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Railroad History Quiz Game (Come on in and play) Locked

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Posted by J. Edgar on Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:05 PM
correct
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Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, May 31, 2008 9:13 PM

Besides the new Canadian which other two CP trains benefitted with Budd built cars at the same time as the Canadians introduction? One ran east from Montreal the other west and was also a transcontinental?

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:16 AM
 passengerfan wrote:

Besides the new Canadian which other two CP trains benefitted with Budd built cars at the same time as the Canadians introduction? One ran east from Montreal the other west and was also a transcontinental?

Al - in - Stockton

Would those two be the Dominion and the Alouette?

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 6:50 AM

Mark you got one of two the Dominion is correct and one of the most interesting trains of its time to enter service. The Dominion operated with one each of all of the new Budd car types interspersed with heavyweight cars. Many of the heavyweight cars had been modernized with thermopane windows, newly refurbished interiors and of course received new Maroon paint. It may have looked funny having the stainless steel streamlined Budd cars mixed with the heavyweight Maroon cars but in some ways was a much classier train then the  Canadian.  

Al - in - Stockton

PS the Alouette is incorrecto.

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 10:35 AM

Al,

I thought the eastern train would have run between from Montreal to St. John but I don't know of a  name train that ran on that route. So if not on the St. John route or the Alouette how about the Red Wing?

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:07 PM

Mark

The name train on the route between Montreal and St. John was the -------- LTD. At St. John it connected with the CP Ferry across the Bay of Fundy where the Dominion Atlantic (A CPR subsidiary) RDC carried passengers to Halifax. The train -ferry - train service was actually just as fast as the all train route of the CN Ocean between Montreal and Halifax. The Alouette operated Montreal to Boston.

Al - in - Stockton 

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:25 PM

This is just a guess - the Atlantic Limited. Hope I'm right because I have a good passenger train question in mind.

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 3:56 PM

Mark your question it was the Atlantic Limited.

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 7:27 PM

OK here's the next question.

What train  was reputed to be the shortest streamliner in the US at the time it went into service in 1941? Name the train, the railroad on which it ran, and the two end points of its route. Its consist was all unique, one of a kind equipment; an EMD A unit containing a baggage/express section behind the engine compartment, followed by a combination coach/RPO,  and a coach with a small grill area bringing up the rear.

Mark

 

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 7:33 PM

It was the Missouri Pacific Delta Eagle and the two passenger cars were built by St. Louis Car and the 1/2 EMD E6A with baggage Compartment was known as an AA model by EMD.

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 7:38 PM

Oh I almost forgot it ran between Tallulah and Memphis round trip daily.

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 8:06 PM
 passengerfan wrote:

Oh I almost forgot it ran between Tallulah and Memphis round trip daily.

Al - in - Stockton

Dang it Al you're a hard one to stump. You're right on all counts but before you ask the next question let me throw one more at you. The route of the Delta Eagle was shortened in, IIRC, 1952 and it no longer ran as far as Tallulah, Louisiana. What was the southern end of its run after that time?

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 8:38 PM

McGehee

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 9:06 PM
 passengerfan wrote:

McGehee

Al - in - Stockton

Correct again Al. I'm obviously going to have to ask harder questions and will be working to have one available when it's my turn again.

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Sunday, June 1, 2008 10:12 PM

Mark,

I have hundreds of pieces of information I have been collecting on the streamlined passenger trains for fifty years, including every book I can lay my hands on and more recently dvds.

My next question is name the secondary Southern Pacific train on the Sunset route between Los Angeles and New Orleans and the secondary SP/RI train between Chicago and Los Angeles. The next part of the question is name the all Pullman Streamliner that operated for two winters only between Chicago and Phoenix?

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Monday, June 2, 2008 2:24 AM
 passengerfan wrote:

Mark,

My next question is name the secondary Southern Pacific train on the Sunset route between Los Angeles and New Orleans and the secondary SP/RI train between Chicago and Los Angeles. The next part of the question is name the all Pullman Streamliner that operated for two winters only between Chicago and Phoenix?

Al - in - Stockton

The secondary trains were the Argonaut (LA-NO) and the Imperial (Chi-LA). The Arizona Limited was the all Pullman train that ran between Chi and Phoenix in the winters of 1940-41 and 1941-42. It was a stainless steel streamliner that was steam powered at least over the RI portion of its route but I'm not sure what power the SP assigned to the train.

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Monday, June 2, 2008 7:03 AM

Mark you were correct on all counts except when you mentioned it was all stainless steel . Actually only a single car was stainless steel one of the two observations. Those two cars were American Milemaster and Muskingum River, the latter was the all stainless steel car, and both went to Southern Pacific as replacements for the two original Lark sleeper lounge observations when they were wrecked. The two Baggage -Dormitory cars and the two dining cars were provided by the RI and were old Pullman cars with the round roof but were painted to match the sleeping cars. RI provided diesels for the two seaons the trains operated between Chicago and Tucumcari and SP provided Steam either Mountains or Northerns.

