 56, a reduction of 12-seats from their Milwaukee Road days. But the colors and fabrics were bright and very appealing. Many passengers wrote letters to CN complimenting them on the new cars, not realizing they dated from 1952.
The CN painted the exterior of the cars in the Black and gray (looked white to me) scheme and renumbered the cars into the 2400 series and assigned names of Canadian Rivers at the same time.

2400 JASPER originally CMSTP&P 50

2401 ATHABASKA originally CMSTP&P 53

2402 YELLOWHEAD originally CMSTP&P 54

2403 FRASER originally CMSTP&P 56

2404 QU’APPELLE originally CMSTP&P 51

2405 COLUMBIA originally CMSTP&P 52

The CN assigned the cars to there two transcontinental trains between Edmonton and Vancouver the SUPER CONTINENTAL and PANORAMA. Later the PANORAMA would operate these cars from Winnipeg to Vancouver when its transcontinental journey was interrupted by a 12-hour scheduled layover in Winnipeg for both the westbound and eastbound PANORAMAS. The SUPER CONTINENTAL would operate the Sceneramic-dome west of Winnipeg when the PANORAMA was discontinued. All Sceneramic-domes received 2700 series numbers in June 1974 with no change of names.

2700 JASPER ex 2400 JASPER

2701 ATHABASKA ex 2401 ATHABASKA

2702 YELLOWHEAD ex 2402 YELLOWHEAD

2703 FRASER ex 2403 FRASER

2704 QU’APPELLE ex 2404 QU’APPELLE

2705 COLUMBIA ex 2705 COLUMBIA

In March 1978 all six passed to VIA Rail Canada Ownership; see that chapter for the remaining history of the Sceneramic-Domes.
In the summer of 1967 a World’s Fair was held in Montreal, Quebec named “Expo-67”. In anticipation of the increase in traffic this would bring to Canada that year the Canadian National leased a number of cars from U.S. railroads in anticipation of this increased traffic.
The three B&O Strata-dome sleepers were leased from May 1966 until April 1968 when they were returned to the B&O. These cars featured 5-roomettes 1-bedroom 3-drawing room interiors with 24 seats in the dome. For their period of CN service they retained their stainless steel finish with a black CN lazy three logo on the window level of the car next to the boarding vestibule. The three cars retained their names but were assigned 600 series numbers as were all leased cars to the CN during “Expo-67”.

647 MOONLIGHT DOME ex B&O 7600 MOONLIGHT DOME

648 STARLIGHT DOME ex B&O 7601 STARLIGHT DOME

649 SUNLIGHT DOME ex B&O 7602 SUNLIGHT DOME

The three cars were assigned to the SUPER CONTINENTAL between Edmonton and Vancouver; the dome level was open to sleeping car passengers only. In March 1968 the three Strata-domes were returned to B&O at the completion of their lease. See B&O chapter for further history of these Strata-dome sleeping cars.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Here's another Pix to go along with the previous:

CN #2700, former Milwaukee Raod #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day Lars

Good supplemental info and much appreciated! [tup]

See ya at the bar!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[LoveDomes]

Hi Tom

Back again with a tid bit for your "theme" over here:

Name Trains of the Louisville and Nashville (L&N)

Azalean
Dixie Flagler
Dixie Flyer
Dixie Limited
Flamingo
Georgian
Hummingbird
Pan-American
Piedmont Limited
South Wind
Southland

These may not be all inclusive, but they are perhaps the best known.

Until the next time!

Lars

[LoveDomes]

Hey Tom

Just swinging on by en route the bar and I thought I'd check out the thread .... always find interesting stuff here. Between you and Al never a dull day![tup]

Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Back to the Milwaukee Road . . .

Milwaukee Road #50 (courtesy: www.trainweb.org)


Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Here's something from Wikipedia on a train no longer operating along the former L&N (and other) tracks:

QUOTE: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Floridian is a former Amtrak route running from Chicago directly to Miami. Its route mainly followed that of several former Louisville and Nashville Railroad passenger trains, including the Hummingbird. The train served Lafayette and Bloomington, Indiana; Louisville and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Decatur, Birmingham, Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama; and Thomasville, Valdosta and Waycross, Georgia. At Jacksonville, Florida, the trian split to serve two different routes, one serving St. Petersburg, Florida via Orlando, and the other serving Miami via Ocala and Winter Haven. These two legs crossed each other near Lakeland, Florida.

The Floridian was notorious for poor on-time performance, frequent problems owing to poor condition of hand-me-down equipment of the railroads that handed their passenger trains off to Amtrak, and poor condition of some of the trackage it traversed.

