Railroad History Quiz Game (Come on in and play)

[LNER4472]

During the 1970s, Amtrak served a state capitol city through a Union Station. After serveral years this city lost Amtrak service, but then regained Amtrak service on a different route. This second period of Amtrak service (which came to an end some time ago) used a very strange station, converted from a large structure. Name the city, and the structure used.

Montgomery, Alabama, service reinstated 1989 using a converted concrete grain silo structure up the tracks from the old station. 

[LNER4472]

Savannah's dates to 1861-1876 (long time in construction).

Go older.  

[nanaimo73]

good, you figured it out. the sucessor is Arkansas Southern, which owns the remaining section and also owns part of the old Memphis Dallas and Gulf(which never ran to said places)

So ask a question.

Thanks. Here's an Amtrak question for the morning readers.

During the 1970s, Amtrak served a state capitol city through a Union Station. After serveral years this city lost Amtrak service, but then regained Amtrak service on a different route. This second period of Amtrak service (which came to an end some time ago) used a very strange station, converted from a large structure. Name the city, and the structure used.

[al-in-chgo]

I suspect that the answer to both is the Mt. Clare Station in Baltimore.

To give a little more detail on this:  The Mt. Clare Station is often--OFTEN--cited as the "oldest station in the US/North America/Western Hemisphere", but the reality is that the CURRENT structure was built in the mid-1850s, replacing the earlier "first station"--which, if accounts are accurate, replaced the original ticket office, the moral equivalent of a "lemonade stand" shack. 

There are other contenders for both of the original queries.  

Savannah, Georgia?  Not the ex-SCL that Amtrak serves but the one right in town--last varnish out of there was Sou Rwy's NANCY HANKS IIRC. 

[LNER4472]

I suspect that the answer to both is the Mt. Clare Station in Baltimore.

To give a little more detail on this:  The Mt. Clare Station is often--OFTEN--cited as the "oldest station in the US/North America/Western Hemisphere", but the reality is that the CURRENT structure was built in the mid-1850s, replacing the earlier "first station"--which, if accounts are accurate, replaced the original ticket office, the moral equivalent of a "lemonade stand" shack. 

There are other contenders for both of the original queries.  

[LNER4472]

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? 

 

Nope, and nope.

Hint: I didn't specify "still in use" for either, now, did I?

[al-in-chgo]

I have a quick question for Al - in - Chicago. Do you ever sleep?

     

        Yes, but not as much as I'd like.  I've been battling insomnia the last fifteen years and despite medication, there are times I can't get to sleep. 

       Also please keep in mind that here in Chicago we're on Central [Daylight] Time, so our clocks are set two hours ahead of the West Coast, Nevada, etc.  

 

[arkansasrailfan]

good, you figured it out. the sucessor is Arkansas Southern, which owns the remaining section and also owns part of the old Memphis Dallas and Gulf(which never ran to said places)

So ask a question.

[nanaimo73]

Arkansas and Western?

[arkansasrailfan]

Nope, but KCS did own this railroad for a couple of decades until the railroad went away and was replaced by a pike that runs form Waldron to Heavener.
Think more of geographic directions

[ShopsYardMaster]

Kansas City Southern

[arkansasrailfan]

Another Arkansas railroad question. What is the name of the railroad that ran from Heavener, OK thru Waldron, Ar ending at Forrester, Ar, and connecting with the Caddo River Lumber Co.

A little hint: The name is more geographic influenced and it has a place name. if you know nothing about Arkansas railroads, don't worry, it should be easy to figure out.

[NSlover92]

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 

[passengerfan]

I have a quick question for Al - in - Chicago. Do you ever sleep?

[al-in-chgo]

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. 

 

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? 

 

[al-in-chgo]

 

W-e-e-ll, if you could count a cab or a motor as "locomotive," then I guess the original Metroliners would count . 

[arkansasrailfan]

Ooo ooo! SD45s!

[al-in-chgo]

So something in the EMD stable??

al

 

[NSlover92]

Nope your on the right track I'd say. Mike

[arkansasrailfan]

SD40-2?????

[NSlover92]

Ok, sorry guys I was out of town, I will ask a question if it is still my turn. Back to my favorite, the PRR. Ok the question is, there was a locomotive that PRR ordered, and only a small amount were actully delievered before the PC merger, all of the rest were delivered to PC after the merger. Mike

[oltmannd]

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.

[al-in-chgo]

Nope and Nope. 

 

For no. 2, Boston South?      - a. s.

[LNER4472]

Nope and Nope. 

[Ishmael]

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]

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. 

[al-in-chgo]

The August 1953 and May 1989 issues of Trains say it was the Federal (no Express).

 

Good enuf for this guy! Thanks, Dale! - al

 

[nanaimo73]

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

[al-in-chgo]

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  

 

[rrnut282]

It was Ike's inauguration.  IIRC, it was the Congressional.  A bad or closed anglecock 5 cars back left the train unable to stop in time.  There was no time to remove the wreckage, so they improvised a temporary floor to handle the expected crowds arriving for the event.  The GG1 and cars were removed later.