What's your favorite pre-Amtrak passenger train?

[Kozzie]

The more I learn about pre-Amtrak passenger services in US, the more I find folk providing interesting and informative info about the lesser known trains, which I find very helpfull. Hence my question.
Downunder, I am aware of the high profile types such as "Sunset Limited" and "Twentieth Century Limited" etc ,but hopefully this question will start an interesting thread that includes many others.
"Favorite" can mean the livery, the service, good memories, anything...

Cheers

Kozzie
Oz

[AntonioFP45]

[4:-)][tup]The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad's "The Champion".

In the late 60s when a lot of passenger service in the U.S was in decline, Seaboard Coast Line delievered good service between New York and Florida. During the winter months, this train at times consisted of 18 cars!

[8D][:D][^][;)]Usually hauled by E7s, E8s, E6s, and GG1s (in the NEC) this train was an example of "what was good" about passenger trains, even though it didn't receive as much publicity recognition that was synonomous with the "Chiefs" and "Zephyrs". [swg]

[Kozzie]

AntonioFP45, that's exactly the type of info I was looking for.
Pardon my ignorance but what was the livery on the SCL locos?

When you say "GG1 in the North East Corridor", did Pennsylvania haul the Champion part of the way??

Kozzie

[BaltACD]

I am partial to the B&O's Capitol Limited.

Dome Cars (that had lights to view the scenery at night), twin-unit Diner's, Combination Lounge on the head end, Square end Pullman Observation Lounges (Napannee & Wawasee) on the rear.

The Dining Car staff was curteous and efficient, the tables set will real linen and silverware and the B&O Blue China and the meals were to die for.. Finished off with finger bowls to clean your hands. Truly the way to travel from the 'Land of Plesent Living' to Chicago.

[Kozzie]

BaltACD,

With the twin unit diners - kitchen and dining area in both cars?

One does wonder, if Amtrak ever got enough funding, (yeah..right!...), if it could approach the level of class/style of these wonderful trains like Capitol Limited ...?

[AntonioFP45]

Hey Kozzie,

The Seaboard Coast Line used the "Bumble Bee" paint scheme, inherited from Atlantic Coast Line. Black locomotives with safety yellow striping running horizontally on the body. Go to Railfan.net and you'll find pictures of some SCL passenger trains.

Passenger cars were in stainless steel finishes, however SCL started painting the roofs black. While the majority were done, SCL never did fini***he entire car fleet by the time Amtrak came into existence so a person modeling SCL can actually have both versions of the cars.

Walthers is offering HO SCL passenger cars. Beautifully done!

Pennsy took over the SCL and Southern Railway trains in Washington D.C where the diesels were uncoupled and a GG1 (yes, usually one!) was coupled onto each train. The GG1 then breezed up to the final destination of New York City. GG1s even in the 60s were hitting 100mph speeds![^][8D][:)]

Peace out![:D][:D][8D][swg][tup]

[Kozzie]

Hi AntonioFP45

Thanks for all that info, greeat stuff!
I like running models of the lesser known trains, particularly when our model railway club sets up it's exhibition layout at shows.
Quite a few of the crowds at the shows know a thing or two about railroads, and they appreciate seeing something different instead of the same ol' same ol'...trouble is - getting it in ready-to-run models is often impossible.

I will check out the Walthers web site.

GG1s sure had some grunt!

Cheers

Kozzie

[AntonioFP45]

Kozzie,

If this is helpful,[;)]

Seaboard Coast Line's two other Florida to New York "hot shots" were the Silver Meteor and Silver Star. Amtrak today, still runs these trains, but it's just not the same.

The Silver Comet ran from New York City to the city of Birmingham in Alabama.

Proto 2000 lineoffered a good looking Seaboard Coast Line E6 A & B set. I don't think it's available anymore as Proto 2000 units are limited runs, but you might be able to find some in model railroad shops still on the shelf. My LHS has one left that's been on the shelf several months and has priced it for $84. I'm seriously considering it!

[Kozzie]

Hey AntonioFP45!

About the SCL E6 A & B Proto 2000 loco at your LHS...I reckon "carpe diem" sieze the day and buy it! I find if I hang off too long, someone else buys it i end up profoundly dissapointed..maybe put it on the plastic card hmmmm? ha ha

And if you fing you didn't need it, you could always put it up for sale at a local buy and sell..

I didn't realise SCL used a "Bumble Bee" livery like Rio Grande.
Any other roads use it?

