If you had the chance to...............

[Anonymous]

hey, santa fe super chief of 30s or 40s a classic

[Anonymous]

hey, santa fe super chief of 30s or 40s a classic

[CNR1949]

I would restore Canadian National Railway's Super Continental from the mid-1950's. I still remember a trip I took with mother when I was a little duffer - Rivers, MB to Saskatoon, SK - we travelled up the line pulled, or should I say, yanked by a dirty old steam engine (heresy, I know, but as a little kid I wanted modern). For the return trip we walked down the stairway and came out at trackside to find this gleaming green, gold and black coach with glass partitions dividing the day seating. At the front was a sleek F7 (or was it an F3 or an F9?) that accomplished the "takeoff" with a smooth glide that was at first imperceptible. As we gained way the conductor came through and told us we were hurtling across the prairie at 89 miles per hour - what a thrill to a little boy!

[CNR1949]

I would restore Canadian National Railway's Super Continental from the mid-1950's. I still remember a trip I took with mother when I was a little duffer - Rivers, MB to Saskatoon, SK - we travelled up the line pulled, or should I say, yanked by a dirty old steam engine (heresy, I know, but as a little kid I wanted modern). For the return trip we walked down the stairway and came out at trackside to find this gleaming green, gold and black coach with glass partitions dividing the day seating. At the front was a sleek F7 (or was it an F3 or an F9?) that accomplished the "takeoff" with a smooth glide that was at first imperceptible. As we gained way the conductor came through and told us we were hurtling across the prairie at 89 miles per hour - what a thrill to a little boy!

[wallyworld]

Phoebe Snow..in a white blizzard over the mountains and through the gaps, enjoying the view from the observation lounge. Coming out of Dempster with the controller pegged on the straight arrow tangent via the launch pad of the Skokie Valley Route on board enjoying an Electroburger on the CNSM. Tucked in a berth on board The Owl hurtling 80MPH on a summer night all the way to St Louis on the old IT. Too many day dreams to chose from.

[wallyworld]

Phoebe Snow..in a white blizzard over the mountains and through the gaps, enjoying the view from the observation lounge. Coming out of Dempster with the controller pegged on the straight arrow tangent via the launch pad of the Skokie Valley Route on board enjoying an Electroburger on the CNSM. Tucked in a berth on board The Owl hurtling 80MPH on a summer night all the way to St Louis on the old IT. Too many day dreams to chose from.

[artpeterson]

I'll vote for the postwar "Century" with "Hickory Creek" on the tail end, E7s up front, etc.

[artpeterson]

I'll vote for the postwar "Century" with "Hickory Creek" on the tail end, E7s up front, etc.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mcfarrand

"Somewhere deep buried in the consciousness of every American there lies the image of a steam locomotive..." Unattributed quote from The Age of Steam, Beebe/Clegg 1957

The sound of a steam locomotive is something I hope I never forget.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mcfarrand

"Somewhere deep buried in the consciousness of every American there lies the image of a steam locomotive..." Unattributed quote from The Age of Steam, Beebe/Clegg 1957

The sound of a steam locomotive is something I hope I never forget.

[PBenham]

Here I go again! I'd bring back the Valley's flagship: the Black Diamond, but which one? The down on its luck [%-)]dieselized version I'd relate to best, or one with brand new pullman parlor cars, a full diner, and standard coaches, with a K5 Pacific leading! Decisions, decisions.

[PBenham]

Here I go again! I'd bring back the Valley's flagship: the Black Diamond, but which one? The down on its luck [%-)]dieselized version I'd relate to best, or one with brand new pullman parlor cars, a full diner, and standard coaches, with a K5 Pacific leading! Decisions, decisions.

