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Ford make's a train?

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  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 3,590 posts
Posted by csmith9474 on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 2:22 PM
It is tough to really justify a comparison of a transcon to a train that ran from NY to Boston, as far as time goes. I am waiting for the Lego "Merchant's Limited" now.
Smitty
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: California & Maine
  • 3,848 posts
Posted by andrechapelon on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 3:03 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by David_Telesha

QUOTE: Originally posted by marknewton

QUOTE: Originally posted by David_Telesha

As a matter of fact they were more luxurious and any one traveling in the Northeast knew them.

"As a matter of fact" - a phrase that usually means; "Here is my uninformed opinion, which I'm presenting as fact."

The NH's trains weren't as well appointed as the Santa Fe's, nor were they as well known throughout the US and the rest of the world.


Oh I'm so sorry the Merhchants Ltd make the Chief look like second class.

Are you really disputing it was 100% Pullman Parlor (and two diners), and its time was kept in seconds?

Attacking the phrase some one uses is usually cover for "I'm superior, I know it all, don't bother me with the facts.".

On top of that I never said NH trains where known throughout the US and World. Niether was the Chief.

I said NH trains were known to everyone and anyone traveling in the Northeast - just as nobody but people traveling in the midwest/west gave a hoot about the SF.


I hate to support Mark Newton on anything, but while the Merchants Limited may have been a classy train, it was a relatively short distance one. The "Chief", "Super Chief", "El Capitan", etc. were LONG distance trains.

And the "Super Chief" was all Pullman from the get-go running the 2200+ miles from Chicago to LA on a schedule of 39 3/4 hours. That's an average of of better than 55 MPH for that distance. In the process, it had to climb Raton Pass on a ruling grade in excess of 3%.

Eastbound, the "Super Chief" faced Cajon Pass, the sawtooth profile between Barstow and Needles (multiple ascents and descents), followed by 141 miles of ascending grade (ruling grade 1.4%) from the Colorado River crossing to (IIRC) Williams, AZ. Out of Albuqueque, it had to face the climb up Raton.

Need I mention the Fred Harvey Cuisine in the diner or the Turquoise lounge?

According to http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/643 (page down), the "Merchants Limited" ran from New York to Boston (231 miles) in 4 hours. Hmm. That's about 57.5 MPH for roughly 1/10th the distance of the "Super Chief" traveled. And it was done pretty much on a gradeless line

The "Chief" and later the "Super Chief" was THE way to travel from Chicago to LA, just as the "Twentieth Century Limited" was THE way to go between NYC and Chicago.

Andre
It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
  • Member since
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  • From: NYNH&H Norwich & Worcester MP21.7
  • 774 posts
Posted by David_Telesha on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 3:37 PM
What does the distance it traveled or the grades on the line have to do with the train itself???

If you needed to go from America's major East coast cities of New York City and Boston - there was only 1 way, on the NH. The Merchants was traveled by business people and dignitaries alike.

Despite anything else, the New Haven was the 3rd largest carrier of passengers in North America.

Route size does not matter. Remember QUALITY (NH) NOT QUANITY (SF).
David Telesha New Haven Railroad - www.NHRHTA.org
  • Member since
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  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 3,590 posts
Posted by csmith9474 on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 3:39 PM
When you mentioned the schedule being maintained within seconds, it makes a huge difference.
Smitty
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: NYNH&H Norwich & Worcester MP21.7
  • 774 posts
Posted by David_Telesha on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 3:43 PM
That is because it was known for on-time performance.

It just about always arrived within 2-3 minutes of scheduled time.

The time it arrived/departed at stations, passed signal towers, etc., was recorded hour, minute, second.

Don't forget there is a large volume of trains between NY and NH including the NYC at Park Avenue where the NH merges to go into GCT.

I don't know about the desert, but when you can get a train ontime through one of the busiest corridors in the US it is no small feat.
David Telesha New Haven Railroad - www.NHRHTA.org
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: California & Maine
  • 3,848 posts
Posted by andrechapelon on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 4:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by David_Telesha

What does the distance it traveled or the grades on the line have to do with the train itself???

If you needed to go from America's major East coast cities of New York City and Boston - there was only 1 way, on the NH. The Merchants was traveled by business people and dignitaries alike.

Despite anything else, the New Haven was the 3rd largest carrier of passengers in North America.

Route size does not matter. Remember QUALITY (NH) NOT QUANITY (SF).


No, the quality goes to SF, not NH.

SF carried fewer passengers. SF carried them farther. AND...they did it with STYLE. [:D]

Andre
It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: NYNH&H Norwich & Worcester MP21.7
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Posted by David_Telesha on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 5:40 PM
Riiiiiight....



SF can TAKE A SEAT to the NH.





Scabby old Pullmans my foot.

The post War cars are even better.
David Telesha New Haven Railroad - www.NHRHTA.org
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
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Posted by Budliner on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:27 PM
had to be on time
bostonian's get violent


K
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: California & Maine
  • 3,848 posts
Posted by andrechapelon on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by David_Telesha

Riiiiiight....





To paraphrase Paul Hogan in "Crocodile Dundee".........

That's not an ALCO PA.

THIS is an ALCO PA:

Andre
It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 7:31 PM
Guys Guys, Settle down, NH ran on a extremely busy route, ATSF was not that busy but it had a longer route to run on. IMO They where both good trains.
  • Member since
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  • From: Boston
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Posted by Budliner on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 2:10 AM
andrechapelon
santa fe PA all the way


K

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • 1,939 posts
Posted by marknewton on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 6:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by andrechapelon

I hate to support Mark Newton on anything

Then don't.
I didn't think you were as childish as this silly comment would suggest.

Mark.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Saturday, January 28, 2006 1:38 PM
ford sead it wants to prove theres a market for a $100,000 truck
locomotive look and hydrogen power
we sent this pickup to charm school

the inside is awsom
K
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 28, 2006 2:56 PM
My 94 Ranger is due to turn over 270,000 on the orgininal engine and I get 25mpg with 4X4 and AC, I'm happy with that.
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Over yonder by the roundhouse
  • 1,224 posts
Posted by route_rock on Sunday, January 29, 2006 12:27 AM
Chevy guy here and I want one. I like the looks. Would I pay 100 grand? Hell no! So heres the deal. Light blue and white chevy with the R logo on the tailgate! Or my favorite idea so far. Black and graphite with a painting of a RI 5000 series on the tailgate, toolbox to hold my two very large compressor tanks and that big steam whistle out at Iowa 80 truck stop hooked up in the bed!! Compressor on the motor ( a large hopped up diesel) and I will show you something that will smoke that super chief! Ok am over it now calling my local chevy dealer.
BTW it was the Rock that had the best passenger trains! Let the arguing continue LOL Better yet lets compare more. Blue Comet,RoyalBLue,Challenger, Portland Rose, Hiawatha,Zephyr,Abe Lincoln,Sunset Limited, and Motor car train 936! Sheesh guys give it up everyone had their personal favorites. Chief hauled movie stars to the Windy and then the Century and Broadway competed for buisness to NYC.Simple as that.

Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train

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