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Post by backshophoss on Dec 3, 2014 3:56:05 GMT -5
The 3 Rivers(Broadway Ltd)was more of a Express freight/mail train of that time period, that Mr Gunn put an end to due to host RR objections and imposed speed restrictions by the host RR's The orignal MHC's(MHC I) had HEP and Door Comm trainlines, the Gunderson Cars(MHC II)were rear of train cars only,no HEP,Door Comm trainlines. Amtrak had to invest in FREDS for markers on the MHC II's and the Roadrailers
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Post by Amtrak207 on Dec 3, 2014 5:48:41 GMT -5
Yup!
Ah as much of a freight train that it was, I do miss it.
Tom
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 7, 2014 0:21:55 GMT -5
Mail trains on the NEC,while they were ConRail trains,Mail #3 and Mail #4 ran between NYP and WUS, The basic consist was: GG-1(maybe a E-44/E-33 in a pinch) RPO (working) up to 3-4 storage mail cars(Baggage cars) maybe a caboose(hack)for the conductor,rear brakeman.
This could be a "What if" Consist IF USPS were running mail trains in the present day, Was extended to run Boston S.Station-WUS Could have been the "Last Stand" for the Heritage Fleet cars 1"motor" (E-60/AEM-7/HHP-8/ACS-64) 1-2 Heiitage coaches(super low fare) 1 Heritage Bag for mail to be sorted RPO(working) 1 Heritage Bag sorted mail 5-6 MHC I's or II's dropped off or picked up enroute including "Package Express" service that Amtrak offers. Run as a 2nd section of #'s 66/67,the All night regional trains
Walters did a LW RPO in phase IV paint If Walters releases View II Baggage cars,you could use them as well
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Post by Amtrak207 on Dec 7, 2014 12:28:28 GMT -5
I've often thought about the "what if" in regards to what if Amtrak continued with Mail and Express.
From a rider standpoint, I hated it. Delayed trains, arriving Chicago and not being able to get off until an hour later while mail and express was switched off at Lumbar Street.
But from a modeling standpoint, I loved it! Lots of variety and you never knew what you were going to get. Plus it kept The Three Rivers around.
Even back railfanning the Northeast Corridor, I used to love the unexpected surprise of the #13. Fast Mail that carried pretty much solely MHC's behind an AEM-7. I think she originated in Springfield, MA to DC. I also believe the SB run was strictly mail and no passengers while the NB run had some Amfleet coaches.
Tom
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 7, 2014 19:40:53 GMT -5
IF the freight(host) RR's had not objected to the expanded use of the MHC's and Roadrailers,the mail/express services would have turned into 2nd sections of the western LD trains to LA,SFO(Oakland)and Seattle/Portland. Allowing the passenger trains to run OT,but the mail/express would be hours later due to enroute switching. Regretably,that was not possible.
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Post by backshophoss on Jan 25, 2015 3:33:33 GMT -5
RDC's,used on the New Haven - Springfield section of the NEC,generally ran in pairs,sometimes as a Single car,depending on if the RDC was OK to use.
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Post by backshophoss on Jan 25, 2015 17:33:56 GMT -5
1 of the 403(b)trains out of Chicago,the #370 series "Black Hawk" service trains to/from Dubuque Ia had 3 RDC's on that run till there was enough Amfleet I's were avaible. Also it was the service that had P-30's or F40's as power.
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Post by backshophoss on Mar 27, 2015 23:21:39 GMT -5
The Viewliner II Baggage cars are finally going online,some of Heritage bags will be in short term "standby" and the worst cars will find their way to Beech Grove,Chicago or Emeryville Ca for storage
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 6, 2015 1:19:03 GMT -5
Believe that the 2 overnight NEC trains finally got their View II bags,but still on the "wish list" is the return of 1,maybe 2 sleepers to #65/66.
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cab4
Member
Posts: 149
Primary Railroads: Conrail, NJ DOT, Amtrak, SEPTA, NJT
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Post by cab4 on Apr 6, 2015 20:58:36 GMT -5
Mail trains on the NEC,while they were ConRail trains,Mail #3 and Mail #4 ran between NYP and WUS, The basic consist was: GG-1(maybe a E-44/E-33 in a pinch) RPO (working) up to 3-4 storage mail cars(Baggage cars) maybe a caboose(hack)for the conductor,rear brakeman. On my June 4th 1979 Amtrak New York Division dispatcher sheet, the following locomotives were listed on the consist- Mail 9/Mail 11 combined- Conrail SD40 6350 and 6272 Mail 8- Conrail GP40-2 3369, 3352, SD40 6215 Mail 10- Conrail SD40 6282, SD40-2 6480 I'm not home right now, but I'll see if the sheet includes how many cars in the consist. Reportedly, these trains looked more like trailvan trains with mail in trailers on flat cars. Amtrak did run a train like you describe, "The Night Mail", trains 193 and 194, which according to the book Amtrak Annual 1978-1979, had the following consist- GG1 Storage mail Storage mail RPO (Letter end South) RPO (Letter end North) This train however, was cancelled June 30, 1977.
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 6, 2015 22:20:19 GMT -5
Mail was the 1st reason to create the "Trail-Van" trains,long before the term,Intermodel was coined. I-95 was congested back then,not much better now. ConRail understood there was $$$ to be made on these trains.
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 10, 2015 21:30:14 GMT -5
The Silver Star Trains are about to get a "makeover" of sorts,swapping out the Diner for a "Diner-light" Amfleet II,as is done on the Cardinal. This is reported to be an "experamint" for the summer.
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Post by backshophoss on May 20, 2017 22:30:03 GMT -5
This was an idea that's been kicking around awhile,a "pike sized" Superliner consist. You could "back date" it by using the ATSF "EL Cap" hi-levels to a point. Closest match to an Amtrak "Sunset Ltd" consist. Superliner consist:Coach-Bag,Coach,Sightseer Lounge,Diner,Sleeper "El-Cap" consist: Bag-Dorm,Step "up" Coach,"Sky-Top" Lounge,Dine,Step "down" coach,10-6 Sleeper The drawback to the El-Cap consist was the lack of a hi-level Sleeper, As a option to the Superliner consist,having a Trans-Dorm ahead of the Coach-Bag. Again this is an idea that can be "tweaked" with.
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Post by slowfreight on May 23, 2017 20:19:04 GMT -5
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Post by backshophoss on May 23, 2017 22:15:34 GMT -5
The "International" was an Amfleet/LRC train at first,some how Superliners wound up on this route untill there was a wreck in Canada with a Superliner set,that created a part time ban(by Canada's MOT) of the Superliners on VIA's trains. This ban was reportly lifted ages ago. Believe the Horizons were used on this train at a point of time.
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