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What's your favorite passenger train ?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Southeast Texas
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What's your favorite passenger train ?
Posted by Tracklayer on Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:50 AM
I can't honestly say that I have one favorite passenger train in particular, but I do like those from the 1950s era more so than any other - like the Santa Fe Super Chief.

Tracklayer [:D]
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:00 PM
I love the early 1950's Texas Eagle before Mopac got their dirtly little hands on it a repainted it all blue and put GP9's in the engine pool for it. But when Texas & Pacific had there 4-8-2 mountains and 4-6-2 Pacifics pulling it in full eagle colors it was by far my favorite. The T&P's E8s looked great until Mopac had them all reapainted that stupid all blue paintscheme.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:08 PM
CSX's annual "Santa Train." Runs from Elkhorn CIty, KY to Kingsport, TN. Usually runs through here for watering and fuel. (Yes, watering. The local FD brings out a couple of huge tanker trucks. It's for the water in the passenger cars.)

uspscsx
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Posted by twhite on Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:10 PM
My all time favorite has to be the SP "Coast Daylight" in the late 'thirties and forties'. It wasn't called 'The most beautiful train in the world' for nothing.
Other favorites--the Rio Grande diesel-powered "Prospector" of the 'fifties. Handsome train, especially when pulled by those colorful Rio Grande PA's.

Great Northern's "Empire Builder"--the streamlined version. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Burlington/Rio Grande/WP "Exposition Flyer" in Pullman Standard, and a couple of "American Flyer" coaches. Handsome as all get-out, especially on the Rio Grande section where it was usually pulled by either the 1700 or 1800 series Northerns.

The Burlington/Rio Grande/WP "California Zephyr". Dome cars galore, but it went through scenery that justified them.

The C&NW/UP/SP "Overland Limited" after the three participating railroads stopped using two-tone gray (boring!) and began pulling from their own passenger car pools. Talk about TECHNICOLOR!

WP's "Feather River Express" , took eleven hours to make what should have been a five-hour trip (Oakland to Portola, CA), stopped at every fishing hole in the Feather River Canyon, but dang, was it cute!

Tom [:P][:P]
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Posted by GN-Rick on Saturday, August 27, 2005 12:24 PM
The 1955 incarnation of the Great Northern's Empire Builder is
far and away my favorite passenger train. I also like the GN's
International streamliner of the early '50s. It is one of those great
layout-sized trains that can prototypically appear through a scene
3 times during an operating session. The prototype ran between
Seattle and Vancouver B.C. Each of the two consists made one
and a half round trips daily-great for a model railroad. I am also
fond of the variety and operation of the GN's #27 and 28-the combined
Western Star/Fast Mail of the 50s (do you notice a trend here?)[:D]
Rick Bolger Great Northern Railway Cascade Division-Lines West
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Posted by DrummingTrainfan on Saturday, August 27, 2005 1:12 PM
If it's a passenger train I like it. Period. But if you must My absolute favorites must be (WITH PICTURES[8D][8D])!the El Capitan , the Auto Train Corp. and (if they exist) ACL smooth side purple and silver.
    GIFs from http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm -Erik, the displaced CNW, Bears, White Sox, Northern Illnois Huskies, Amtrak and Metra fan.
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, August 27, 2005 1:33 PM
My favorites are a 3-way-tie between:

1: The Santa Fe Super Chief
2: Burlington Zephyr
3: Amtrak Amfleet Phase II passenger trains being pulled by an F40PH.[:)]

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by loathar on Saturday, August 27, 2005 1:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

My favorites are a 3-way-tie between:

1: The Santa Fe Super Chief
2: Burlington Zephyr
3: Amtrak Amfleet Phase II passenger trains being pulled by an F40PH.[:)]

[#ditto][tup]
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Posted by skiloff on Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:31 PM
Well, I remember watching the VIA passenger train run through town when I was growing up in Alberta. It was the Blue and yellow colour scheme and I always wanted a model of that style, but its hard to find. I did have the Rivarossi 8 pack in HO (with the Athearn F7) model, but I sold it when I went back to school. [sigh] The saddest thing is that I'm now in N scale and I don't think anyone makes that scheme. [:(]

I do think the Super Chief is cool though, and the California Zephyr.
Kids are great for many reasons. Not the least of which is to buy toys "for them."
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:35 PM
The Cincinnatian. B&O railroad, blue paint job. I saw a picture a while ago and could not believe it. A railroad from my era, named after "my" town and in my wife's favorite color. What was not to like?
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Posted by rexhea on Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:47 PM
Without a doubt,, the beautiful Queen of the South...The "Southern Crescent"

REX [:p]
Rex "Blue Creek & Warrior Railways" http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rexheacock
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Posted by Cox 47 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 2:52 PM
For me it has to be the"City of New Orleans" Love that brown and orange.. Cox 47
ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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Posted by steveblackledge on Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:10 PM
it has to be the now gone Royal Scot, London to Glasgow service, i once got a ride in the cab of the 87 electric loco at speeds of upto 110 mph in the 1980's, when i was a lad,
But today my favorite has to be this one below, The 71000 "DUKE OF GLOUCESTER" seen here at Brock in Lancashire this evening doing around 75 mph, [:P][:P][:P]
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Posted by SpaceMouse on Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:24 PM
The Southern Pacific Sunset, birght red 50' woodside overland coaches, pulled by a 1890's 2-6-0.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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Posted by RedGrey62 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 4:34 PM
The Denver Zephyr in the late 50's and 60's with the full skirted Budd stainless steel cars and the domes.

