Consists

[Ocala Mike]

Thanks for the good work, GBN. I always looked forward to the 10th of the month to check out the various consists of pre-Amtrak trains you posted here. Adios! I rode a Milwaukee Road train from Marion, IA to Chicago and back in October, 1968; not sure if it was the "City of Everywhere" or not, but we left Marion early in the am (still dark), and left Chicago around 6:30 or so that evening. I was living in Cedar rapids at the time, working for Collins Radio Company on military contracts.

By the way, what's all the to-do about recent political shenanigans in Chicagoland; isn't it just business as usual there?

[Eliphaz]

a bump for a marvelously entertaining and informative thread.
Hat's off to Mr. Gilbert Norman,
and hopes there are more contributions to be made to this topic.


e

[younger]

Norfolk & Western #41 The Pelican July 19, 1965; consist recorded at Roanoke after riding NY-Roanoke:

SRY FP-7 6137
E-8 2908
ACL Express 553
SRY RPO 30
NH Bagg 5162
PRR Box Express 5271
Bagg Express 6146
REX Reefer Exp 7563
SRY Bagg Express 545
Bagg 425
H/W Coach 1071
N&W L/W Coach 1729
1722
SRY 10-6 Spring Valley
PRR H J Heinz
N&W Diner 1018
Bagg 1329

The Pelican had an indeed unusual routing: NY-PRR-Wash-SRY-Lynchburg-N&W-Bristol-SRY-NO. In short, it was interchanged from the Southern to the Norfolk & Western then BACK TO the Southern. I was never aware of any other scheduled train that was routed such.

By 1965, the Pelican was likely the"Chattanooga Choo Choo" or as close as there would be to the Mack Gordon(lyrics)/Harry Warren (composer)/Glenn Miller (best known artist) song. The Pelican's departure from NY was 730PM rather than "about a quarter to four". Unfortunately, there was no "Dinner in the Diner, nothing could be finer" - only Breakfast on a Roanoke-Bristol Diner.

There were two other trains which followed this same route: the Tennessean, which was a Washington-Memphis (with through sleeper NYC-Memphis), and the Birmingham Special, which was a Washington-Birmingham (with through sleepers NYC-Bhm and Knoxville and Washington-Memphis) train.

Also, about the time that the song, “Chattanooga Choo-Choo was written, there was still diner service on the Pelican connection out of NYC on the PRR–and the N&W diner ran Roanoke-Birmingham. It would have been extremely difficult to have “your ham and eggs in Carolina,” though.

[NS VIA FAN]

Came across this consist from 1984:

VIA #3 Panorama, arriving Edmonton on Sept. 28, 1984

Amtrak 319 F40
Amtrak 31041 Superliner Coach-Baggage
Amtrak 34030 Superliner Coach
Amtrak 38025 Superliner Diner
Amtrak 32019 Superliner Sleeper
VIA 15301 Generator Car

[Gilbert B Norman]

I am absolutely mortified that I closed my participation at this topic almost four years ago without reporting any consists of Illinois Central 5-6, Panama Limited. I was reviewing web material that this new enterprise, Pullman Rail Journeys, has available as I was not certain if they had correct knowledge of where their fleet saw pre-Amtrak service. I have several consists recorded of this "classic great train" for which this new enterprise may, or may not, be able to emulate.

IC#6 Panama Limited (NB) Oct 13, 1963 (rode Chmpgn-Chi)

E-8 4041
4042
Bagg 1802
10-6 Sleeper Coles County
11BR Bloomington
Lounge 3309
Twin Unit Diner 4126
Kitchen Dorm 4126A
10-6 Champaign
Calvert
Sussex County (N&W liveried IC) Mem-Chi
Parlor 3351 Mardi Gras
2BR 2CP 1DR Obs Lng Gulfport

IC#6 Panama Limited Jul 20, 1963 (rode Chmp-Chi)

E-8 4019
4030
Bagg 1802
10-5 Decatur (line 620)
10-5 Durant (614)
11BR Bloomington (612)
Lounge 3308
Twin Unit Diner 4125
Kitchen Dorm 4125A
10-6 Clifton (610)
10-6 Carbondale (606)
10-5 Cascade Basin (foreign ??) (604) Mem-Chi
Parlor 3351 Mardi Gras (PC-2)
2BR 2CP 1DR Obs-Lng Memphos (602)

[Gilbert B Norman]

And here's a CN, pre-VIA consist.