The train used the lines of the L&N (in Indiana, over the former Monon Railroad, which merged into the L&N shortly before the formation of Amtrak), and Seaboard Coast Line. All are now part of CSX Transportation; some parts of the line have been abandoned.

Amtrak discontinued the train in October 1979. This left Louisville and Nashville without passenger train service, two of the largest such cities in the nation. (Louisville briefly regained Amtrak service with the Kentucky Cardinal, which ran from 1999 to 2003.)

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

The L&N Historical Society has a URL you may find of interest:
http://rrhistorical-2.com/lnhs/

Check these out:

L&N Loco Montage


Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Mornin' Al

Right on topic this AM and busy beaver from the left coast at that![swg]

Surely recommend that youPost these over at the bar whenever you feel they will fit in. All that effort deserves at least one more submission each![tup] You have provided so many of these fact-filled pieces and I'm wondering whether you are indexing them for retrieval[?] Just curiious.

There's an abundance of "stuff" out there on the B&O but not that much on the L&N, appreciate both![tup]

Paying for the drinks, eh[?] Wonder how THAT happened[?][swg] Oh those poor tax clients - they just don't know what they are in for, eh[?]

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

Yes I did see your L&N post so here is my follow up.
Now I have to get ready for tax clients to pay for the days drinks at "Our Place".
Will see whats beeen posted by lunch time.

LOUISVILLE
&
NASHVILLE
/
NASHVILLE
CHATTANOOGA
&
ST. LOUIS
Streamlined Observations by AL

The L&N owned a total of five streamlined Observations.
The first of these was rebuilt from a heavyweight coach in the NC&STL Nashville shops in April 1947. This car along with five other heavyweight cars rebuilt to streamlined cars became the CITY OF MEMPHIS operating between Nashville and Memphis round trip daily. This streamlined steam powered train was one of the last streamlined steam powered trains to enter service. The 1103 as the Observation was numbered featured 48 coach seats in he forward part of the car a Bar and 21 seat Lounge Observation. This round end Observation was also one of the last of this type built. The schedule of the CITY OF MEMPHIS called for five hours between terminal cities in either direction.
The NC&STL was merged into the L&N in 1957 and in 1958 the CITY OF MEMPHIS was discontinued. In January 1963 the L&N renumbered the 1103 to 2599, the car was retired three years later in 1966.

48 REVENUE SEAT COACH BAR 21 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Round) Rebuilt by NC&STL Nashville hops from heavyweight coach originally a Pullman Parlor car in April 1947. Rebuilt and streamlined for the CITY OF MEMPHIS)

1103

The two new lightweight streamlined Observations delivered to the L&N in March 1950 were for the Southern Railway CRESCENT, which operated over the L&N for part of its trip to New Orleans from New York. These Pullman Standard built cars were part of an order for eight to be assigned to the CRESCENT and ROYAL PALM. Each of these Observations was a 5 Double Bedroom Buffet 24 seat High Windowed Lounge Observation. The two L&N owned Observations were numbered and named 3300 ROYAL CANAL and 3301 ROYAL STREET.

5 DOUBLE BEDROOM BUFFET 24 SEAT HIGH WINDOWED LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS Pullman Standard March 1950 Plan: 4162 Lot: 6814 (Built for and assigned to CRESCENT)

3300 ROYAL CANAL

3301 ROYAL STREET

The L&N briefly owned two ex C&EI streamlined Observations after that road merged into the L&N in June 1969. Observations 472 and 474 spent most of their brief L&N careers in storage before being retired and sold for scrap in August 1969.

TTFN AL

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom sorry i missed the B&O you posted earlier.

BALTIMORE
&
OHIO streamlined Observations
by AL

The B&O Railroads first two lightweight streamlined Observations are both covered in the Alton Chapter of the book.
The third Streamlined Observation to enter service was rebuilt from heavyweight coach 5325 and reconfigured by the roads St. Clare shops into a 24 seat Cocktail Lounge Bar 16 seat Lounge Observation and renumbered 3300. The rear of this car was squared off and three large windows for viewing the scenery were installed where a vestibule had once been. This car was assigned to bring up the markers of the rebuilt streamlined ROYAL BLUE inaugurated April 25, 1937 to replace the lightweight streamlined ROYAL BLUE built by American Car & Foundry.

24 SEAT COCKTAIL LOUNGE BUFFET 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Blunt) Rebuilt and streamlined by B&O Shops from heavyweight coach April 1937 (Assigned to ROYAL BLUE later COLUMBIAN)

3300 originally 5325

A second streamlined heavyweight consist was constructed by the B&O St. Clare shops from heavyweight coaches in 1937 and this consist entered service December 9, 1937. The streamlined Observation built for this consist of the ROYAL BLUE was numbered 3301 and was rebuilt from heavyweight coach 5298. The 3301 was identical to the earlier 3300.