CRI&P-SP-PULLMAN

ARIZONA LIMITED

Chicago - Tucson - Phoenix

(December 15, 1940 - April 15, 1941)

(December 15, 1941 - April 3, 1942)

1900 miles

  

The ARIZONA LIMITED was an all Pullman All Room winter only operation between Chicago and Tucson-Phoenix. The ARIZONA LIMITED provided a deluxe service for wealthy Midwesterners and other people of means who preferred to spend part of their winters in the warm desert climate of southern Arizona. The ARIZONA LIMITED was a truly first class pair of trains for the only two seasons they ever operated. They were finally canceled due to the outbreak of WW II but even then they just about completed their entire second season. The Rock Island assigned diesel power to the ARIZONA LIMITED trains between Chicago and Tucumcari, New Mexico. The Southern Pacific assigned mostly Mountain's to the ARIZONA LIMITED between Tucumcari and Phoenix. The Rock Island assigned two of their ALCO 2,000 HP prewar diesel passenger units the first season and two EMD 2,000 HP diesel passenger units the second and final season the ARIZONA LIMITEDS operated. The Rock Island also modernized two Baggage 15 Crew Dormitory Cars and two 36 seat Dining Cars for both consists of the ARIZONA LIMITEDS. Both of these cars in each train set were painted two tone gray to match the paint scheme of the Pullman owned Sleeping cars of the ARIZONA LIMITED trains.  With two consists the ARIZONA LIMITED was able to provide every other day service between Chicago and Phoenix in both directions. From the ARIZONA LIMITED the Rock Island got the idea for the postwar GOLDEN ROCKET a premier train for service to Los Angeles from Chicago. More on this train later. Both seasons of the ARIZONA LIMITED consists are listed below on the Rock Island.

 

1940-41 SEASON

FIRST CONSIST

  

624 ALCO DL Class 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

  

6014 Modernized Heavyweight Baggage 15 Crew Dormitory Car (CRI&P)

  

8028 Modernized Heavyweight 36 seat Dining Car (CRI&P)

  

IMPERIAL GUARD 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

IMPERIAL CLIPPER 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE GUARD 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE MILLS 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

AMERICAN MILEMASTER 2 Double Bedroom 1 Compartment 1 Drawing Room Buffet 27 seat Lounge Observation

  

SECOND CONSIST

  

623 ALCO DL Class 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

  

6015 Modernized Heavyweight Baggage 15 Crew Dormitory Car (CRI&P)

  

8031 Modernized Heavyweight 36 seat Dining Car (CRI&P)

  

IMPERIAL THRONE 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

IMPERIAL BANNER 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE CLIPPER 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE SHOAL 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

MUSKINGUM RIVER 2 Double Bedroom 1 Compartment 1 Drawing Room Buffet 27 seat Lounge Observation

  

1941-42 SEASON

FIRST CONSIST

  

630 EMD E6A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

  

6014 Modernized Heavyweight Baggage 15 Crew Dormitory Car (CRI&P)

  

8028 Modernized Heavyweight 36 seat Dining Car (CRI&P)

  

IMPERIAL CLIPPER 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

IMPERIAL THRONE 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE BANKS 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

ROARING CAMP 17 Roomette Sleeping Car

  

MUSKINGUM RIVER 2 Double Bedroom 1 Compartment 1 Drawing Room Buffet 27 seat Lounge Observation

  

SECOND CONSIST

  

631 EMD E6A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

 

6015 Modernized Heavyweight Baggage 15 Crew Dormitory Car (CRI&P)

  

8031 Modernized Heavyweight 36 seat Dining Car (CRI&P)

 

IMPERIAL GUARD 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

IMPERIAL BANNER 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

CASCADE BASIN 10 Roomette 5 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

  

BEAR FLAG Articulated 14 Duplex Single Room 2 Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC Articulated 4 Double Bedroom Buffet 27 seat Lounge Observation

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Monday, June 2, 2008 6:14 PM

 

   Sign - Dots [#dots] 

 

So is there a new question out there somewhere? 

 

al-in-chgo
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Posted by passengerfan on Monday, June 2, 2008 7:46 PM

I believe it is Marks turn. He answered the last question.

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Monday, June 2, 2008 7:59 PM

For years the Illinois Central employed "Passenger Service Reprentatives" who would be found on the platforms at Central Station in Chicago during the time trains were boarding their passengers. To the best of my knowledge no other railroad had simialr employees at the other Chicago stations. What were the duties of these Reps and why did the IC employ them while others roads didn't.

Mark 

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Posted by passengerfan on Monday, June 2, 2008 8:48 PM

Mark,

Sorry to disapoint you but many RRs had Passenger Service Representatives. Among those I am most familiar with were those of the Great Northern Empire Builder and Western Star. Not only did they greet passengers at boarding in Chicago but traveled to Seattle and back to Minneapolis before starting out for another trip from Minneapolis to Seattle. The Santa Fe also had Passenger Service Representatives that traveled with the trains as well. North of the border both CN and CP had traveling passenger representatives. Even Amtrak had them not to long ago called Chiefs of Onboard Services.