I also have to admit that the Empire Builder was a beautiful train as well.

And finally, the Hummingbird on the L&N.

RedGrey62
"...Mother Nature will always punish the incompetent and uninformed." Bill Barney from Thor's Legions
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Posted by espeefoamer on Saturday, August 27, 2005 4:43 PM
The 1961 San Joaquin Daylight.A-B-A set of PAs,17 cars, All red and orange except for some head end cars,and the diner.The train still had a dining car,and had the classic SP 3/4 dome lounge[:p]!
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 5:52 PM
Of all the trains that I would have liked to have ridden, first choice would be C&NW's Twin Cities 400; but I was only about 14 when it was discontinued. The most recent trip (a couple of years ago) was on Amtrak's Capitol Limited, Chicago - Washington DC. Very nice ride and was the frist time wife and son were in a sleeping car and full dining car.

Other trains that I would have liked to have ridden are the Super Chief, 20th Centruy Limited, and Empire Builder.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 6:13 PM
Its a 3 way tie, Any CNW Passenger train, Super Cheif(gotta love that warbonnet[:p]) and the Amtrak Bluewater service with a P42 in phase 5 on one end and a Cabbage on the other.
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Posted by grandeman on Saturday, August 27, 2005 6:37 PM
For me, the Grande's California Zephyr and the Prospector are cool pax trains. I also love the ATSF Super Chief.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 6:39 PM
Without a doubt, the Powhatten Arrow, an all coach consist pulled by the most powerfull and beautiful northern ever made.

Second choice the Broadway limited powered by a T1 or Streamlined K4.

Third choice, the Twentieth Century hauled by a Dreyfus Streamlined J3a.

Rick
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 6:45 PM
Where to begin, too many choices, NYCs Twentyth Century, Santa Fes Super Chief, any PRR GG1 pulled New York to Washinton train, heck even a Long Island RR Commuter either at the New York City end or the Montauk or Greensport ends of the island. And my all time favorite song "The City of New Orleans",,,,, "this train's got the disappearing rail road blues!!!!"
Will
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Posted by CP5415 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 7:17 PM
What could be better than 50's vintage Budd Stainless Steel cars on the Canadian?

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 27, 2005 7:56 PM
Howdy!

I really really really love the Santa Fe Super Chief! A fellow club member has the train and I envy him!!!
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Posted by Tracklayer on Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by b palmer

Howdy!

I really really really love the Santa Fe Super Chief! A fellow club member has the train and I envy him!!!
...

Some people just have all the luck... ([:(])

Tracklayer
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Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:28 PM
Hard to decide as I was one fortunate to have enjoyed many.
1.Super Chief
2.Empire Builder
3. 20th Century Limited
4.Florida Special
5 North Coast Limited
6. Canadian
7. Cascadian
8. Super Continental
9. Chief
10. Western Star
I rode all of the above and belive me it was tough to choose. I was fortunate to ride all four CITY streamliners but for some unexplainable reason could not rate any in top ten. Rode the CRI&P/SP Golden State and it too lacked something the others had. I liked the Sunset Limited but the diner and loune car were gone when I rode this train. It only had the hamburger Grill Lounge Car and that was not real impressive for a long distance train.
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Posted by GMTRacing on Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:42 PM
The Besler Steam Train, The Comet, The Merchants Limited from any era, anything behind an I-5 or DL - 109, all New Haven Railroad. J.R.
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Posted by UP Deano on Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:02 PM
i cant just pick one. its a three way tie for me: City of LA, any of the Zephers, and the CNW 400. [;)][:D]
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Posted by jimrice4449 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:38 PM
Having seen it from trackside many times and having ridden on it (or the nocturnal sister, the Starlight) I'd have to go w/ the SP Coast Daylight circa 1950-53. 20 red and orange cars behind a GS-4. Hard to beat. Oddly, of the 2 dozen or so psgr trains I've got in service and on the RR, none are the Daylight. I do have 20 of the Limited Editions kits for a 20 car train that I'm going to get around to one of these days. I am!
Really!
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Posted by rexhea on Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:50 PM
You know, after making my post and reading all those that followed, I have come to the conclusion: they are all BEAUTIFUL and full of charm, romance, and excitement. Yes... what ladies they were. I sure miss those that have fallen.

REX
Rex "Blue Creek & Warrior Railways" http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rexheacock
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Posted by zigg72md on Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:55 PM
How come no one has mentioned the Hogwarts express???

Yes I know it doesn't actually carry passengers, but it is a real train and very cool looking.

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