24 SEAT COCKTAIL LOUNGE BUFFET 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Blunt) Rebuilt and streamlined by B&O shops from heavyweight coach November 1937 (Assigned to ROYAL BLUE)

3301 originally 5298

The ROYAL BLUE consist with Observation 3300 bringing up the markers was renamed the COLUMBIAN and continued in Jersey City - Washington service until December 19, 1941. At that time the COLUMBIAN became a Jersey City -Chicago Coach streamliner by way of Washington. Since two sets of equipment were necessary for daily operation in each direction the St. Clare Shops of the B&O delivered another heavyweight streamlined train set using former heavyweight coaches for the second COLUMBIAN consist. Former heavyweight Coach 5344 was rebuilt to a Cocktail Lounge Buffet Lounge Observation and renumbered 3302. At the same time as 3302 was being delivered the B&O renumbered 3300 to 3303. Why this renumbering took place has never been quite clear as no conflict of numbers ever occurred.

24 SEAT COCKTAIL LOUNGE BUFFET 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Blunt) Rebuilt by B&O shops from heavyweight Coach 5344 in November 1941 (Assigned to COLUMBIAN)

3302

With both rivals New York Central and Pennsylvania placing all new all Pullman streamliners in service between New York and Chicago in 1938. And in the case of the PRR a Washington - Chicago streamliner as well the B&O had little choice but try to match the competitions premier trains with their own CAPITOL LIMITED. Unfortunately B&O was financially unable to purchase new lightweight streamlined equipment so they were forced to turn to Pullman to streamline a number of heavyweight sleeping cars for the streamlined CAPITOL LIMITEDS. The B&O shops streamlined two heavyweight diners to match the rest of the consists of the CAPITOL LIMITEDS. The two heavyweight Solarium Observations streamlined by Pullman for the two CAPITOL LIMITED consists were CAPITOL ARMS and CAPITOL CITY. Both Solarium Observations were completed by Pullman in November 1938.

3 COMPARTMENT 1 DRAWING ROOM BUFFET 21 SEAT LOUNGE 8 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Blunt) Pullman July 1929 Rebuilt and streamlined November 1938 Plan: 3975C Lot: 6275 (Rebuilt and streamlined for assignment to the CAPITOL LIMITEDS)

CAPITOL ARMS

CAPITOL CITY

The above two streamlined Observations remained in active service on the B&O into the 1950's.
The B&O next turned their attention to Jersey City - St. Louis NATIONAL LIMITED by way of Washington. This train due to the greater distance it was required to travel needed three sets of equipment for daily service. Since this train carried coaches as well as Pullmans the ST. CLARE shops streamlined sixteen heavyweights for this train. The B&O shops streamlined eight Coaches, four Baggage Dormitory Buffet Lounge Cars, and four Dining cars for the NATIONAL LIMITED. All other cars were streamlined by Pullman for the NATIONAL LIMITEDS three consists. The three Solarium Observations streamlined for the NATIONAL LIMITEDS were CAPITOL ESCORT, PALM ISLANDS and PALM KEY. These three Solarium Observations remained bringing up the markers of the NATIONAL LIMITED until replaced in January 1956.

3 COMPARTMENT 1 DRAWING ROOM BUFFET 21 SEAT LOUNGE 8 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Blunt) Pullman July 1929 Rebuilt and streamlined June 1940 Plan: 3937C Lot: 6275 (Rebuilt and Streamlined for the NATIONAL LIMITED)

CAPITOL ESCORT

3 COMPARTMENT 1 DRAWING ROOM BUFFET 21 SEAT LOUNGE 8SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Blunt) Pullman January 1930 Rebuilt and streamlined June 1940 Plan: 3975F Lot: 6337 (Rebuilt and streamlined for the NATIONAL LIMITED)

PALM ISLANDS

PALM KEY

The first new trains to enter B&O service following WW II were the five car CINCINNATIANS operating a fast daylight schedule between Baltimore and Cincinnati daily in each direction.
The B&O shops completely streamlined these cars from old heavyweights and put all new interiors in the cars as well. Unlike the prewar streamlined cars there was no clerestory roofs hiding below the streamlined roofs of the new CINCINNATIAN cars. These cars were truly streamlined with flush welded sides as well. The two OBSERVATIONS were beautifully rounded at the one end and were probably the two finest home built Observations ever rebuilt from heavyweights.
From its inauguration in 1947 until June 1950 the CINCINNATIAN operated between Baltimore and Cincinnati. Beginning in June 1950 the CINCINNATIAN became a Cincinnati - Detroit service.