There duties were to make the passengers travels as comfortable and relaxed as possible. If passengers were worried about a connection with another train due to tardiness they notified the connecting RR how many passengers would be connecting and if they would hold the other train. They were able to assist passengers with schedules of all connecting trains and in some cases buses along the route of their train. I know in later years the passengers of the WB Empire Builder that were going to Vancouver Canada were transported right into King St. Station Seattle but if the EB was running late they transferred at Everett. I remember on one occasion where passengers from the Western Star were transferred from the train along Seattles waterfront to the waiting CPR steamship for Victoria. This was complete with Seattles finest holding up traffic as the passengers crossed the busy waterfront street to the steamship pier.

Does that answer your question adequately. There were many RRs that had Passenger Service Representatives.

 Al - in - Stockton   

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Posted by al-in-chgo on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:04 AM

Does that answer your question adequately. There were many RRs that had Passenger Service Representatives.

 

The Seaboard Air Line did, at least from the beginning of Silver Service after WWII to the SCL merger in 1967. 

So did the Atlantic Coast Line, even before the U.S. entered WWII.  Here's a quotation from Larry Goosby's Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service:  The Postwar Years, (1999), p. 33, photo caption: 

"Just before the Champion's maiden departure from New York City on December 1, 1939, . . .  around them [woman who named the train in a contest, plus ACL brass] are the train's ten smartly uniformed passenger representatives. " 

All ten were male!  - al

al-in-chgo
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Posted by al-in-chgo on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:05 AM

Does that answer your question adequately. There were many RRs that had Passenger Service Representatives.

 

The Seaboard Air Line did, at least from the beginning of Silver Service after WWII to the SCL merger in 1967. 

So did the Atlantic Coast Line, even before the U.S. entered WWII.  Here's a quotation from Larry Goosby's Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service:  The Postwar Years, (1999), p. 33, photo caption: 

"Just before the Champion's maiden departure from New York City on December 1, 1939, . . .  around them [woman who named the train in a contest, plus ACL brass] are the train's ten smartly uniformed passenger representatives. " 

All ten were male!  - al

al-in-chgo
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Posted by al-in-chgo on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:08 AM

Does that answer your question adequately. There were many RRs that had Passenger Service Representatives.

The Seaboard Air Line did, at least from the beginning of Silver Service after WWII to the SCL merger in 1967. 

So did the Atlantic Coast Line, even before the U.S. entered WWII.  Here's a quotation from Larry Goosby's Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service:  The Postwar Years, (1999), p. 33, photo caption: 

"Just before the Champion's maiden departure from New York City on December 1, 1939, . . .  around them [woman who named the train in a contest, plus ACL brass] are the train's ten smartly uniformed passenger representatives. " 

All ten were male!  - al 

 

al-in-chgo
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Posted by al-in-chgo on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:11 AM

I'd like to apologize for the superfluous posting before this.  I encountered something called an "n server exception" four times and assumed I hadn't posted the thing.

Then the delete-post feature tells me there's no such thing as the object I am trying to delete!? 

Kalmbach needs faster hamsters on the night shift, I think.  lol.

al smalling

 

al-in-chgo
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:21 AM

The merged company was Penn Central(wreck that it became)

The year was 1968

Rgds IGN

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 12:23 AM

Railroads that did not join Amtrak,   Denver & Rio Grande,   Rock Island,  Southern Railways, Georgia Railroad.


Rgds IGN

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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 3:24 AM

Al-in-Stockton & Al-in-Chicago,

Sorry guys but no cigars for either of you yet. I do know that a number of railroads had on-board reps on their premier trains to tend to passenger needs and answer their questions as you have pointed out. These guys and gals were "charm school grads" compared to the conductors, brakemen and flagmen who had risen from freight service and were often a "crusty" lot and were more interested in train operations than the niceties of dealing with the traveling public. The Pullman Company recognized this and employed "conductors" who, unlike their railroad counterparts, had no role in the actual operation of the train but were more of a passenger service rep and were skilled in meeting the needs of (and sometimes just mollifying) the most demanding first class passengers.

The IC passenger service reps that I asked about did not travel on the trains and had a unique function that set them apart from those of the other roads that you have mentioned and described. I should have phrased my original question more clearly to emphasize this uniqueness. Keep trying.

Mark

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Posted by passengerfan on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 6:12 PM

Mark ,

You posted at 3:24AM and there has been no response yet. I for one give up I have scratched my head all day and haven't been able to come up with anything. Having never been fortunate enough to ride the IC I can't imagine what would make there Passenger Agents different.

Al - in - Stockton

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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 7:39 PM
 passengerfan wrote:

Mark ,

You posted at 3:24AM and there has been no response yet. I for one give up I have scratched my head all day and haven't been able to come up with anything. Having never been fortunate enough to ride the IC I can't imagine what would make there Passenger Agents different.

Al - in - Stockton

Well I guess it's time for a hint then. In order to perform the duty that set them apart from other passenger representatives the IC's reps had to ask passengers what their destination was.

Mark

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