Ty, thanks for posting; I like to see some answers popping up.
However, the answer is set in the Fifties, not the mid-1940's.
Best, al s.
al-in-chgo wrote: This thread has been dark for nearly two whole days, so I thought I'd post something that I hope is a little easier: Most of you remember or have heard of a surprise crash in the Fifties when a GG-1 locomotive crashed into Washington Union Station. The loco, with cars still attached, crashed into the waiting room and then crashed through the waiting room's floor. QUESTION: What event of national importance took place just five days after the GG-1's crash into Union Station? Remember: No Researching! Thanks, al s.
This thread has been dark for nearly two whole days, so I thought I'd post something that I hope is a little easier:
Most of you remember or have heard of a surprise crash in the Fifties when a GG-1 locomotive crashed into Washington Union Station. The loco, with cars still attached, crashed into the waiting room and then crashed through the waiting room's floor.
QUESTION: What event of national importance took place just five days after the GG-1's crash into Union Station?
Remember: No Researching! Thanks, al s.
I was about 21 and remember the crash, but my mind is blank so I'll take a stab:
The Russians launched Sputnik and started the Space Race?
Ishmael wrote: al-in-chgo wrote: This thread has been dark for nearly two whole days, so I thought I'd post something that I hope is a little easier: Most of you remember or have heard of a surprise crash in the Fifties when a GG-1 locomotive crashed into Washington Union Station. The loco, with cars still attached, crashed into the waiting room and then crashed through the waiting room's floor. QUESTION: What event of national importance took place just five days after the GG-1's crash into Union Station? Remember: No Researching! Thanks, al s. I was about 21 and remember the crash, but my mind is blank so I'll take a stab:The Russians launched Sputnik and started the Space Race?
An excellent WAG; keep trying!
I think this was quite a few years before Sputnik.
Was it a presidential inauguration?
A visit from new British royalty?
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I was going to say Prez inarguration, but it goten taken.
My guess is the Democratic convention.
BUt I know that is not right.
NSlover92 wrote:I am going to say the President Inag. Because clean up had to be half @$$ed and then they built a tempoary floor covering the still wrecked GG1, Which was later torched into peices and welded back together to be one of the last running GG1's. Even if it wasnt the president thing, I think all that is right, Not bad for a teen! Mike
CONGRATULATIONS !!
And I am going to award you the win, because it is the first response not phrased as a "multiple guess." Wikipedia has the inside dope; and since it agrees with what I had been told earlier, I'll count it as a verified fact. (So far I have not made Wikipedia a sole source authority on anything.) The crash occurred January 15, 1953, when passenger trains were still the dominant mode of l-d travel in this country; the inauguration was five days later.
Unfortunately, the entry in Wiki. refers to the train's name as the "Federal Express." According to my January, 1953, Official Guide of the Railways, (), PRR train no. 173, "The Federal," was scheduled to arrive at Union Station/DC at 8:20 a.m., having departed from Boston 11:00 p.m. the previous night. I myself remember seeing a recollection or two that the "culprit" train was PRR's "Morning Congressional." I can't say that's wrong, but since the "Morning Congressional" was snazzier with its onboard telephone, new Budd (then) "lightweight" coaches; and since myth orients to glamor more than efficacy, I tend to doubt.
Anyone out there know for sure, whether the offending train was the Federal, The Morning Congressional, or what?? If Wiki. is just plain wrong, the entry should be challenged. - a.s.
rrnut: Your add'l info is right-on although I do have trouble wondering which run it was for the reasons stated above.. Thanks - al
The August 1953 and May 1989 issues of Trains say it was the Federal (no Express).
http://www.dcnrhs.org/union_station/union_wreck.htm
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/prr4876-crash.shtml
nanaimo73 wrote:The August 1953 and May 1989 issues of Trains say it was the Federal (no Express).
Good enuf for this guy! Thanks, Dale! - al
Okay, my turn--and if the question has been asked before, my apologies:
Name:
1. The oldest railroad station structure standing in the United States today;
2. The oldest inner-city railroad station structure still standing today.
LNER4472 wrote: Okay, my turn--and if the question has been asked before, my apologies:Name:1. The oldest railroad station structure standing in the United States today;2. The oldest inner-city railroad station structure still standing today.
I suspect that the answer to both is the Mt. Clare Station in Baltimore.
LNER4472 wrote:Nope and Nope.
For no. 2, Boston South? - a. s.
I think the Reading Terminal (Phila) trainshed is older than Boston South station, but there's got to be something left from the 1840s or 50s somewhere in the east. I know that there is a station along the NJT AC line from the 1850s.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
So something in the EMD stable??
al
W-e-e-ll, if you could count a cab or a motor as "locomotive," then I guess the original Metroliners would count .
Late, late at night the WAG's like me come out (lol).
WAG no. 1: Something on the exx-PRR "Main Line" leading west from Philadelphia?
WAG no. 2: Boston Back Bay?
wyomingrailfan wrote:Ooo ooo! SD45s!
Good Job you win, PRR ordered several SD45's (dont know exact numbers), By 1968 they hadnt even gotten half the order, all were transfered to be built for PC. Mike
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