KITCHEN-PANTRY 24 SEAT DINING 18 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Round) Rebuilt and streamlined by B&O shops January 1947 (Rebuilt from heavyweight Coaches and streamlined for CINCINNATIANS)

3304 PEEBLES CORNER

3305 FOUNTAIN SQUARE

Pullman Standard constructed two new eight car streamlined COLUMBIANS for Chicago - Baltimore service. Intended to be daytime trains the trains actually became overnight coach streamliners when introduced in May 1949. The two streamlined Observations for the new COLUMBIANS were 3315 CHICAGO and 3316 WASHINGTON. These would become the last new streamlined Observations built new for the B&O.

36 SEAT TAVERN LOUNGE BAR 18 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-Tailed) Pullman Standard May 1949 (Built for and assigned to COLUMBIANS)

3315 CHICAGO

3316 WASHINGTON

In February 1951 the B&O purchased two lightweight streamlined Blunt end Observations from the C&O. These cars were less than a year old and they were surplus to the C&O railroads needs. The two cars C&O 2501 SHENANDOAH CLUB and 2505 OHIO RIVER CLUB were repainted B&O colors and renumbered and renamed 7502 DANA and 7503 METCALF respectively. The two cars were assigned to the AMBASSADOR the B&O's premier train between Detroit and Baltimore overnight.

5 DOUBLE BEDROOM BUFFET 24 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Blunt) Pullman Standard August 1950 Plan: 4165 Lot: 6893 (Purchased by the B&O from the C&O for assignment to the AMBASSADORS)

7502 DANA originally C&O 2501 SHENANDOAH CLUB

7503 METCALF originally C&O 2505 OHIO RIVER CLUB

The following month March 1951 found the B&O taking delivery of two additional Sleeper Lounge Observations from the C&O. These two C&O 2502 TIDEWATER CLUB and 2507 WOLVERINE CLUB became B&O 7500 NAPPANEE and 7501 WAWASEE respectively. These two Observations were then assigned to the CAPITOL LIMITED replacing the streamlined heavyweights from 1938. These four Observations along with the four retained by the C&O were probably the finest looking Pullman Standard blunt Observations ever built.

5 DOUBLE BEDROOM BUFFET 24 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Blunt) August 1950 Plan: 4165 Lot: 6893 (Purchased by B&O for assignment to CAPITOL LIMITEDS)

7500 NAPPANEE originally C&O 2502 TIDEWATER CLUB

7501 WAWASEE originally C&O 2507 WOLVERINE CLUB

In later years the B&O combined the COLUMBIAN and AMBASSADOR from Ohio to Baltimore and the COLUMBIAN lost its Observation at that time. Even later the COLUMBIAN -AMBASSADOR and CAPITOL LIMITED ran combined between Baltimore and Ohio where the Ambassador became a separate train to and from Detroit. Due to the use of Blunt end Observations the AMBASSADOR Observation was on the rear between Baltimore and northern Ohio When the Detroit cars were set out the CAPITOL LIMITED proceeded with its own Blunt end Observation now bringing up the markers. The CAPITOL LIMITED Observations had traveled mid train between Baltimore and northern Ohio with the AMBASSADOR Observation bringing up the markers.
The final three lightweight streamlined Observations purchased by the B&O were three ex New York Central prewar cars originally built for that roads SOUTHWESTERN LIMITED between New York and St. Louis. The NYC had named the cars for rivers the SOUTHWESTERN LIMITED crossed in route. Since the B&O crossed the same rivers and the cars were purchased to replace the prewar streamlined heavyweight Observations on the B&O NATIONAL LIMITED they retained the cars original names. The cars came to the B&O in January 1956.

1 COMPARTMENT 1 DRAWING ROOM 2 DOUBLE BEDROOM BUFFET 21 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-Tailed) Pullman Standard July 1939 Plan: 4082 Lot: 6567 (Purchased by the B&O from the NYC for assignment to the NATIONAL LIMITED)

7510 GENESEE RIVER originally NYC GENESEE RIVER

7511 MAUMEE RIVER originally NYC MAUMEE RIVER

7512 WABASH RIVER originally NYC WABASH RIVER

The B&O was one of those railroads that truly believed a premier streamlined passenger train should have streamlined Observation bringing up the markers. The B&O surprised many Railroad historians with the purchase of the three ex NYC Observations coming at such a late date as 1956.

TTFN AL