[trainboyH16-44]

I'd have VIA repaint the Canadian into old CP, and get them to run it with F7s and 9s. All in red and gray, of course.
Trainboy

[trainboyH16-44]

I'd have VIA repaint the Canadian into old CP, and get them to run it with F7s and 9s. All in red and gray, of course.
Trainboy

[jlampke]

Money no object, you say? All the remaining unrestored 4-8-4's in North America that are sitting around rotting in parks or in storage, fully restored to full operational condition, used to pull regularly scheduled excursion trains, the cars of subject trains to be made up of pre-W.W.2 vintage fully restored Pullman passenger equipment.

[jlampke]

Money no object, you say? All the remaining unrestored 4-8-4's in North America that are sitting around rotting in parks or in storage, fully restored to full operational condition, used to pull regularly scheduled excursion trains, the cars of subject trains to be made up of pre-W.W.2 vintage fully restored Pullman passenger equipment.

[NW_611]

Good thing someone split it between steam and diesel power; I'll take that one step further and add electric:

Steam: The Norfolk and Western's Powhatan Arrow. It'd be a perfect match for the most elegant 4-8-4 ever designed---no Day-Glo loco need apply.

Diesel: The Pennsylvania's Broadway Limited, circa 1949 or so once they got the E7/E8 motive power in Tuscan red with the similarly-colored lightweight coaches.

Electric: The Pennsylvania's Morning Congressional, with a Tuscan red GG1 on the point and the stainless steel post-war equipment, as profiled in Dream Trains a while back.

Runners-up include: The Lackawanna's Phoebe Snow, the Western Pacific section of the California Zephyr, and perhaps the Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited. Throw the Delaware & Hudson's 1970s Laurentian and the Lehigh Valley's 1950s Black Diamond in there as well; they've got a certain common denominator that would make them worth having.

And just for kicks and to annoy people, resurrect the Broadway Limited with everything in as-new condition, lettered and liveried for the Penn Central.

[NW_611]

Good thing someone split it between steam and diesel power; I'll take that one step further and add electric:

Steam: The Norfolk and Western's Powhatan Arrow. It'd be a perfect match for the most elegant 4-8-4 ever designed---no Day-Glo loco need apply.

Diesel: The Pennsylvania's Broadway Limited, circa 1949 or so once they got the E7/E8 motive power in Tuscan red with the similarly-colored lightweight coaches.

Electric: The Pennsylvania's Morning Congressional, with a Tuscan red GG1 on the point and the stainless steel post-war equipment, as profiled in Dream Trains a while back.

Runners-up include: The Lackawanna's Phoebe Snow, the Western Pacific section of the California Zephyr, and perhaps the Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited. Throw the Delaware & Hudson's 1970s Laurentian and the Lehigh Valley's 1950s Black Diamond in there as well; they've got a certain common denominator that would make them worth having.

And just for kicks and to annoy people, resurrect the Broadway Limited with everything in as-new condition, lettered and liveried for the Penn Central.

[Anonymous]

Broadway Limited with a GG1from NYC to Harrisburg, then K-4 to Chicago. My Grandfather was an executive with the NYC, and is probably turning over in his grave! Sorry Pappi!! [;)][angel]

[Anonymous]

Broadway Limited with a GG1from NYC to Harrisburg, then K-4 to Chicago. My Grandfather was an executive with the NYC, and is probably turning over in his grave! Sorry Pappi!! [;)][angel]

[Anonymous]

Go back into the time machine. When I was little, we lived in Wichita,KS next to the Santa Fe trks. From 1965-1972 I can recall lots from that span including the pre Amtrks. What I would like to do is sit on the front porch starting in 1887 when that old house was built, and progres say every five yrs until the mid 60's watching the trains, riding trains and seeing the many changes take place. Have always had an interest in what that area was like before my time. Probably sounds corny but that is what I'd like to do

[Anonymous]

Go back into the time machine. When I was little, we lived in Wichita,KS next to the Santa Fe trks. From 1965-1972 I can recall lots from that span including the pre Amtrks. What I would like to do is sit on the front porch starting in 1887 when that old house was built, and progres say every five yrs until the mid 60's watching the trains, riding trains and seeing the many changes take place. Have always had an interest in what that area was like before my time. Probably sounds corny but that is what I'd like to do

[Anonymous]

I would go for the best of both worlds with the Olympian Hiawatha of 1947. All but the last 2 cars were the newest of streamliners, painted in that futuristic Brooks Stevens scheme. The last 2 cars were a heavyweight 6-6 Pullman and a 3-2-observation lounge with an open platform on the back.

