Trains.com

Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

733430 views
7909 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Friday, August 4, 2023 3:20 AM

I don't find anything I wrote that I think could imply that the tTennisean "was not the answer."   To what are you referring?

The Tennesean was unique in many ways.  But the Broadway almost always for a eLimited, on occasion, the 20th Century Limited, almost always for a while, and Empire State Limited, all started with electric power at one end of the line and ended with streamlined steam at the other.

The Tennesean was  unique with Road A, Road B, then back to Road A.

Swap between two streamlined steamers (at Bristol).

Later, When an Alco PA took over from the streamlined Pacific, diesel - steam - diesel was unique on a  regular basis, although probably did occur at times on the western transcons.

Look forward to your question.

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, August 3, 2023 2:42 PM

Just to be sure it's understood that rcdrye is up  -- he answered it Monday at 6:05pm, before I'd had the chance to read the question.  In fact I only mentioned the Meteor because Mr. Klepper seemed to be saying the Tennessean was not the answer, and there are few trains indeed that involved a PRR electric at one end and streamlined steam elsewhere.

A notable point that has been made in posts here in the past was the 'fun' on N&W with allowing Southern diesels to 'run through' between Monroe and Bristol -- the first diesels allowed on N&W, iirc.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:23 AM

1948 OG does not list coaches, and does not list a Boston sleeper, though the connecting PRR train that carried the New York Pullman did originate in Boston.

FWIW the other pre-war Southern Railway lightweight coach train was the Southerner, operating on the route of today's Southern Crescent.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 3:06 AM

That is why four engine changes, five locomotives, not three changes, and four locomotves.  But actually six and five:  New Haven, New York, DC Monroe, Bristol, between Boston and Memphis.

But, to be honest, I had made an error and should have written three engne changes, since all but one sleeper had New York City as the northen end-point.

I understand that in the post-WWII prtiod, there were times when through coaches also operated.

Yes, Southern streamlined one PS-4 Pacifiic for the Bristol - Memphis round-trip.

 

you are uo.

Southern

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 9:56 PM

HAS to be 'The Tennessean' as rcdrye has already said.  PRR electric to Washington, then Southern to Monroe, then N&W J or K to Bristol, then the bespoke Otto Kuhler-streamlined Ps-4.  (Later there might have been DL-109s or PAs, and still later bulldog-nosed E and FP units, on that last stretch...)

If you can scroll past some home-movie people shots, there is some good running showing the Kuhler 'reverse' paint scheme here:

https://vimeo.com/230640412 

I had thought the actual Tennessean originated in Washington, with only the through New York  sleeper(s) in a connecting PRR train.  It occurs to me that, since the connecting schedule also lists service to Boston, that you might include one more streamlined steam engine and change to electric, for the New Haven part... 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 2:31 PM

The Silver Meteor was an all-coach, all-lightweight train from its 1939 inception, until well after WWII.  The hevyweight. diesel-powered, (except GG1  NY-DC)  all-Pullman Orange-Blossom Special was equally fast. When it was  discontinued, lightweight sleepers were added to the Silver Meteor.

I noted that the major railroad for the train I am looking for had only one other pre-WWII streamliner.  It too was all-coach, all lightweight, with a consist like that of the Meteor.  One terminal was the same, the other termnals different than "my" train's sleepers.  This all-coach train had one engine change between diesel and GG1. 

But the train I'm looking for had four engine changes, and one cwas between streamlined steam (or semi-streanlined if you prefer) and steam stranlined as a one-off specifically for this train.   But this steam was replaced by diesel before the more numerous  steam .

And a coal strike resulted in reducing thr number of enine changes to one, with only electric and diesel power employed.

Initially, most coach passengers had to change once fot traverl between the end-points served by the sleepers.  Eventually coaches also ran through, about the same post-WWII time as lightweights replaced  the heavyweight sleepers.

This railroad did provide freight and passenger service to some markets also served by the SAL.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, July 31, 2023 6:09 PM

I'm going to throw out the Silver Meteor, even though that is by far best known as a slantnose EMD and Budd train.

Heavyweight sleepers added; three streamlined steam engines to handle the now-heavier consists (and with very attractive paint, too!)