Cheers
Kozzie

[espeefoamer]

My favorite pre Amtrak train was the San Joaquin Daylight.When I rode it in 1961 it still had a diner and a full length dome lounge car.This was my first train ride.[:D]
Kozzie,I rode a twin unit diner on the Broadway in1978.One car was a combination kitchen/dorm,and the other was full table seating.[:)]

[sooblue]

My favorite passenger train was the Northern Pacific Mainstreater.
My brother inlaw was one of the chefs. I traveled on it in 1967. Had a great time and met a cool woman.

Sooblue

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

My favorite pre Amtrak train was the San Joaquin Daylight.When I rode it in 1961 it still had a diner and a full length dome lounge car.This was my first train ride.[:D]
Kozzie,I rode a twin unit diner on the Broadway in1978.One car was a combination kitchen/dorm,and the other was full table seating.[:)]

Hi espeefoamer

With a name like that, I guess the San Joaquin Daylight was a Californian train...did it run out of LA? Was it a Southern Pacific train?

Hey Sooblue

Where did the Mainstreater run?

I have another Northen Pacific question:
What does the white writing on the sides of the two-tone green NP locos say?
I can never see a photo that is clear enough to read it....?

Thanks

Kozzie
Brisbane, QLD
Oz

[jchnhtfd]

When I was a little nipper in Minnesota (many years ago, guys!) my favourite train was actually a pair -- the Milwaukee road's Hiawathas, hauled by absolutely incredible streamlined Atlantics. Speed (unfortunately, there never was an official timing -- but unofficially they routinely ran over 110 mph), great service, great equipment...

But then... there's never been a train I didn't enjoy riding.

[Anonymous]

The top three I rode were:

1. The California Zephyr

2. The Empire Builder

3. The Canadian (CP pre-VIA)

LC

[Anonymous]

My two favorites were both on the Reading

The Wall Street Philadelphia to Jersey City

The King Coal Philadelphia to Shamokin

[AntonioFP45]

Kozzie,

As far as other roads using bumblebee schemes, I can't recall but there are similar schemes using different colors. B&O and C&O in the late 60s useddark blue on the locomotive bodies with just a single stripe above the trucks (too plain-jane in my opinion)[;)] [swg]

One thing that I really like about Rio Grande is that they've always had good looking paint schemes! [C):-)]

By the way, for the passenger train(s) that you decide to model, are you going to include interiors and lighting? Will you be operating on a DCC or DC system? Just curious. [8)][8D][:)]

[overall]

City of Miami is mine. I have said this before in this forum but it used to pass my Grandmothers house on Southern's Alabama Division at night around 8:00 pm or so. Quite a sight.

George

[Kozzie]

AntonioFP45

I agree with you about the striping - if your going to have it, make a good show of it.
My Kato HO SD45 in Rio Grande livery looks sensational. Runs very well too - very smooth, great even at very low speeds.

When you say DC, do you mean the regular power controller that steps down the hoesehold voltage (240 down hear) to 12 volts? That's what I will be using.

DCC is yet future for me - especially because of the cost. My funds qre quite limited.
Maybe one day - but my layout will be reasonably simple, can be handled with the traditional controllers. I leave the complex stuff to the clubhouse layout.

Cheers

Dave
(Kozzie)

[AntonioFP45]

Understandable Kozzie,

Have you decided which passenger train or cars you'd like to model?

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Understandable Kozzie,

Have you decided which passenger train or cars you'd like to model?

I'm governed a lot by what the shops here down under can mangae to get from the importers. Not everything I see in Model Railroader turns up down here - can be real frustrating. So I keep it flexible.

But I do have a hankering for some of the east coast lines, as so many modellers down here just run UP or BNSF and it becomes a case of overkill - very obvious at the model railway shows...groan!...around the end appears another UP intermodal...yawn!
I mean, they look great - but "every man and his dog" run it...

The B&O blue looks really classy, but now you have tempted me with the SCL stuff you mentioned, I'll have to check it out at the LHS...

Did the the Silver Meteor and Silver Star and the Champion run with Budd stainless steel cars?

Kozzie

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

My favorite pre Amtrak train was the San Joaquin Daylight.When I rode it in 1961 it still had a diner and a full length dome lounge car.This was my first train ride.[:D]
Kozzie,I rode a twin unit diner on the Broadway in1978.One car was a combination kitchen/dorm,and the other was full table seating.[:)]

Hi espeefoamer

With a name like that, I guess the San Joaquin Daylight was a Californian train...did it run out of LA? Was it a Southern Pacific train?

Hey Sooblue

Where did the Mainstreater run?