Imagine racing between Chicago and the Twin Cities on one of the fastest schedules in the country (definitely the fastest for a train with an open-platform obs!) If you were really lucky, one of the streamlined F7s would be on the point, substituting for the usual E7 diesels (it happened, sometimes).

Then snake through the Rockies and the Cascade Range behind chrome-faced Erie Builts, waving to the crews from time to time on their box cab freight motors....

[Anonymous]

I would go for the best of both worlds with the Olympian Hiawatha of 1947. All but the last 2 cars were the newest of streamliners, painted in that futuristic Brooks Stevens scheme. The last 2 cars were a heavyweight 6-6 Pullman and a 3-2-observation lounge with an open platform on the back.

Imagine racing between Chicago and the Twin Cities on one of the fastest schedules in the country (definitely the fastest for a train with an open-platform obs!) If you were really lucky, one of the streamlined F7s would be on the point, substituting for the usual E7 diesels (it happened, sometimes).

Then snake through the Rockies and the Cascade Range behind chrome-faced Erie Builts, waving to the crews from time to time on their box cab freight motors....

[ZephyrOverland]

decisions, decisions........

My streamlined nomination would be the stillborn Chessie. That train had interior design features that made it unique and would have been a delight to ride.

For the heavyweight nomination, it would have to be the late 1920's version of the 20th Century Limited. It epitimized the concept of first class Pullman travel at the height of the American passenger train.

Runners up include:
Super Chief - the first streamlined version
Santa Fe de-Luxe - "extra fine, extra fast, extra fare" - another example of high-end first class train travel

[ZephyrOverland]

decisions, decisions........

My streamlined nomination would be the stillborn Chessie. That train had interior design features that made it unique and would have been a delight to ride.

For the heavyweight nomination, it would have to be the late 1920's version of the 20th Century Limited. It epitimized the concept of first class Pullman travel at the height of the American passenger train.

Runners up include:
Super Chief - the first streamlined version
Santa Fe de-Luxe - "extra fine, extra fast, extra fare" - another example of high-end first class train travel

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt, teh 1938 20th Century Limited. In my opinion it was the epitome of railroad excellence in color, interior and service. And I'm a PRR fan!
If I were to rebuild a heavyweight train I'd choose the 1930Congressional. All Pullman parlor car with a buffet at the head end, several parlors, a PRR diner, and the parlor obs buffet at the end.

By the by...The reason North Shore Line's "Electroburger," the hamburger served on the Electroliner, was so remarkable was that it was tenderloin. Not a chopped version of other cuts of beef. In essence a chopped filet mignon with a little extra fat added for frying. That was a good quarter pounder.

Mitch

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt, teh 1938 20th Century Limited. In my opinion it was the epitome of railroad excellence in color, interior and service. And I'm a PRR fan!
If I were to rebuild a heavyweight train I'd choose the 1930Congressional. All Pullman parlor car with a buffet at the head end, several parlors, a PRR diner, and the parlor obs buffet at the end.

By the by...The reason North Shore Line's "Electroburger," the hamburger served on the Electroliner, was so remarkable was that it was tenderloin. Not a chopped version of other cuts of beef. In essence a chopped filet mignon with a little extra fat added for frying. That was a good quarter pounder.

Mitch

[gbrewer]

I had a chance to ride both the original California Zephyr and the CNS&M Electorliner. I wrote a little article about riding the Electorliner. It is available online if you are interested:
http://homestaydenver.com/northshore