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Monday, July 31, 2023 6:05 PM

The Tennesean was a pre-war lightweight all-coach train from Washington to Memphis.  It also handled New York-Memphis, Washington-Memphis and Washington-Nashville (with NC&StL) sleepers, all painted silver to match the train. Southern powered it from Washington to Monroe with diesels, N&W used steam to Bristol, and Southern diesels handled the rest of the way from Bristol to Memphis. The New York sleeper was handled in a PRR train (with a GG1) from New York to Washington.

Without Dave's motive power info, the Zephyr-Rocket also fit, a prewar train that lasted into the mid-1960s with silver-painted heavyweight Pullmans.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, July 31, 2023 6:36 AM

Here two hints hint that should give it away.  If one was traveling between the endpoints of the streamliner's heavy-weight silver-painted sleepers, one would ride behind electric, diesel, and steam power on every regular run, with the steam being streamlined or semi-streamlined.  And before and during WWII, This was one of only two  stramliners fielded by the railroad with the majority of the tran's route-mileage,

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, July 27, 2023 7:32 AM

Name a just-barely-pre-WWII "streamliner" that was a  new service and lasted well past WWII, that operated over more than one railroad, but used silver-painted heavyweight Pullman sleepers (no lightweights) until lightweights arrived post-WWII.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 1:22 PM

The crews complained of possible injury if they hit anything. Bill Thomas' reply:"Don't hit anything."  Bill Thomas was trained at Central Pacific's Sacramento shops.  The three foot gauge NPC was purchased by new owners in 1902.  Some of it was re-gauged to standard, and part electrified with third rail as the North Shore RR.  The Northwestern Pacific (owned at the time by SP and AT&SF) bought the NSRR in 1907. SP bought out AT&SF's half in 1929.

Your question.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 10:44 AM

Wiki:  A decade before SP's first cab forward, the North Pacific Coast Railroad, later part of the SP-owned Northwestern Pacific company, rebuilt an 1875 4-4-0 into an oil-fired cab-forward locomotive. This innovative engine was built by William (Bill) Thomas, the NPC master mechanic who was nationally known[7] and holder of a number of patents. Thomas used the running gear and frame from NPC locomotive 5, the "Bodega", which had been wrecked in 1897, to build NPC 21. With the addition a new and unusual marine water tube boiler and an all-steel cab, installed in reverse order from standard engines, this unique creation earned Thomas a patent on the locomotive design. No. 21 entered service in 1900, but only lasted a few years. Although it reportedly steamed well, though with a sooty exhaust, the crews found it difficult to operate, and with fears of the possible results of a collision they dubbed it "The Freak". A negligent fireman allowed the water level to drop, damaging the boiler, and it was not repaired.Music

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 7:17 AM

While Southern Pacific clearly led in number and variety of cab-forward steam locomotives (256 in all), it did not originate the idea.  That honor goes to the quirky master mechanic of a railrad that later became part of the giant SP system.  Name the railroad, the year, and the wheel arrangement of the first cab-forward.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 7:23 AM

The Roosevelt Road L station was removed around 1966.  The Lake/Dan Ryan line started operating over the structure there in 1969, but no station was built until the Orange Line opened in 1993.  With the realignment of routes at the same time, the station also serves the Green Line (Lake-Englewood/63rd).

I'll try to post something later today.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, July 24, 2023 5:22 AM

RC has the answer, of course, and Roosevelt Avenue was the answer.  But I did not iknow that the station was removed, and the current CTA station is new.  I thought they just put thye old station back into use. 

And Rioosevelt Avenue did have a CSL, the for a dshort time CTA streetcarv line, the electric service that did not use the station, but crossed underneath below.

Look forward to RC's question.  Thanks for a very thorough answer.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Sunday, July 23, 2023 8:03 AM

The Adams and Wabash station (Loop L, Chicago Rapid Transit, CTA) served North Shore line (northbound only) trains along with L trains.  Chicago Surface Lines cars ran below on Wabash.  The otherwise similar station at Roosevelt Rd had CSL cars on Roosevelt. Some North Shore trains had food service to the end in 1963.

Roosevelt stopped serving CTA trains about 1949, and was removed after North Shore quit.  A new Roosevelt station was built to serve the new Orange (Midway) line and Green (South Side L) Line in 1993.