CN #73 At Montreal Central Station, February 20, 1976

*6712 GE Electric Box Cab
*6714 GE Electric Box Cab
6787 MLW FPA-4
6636 GMD FP-9B
9332 Baggage
1815 ALANDALE (8 Sec. 2 Comp 1 DR) Heavyweight Sleeper – Build 1923
1087 CAPE BRETON (2 Bdr. 2 Comp. Buffet Lounge)
5227 Coach
5298 Coach (Set off at Arvida)
5187 Coach (Set off at Jonquiere)
*5287 Coach (To #75 at Hervey Jct)
*431 Dinette (To #75 at Hervey Jct)
*1807 CAMPBELLTON (8 Sec. 2 Comp 1 DR) (To #75 at Hervey Jct)

*6712 & *6714 were ancient Electric Box Cabs. They hauled the entire consist out of Central Station through the 3 mile Mt. Royal Tunnel. At Eastern Jct. they cut off and returned to Central Station. (6712 & 6714 had been in service since the Tunnel opened in Oct. 1918 and were actually still hauling commuter trains on the last day of operation in June 1995. The Deux Montagnes line reopened later that year with new Bombardier Electric MUs)

CN #73 operated from Montreal to Jonquiere and Chicoutimi. At Hervey Jct. it set out through cars (*5287, *431 & *1807) to be picked up by CN #75 operating from Quebec City to Senneterre & Cochrane.

Today’s VIA #601-#603 follow a similar route: Montreal to Hervey Jct where they split into sections for Jonquiere and Senneterre but no longer exit Central Station through the Mt. Royal Tunnel. They now follow a route west around the city to rejoin the original route at Eastern Jct.

Well, sorry it took me seven years to respond to your material, Mr. NS

I think back to August 1956 when I rode round trip Montreal-Kapitachuan Club (let's try to forget about "the interim"; canoeing up to Chibougamau before there were rails and highways there is "not really my cup of tea", but my Mother and Father thought otherwise so off I went), a steam locomotive was added and cut at Eastern Jc. I can recall the 8 Sec, 2CP, 1DR cars. Westward, the car was "Anticosti Island" Eastward "McDougal". I thought CN's "portholed" vestibule doors were "unique' and while at Hervey, I was invited into the cab of the steam locomotive by a "sort of" English speaking Engineer.

Just some random thoughts that remain with me fifty six years after the fact.

[David Benton]

Came across this consist from 1984:

VIA #3 Panorama, arriving Edmonton on Sept. 28, 1984

Amtrak 319 F40
Amtrak 31041 Superliner Coach-Baggage
Amtrak 34030 Superliner Coach
Amtrak 38025 Superliner Diner
Amtrak 32019 Superliner Sleeper
VIA 15301 Generator Car

Why did the Via train (?) have amtrak equipment ?

[Ken V]

Came across this consist from 1984:

VIA #3 Panorama, arriving Edmonton on Sept. 28, 1984

Amtrak 319 F40
Amtrak 31041 Superliner Coach-Baggage
Amtrak 34030 Superliner Coach
Amtrak 38025 Superliner Diner
Amtrak 32019 Superliner Sleeper
VIA 15301 Generator Car

Why did the Via train (?) have amtrak equipment ?

VIA leased these from Amtrak to test out the Superliner equipment with a thought of replacing the aging equipment on the western transcontinental routes. VIA chose to rebuild the Budd stainless steel cars instead of buying new.