I have another Northen Pacific question:
What does the white writing on the sides of the two-tone green NP locos say?
I can never see a photo that is clear enough to read it....?

Thanks

Kozzie
Brisbane, QLD
Oz

O please see your other thread ------
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13385

[kenneo]

NP's "North Coast Limited"
GN's "Empire Builder"
UP's "City of Portland"
"Portland Rose"
"Idaho Mail"
"City of St. Louis"
SP's "Shasta Daylight"
"Cascade"

[The Block House]

MY FAVORATE WAS THE ORANGE, CHOCLATE AND YELLOW OF THE ILLONIOS CENTRAL. THE ONE I LIKED THE BEST WAS THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.[

[Anonymous]

I can't really say what my favorite pre-Amtrak train was, because I was too young at the time to go wandering off by myself when I was living in New York City. When I started junior high school, I would sneak up to Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal in Man-hattan after school to watch the parade of long distance in their afternoon departure time slots. My mother would freak every time for coming home late from school, know-ing fully well where I was, but she was more relieved to know that I wasn't doing any drugs, drinking or committing crimes. Some of those trains were still very long (16-20 cars) and would sport several lounge cars and twin unit diner combinations. I've seen on rare occasions where they had to run 2 GG1's on some of the southern trains be-cause of the length (20+ cars) and the steam capacity to reach the rear most cars. Even at Grand Central Terminal, when one of the trains still ran to Chicago, there were some occasions I witnessed 3 FL9's to pull the train up the Park Avenue tunnel. That was true and real railroading at it's best, even if it was at it's worst.


Glenn
A R E A L RAILROADER...A T R U E AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeaton]

Hands down, The Milwaukee Road's Afternoon Hiawatha. Even with diesel and UP "City" colors. 100MPH from Tomah to Watertown, full length dome car, and the unique rear end obs car for first class.

[PwdOpd]

Two come to my mind. CNW/UP "City of Denver" is the first. This was with the original consist - Chicago to Denver in sixteen hours, and always on time. The second is the Milwaulee's "Morning Hiawatha", Minneapolis to Chicago. Full car Dome, beautiful scenery along the Missippi and through the "Dells". It too, was right on the money. Paul

[joesap1]

I enjoyed traveling on the UP's City of Los Angeles between Upland, CA and North Platte, Nebraska(where my Grand parents lived). My Grandfather was an engineer on the UP and his normal run was from North Platte to Grand Island.
One of the exciting things on the City of Los Angeles was the Dome Dining car. My next fondest memory was sitting in the dining cars after they were closed and listening to the train workers tell stories. They had me in stiches for hours. They also looked after me since I was a young teen traveling alone in the coach cars.

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joesap1

I enjoyed traveling on the UP's City of Los Angeles between Upland, CA and North Platte, Nebraska(where my Grand parents lived). My Grandfather was an engineer on the UP and his normal run was from North Platte to Grand Island.
One of the exciting things on the City of Los Angeles was the Dome Dining car. My next fondest memory was sitting in the dining cars after they were closed and listening to the train workers tell stories. They had me in stiches for hours. They also looked after me since I was a young teen traveling alone in the coach cars.

A dome dining car! Sounds like a good idea! I thougt dome cars were only used for general sitting car format.

Did many other trains have these?

Kozzie

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

My favorite pre Amtrak train was the San Joaquin Daylight.When I rode it in 1961 it still had a diner and a full length dome lounge car.This was my first train ride.[:D]
Kozzie,I rode a twin unit diner on the Broadway in1978.One car was a combination kitchen/dorm,and the other was full table seating.[:)]

Hi espeefoamer

With a name like that, I guess the San Joaquin Daylight was a Californian train...did it run out of LA? Was it a Southern Pacific train?

Hey Sooblue

Where did the Mainstreater run?

I have another Northen Pacific question:
What does the white writing on the sides of the two-tone green NP locos say?
I can never see a photo that is clear enough to read it....?

Thanks

Kozzie
Brisbane, QLD
Oz
Hi Kozzie,
The Northern Pacific's Mainstreeter and North Coast Limited both ran Chicago to
Seatle and back, the Mainstreeter was number 1 WB and number 2 EB. The North Coast
Limeted was number 25 West bound and number 26 EB.
The white lettering on the side of the F Units said "MAIN STREET OF THE NORTHWEST.

railwayray
Sagle Idaho
USA

[traingeek087]

Calafornia Zephyr. It ran long with CBQ, used cool looking cars with cool names, silver E units, and was long. much less it went through about 20 miles away, but I wasn't alive then.