Adams/Wabash serves trains to Evanston (Purple), Oak Park and Forest Park (Green, Harlem station has an entrance in Forest Park), and Cicero (Pink).

The other loop station serving interurbans was the Wells St. Terminal, which had two platfroms serving four tracks, serving "Met" lines to Logan Square, Forest Park and Cicero/Berwyn as well as Chicago Aurora & Elgin trains.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Friday, July 14, 2023 1:01 AM

THe city with this station had more than one foe intercity trains.

This station had the fewest number of tracks for a station where intercity trasins originated and terminated, and shared with the most similar station in the city in having only two platforms.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, July 13, 2023 10:33 AM

daveklepper
The Lackawanna Terminal always served trains that were not confined  to Hoboken.

Ahhhh -- I see I misunderstood the question.

This is a good one!

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, July 13, 2023 4:27 AM

The Lackawanna Terminal always served trains that were not confined  to Hoboken.

Hint:  Even at the time when there were three rail systems at the location, two using the station and one not, all three systems used  electric power at approximately the same volltage, as isused by the single system today.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 10:13 PM

Could it be Lackawanna Terminal?  

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 4:18 AM

Thanks for the information.  Please answer the  question.  During the best of the classic days, three railway passenger systems served the location, but one did not actually use the station. (And it definitely did not serve food or drink.)

Only one railway system uses the station today.  It does not serve food or drink.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Monday, July 10, 2023 3:39 PM

After the Texas Eagle replaced the Sunshine Special, Mopac connections via Laredo  were handled by change of cars at San Antonio.  Heavyweights lasted into the 1950s, after which MoPac 10-6s were used.  Through cars were operated by Pullman.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, July 10, 2023 1:47 PM

There were through cars (PRR) off the Penn Texas that operated as far south as San Antonio.  As far as I know, none ran further south than that, either to Laredo or across the border in Mexico.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, July 10, 2023 7:43 AM

The Penn Texas did handle through cars to Texas.  I do not recall either the Spirit of Saint Louis, for some time all-Pullman, or the all-coach Jeffersonian handling through cars.

Name a station constructed by a rairoad that was contained within one city, then during successors' ownership served both city-only and intercity trains, and then for a long period served only trains, intercity and suburban (with importance), that operated outside the  city, but now is  back to almost its original role, the city and possikbly one suburb if my geography is correct, but nothing that can be called intercity.

When used by intercity trains, you could buy food and drinks on some scheduled runs.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Sunday, July 9, 2023 7:22 PM

Por nada.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, July 9, 2023 3:53 PM

daveklepper
Obermod can have the next question if he wants it.

El Obermodor does not want it.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,483 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, July 9, 2023 10:16 AM

rcdrye

Saltillo and Guanjuato were the other state capitals.  Mexico City DF is sort of like Washington DC (Districto Federal).

Dave had the right idea.  Through cars off of the Sunshine Special and Southwestern Limited lasted until 1948.  Most NYC through service to Texas and points south ended with the postwar Budd-built Southwestern Limited.  The Sunshine morphed into the Texas Eagle and later the Penn Texas.

 

While the Sunshine Special did become the Texas Eagle, the Penn Texas was strictly a New York-St. Louis train.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,022 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, July 9, 2023 5:28 AM

Obermod can have the next question if he wants it.

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 4,984 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Saturday, July 8, 2023 7:40 AM

Saltillo and Guanjuato were the other state capitals.  Mexico City DF is sort of like Washington DC (Districto Federal).

Dave had the right idea.  Through cars off of the Sunshine Special and Southwestern Limited lasted until 1948.  Most NYC through service to Texas and points south ended with the postwar Budd-built Southwestern Limited.  The Sunshine morphed into the Texas Eagle and later the Penn Texas.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,377 posts
Posted by Overmod on Friday, July 7, 2023 10:00 PM

I had a post about this but it disappeared.

The post-1948 PRR run-throughs didn't go further south than San Antonio.  I don't know about the pre-'46 Sunshine Special, or what was the '46 to '48 arrangement.

The stops on the Mexican side were Nuevo Laredo (due to the border crossing), Monterrey, San Luis Potosí, and Mexico City 

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter