Pre-Amtrak Track Ride Quality

NYC Detroit to Springfield Mass. via Canada,  Do not remember any rough trackage, but remember windows getting wet when the sun was shining.   (track pans)?

Clem

I was very young, but riding the Southern Crescent the full route, I recall it being a decent ride.  I don't recall it being rough, but not really smooth either.  However, I was 4 when I rode it.  Some of those memories aren't as fresh as they used to be!

Tom,

For smoothness, I would have to say: DL&W, NKP, and Santa Fe (the routes I traveled to and from college in Oklahoma, back in 1959 - 1961). I remember riding the CNJ and PRR in the 1940s & 1950s, and although the PRR was FAST, I don't recall it being all THAT smooth.

In my (early through mid 1960s), working years, I found the N&W and B&O to be overall pretty darned smooth. Also, the UP main line of 1964 was VERY smooth. The absolute worst and roughest main line I was ever on , was the New York Central, during the winter of 1963/1964 with the EMD demonstrator GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set!

Having a father that was engineman for CNR in the 40s and 50s  we got a free pass and would take a few trips.   However I can't remember how smooth the ride was , We went down east from Toronto and even to Tampa Florida one year. I could figure out the speed with my watch by counting the telegraph poles  when I was about 7 or 8.

 It's not an easy question to answer because the Equipment can made the difference between  a smooth comfortable ride, and not so comfortable.

Example. CPs Canadian... Beautiful stainless steel cars however ride was not as smooth as CNs  super   Continental  with heavier equipment. Hee hee I worked for CNR.

 SD 40s  were almost  like riding in a Cadillac compare the Alco version (3000) horsepower,   Rough riders for sure.

Gregg posted:

Having a father that was engineman for CNR in the 40s and 50s  we got a free pass and would take a few trips.   However I can't remember how smooth the ride was , We went down east from Toronto and even to Tampa Florida one year. I could figure out the speed with my watch by counting the telegraph poles  when I was about 7 or 8.

 It's not an easy question to answer because the Equipment can made the difference between  a smooth comfortable ride, and not so comfortable.

Example. CPs Canadian... Beautiful stainless steel cars however ride was not as smooth as CNs  super   Continental  with heavier equipment. Hee hee I worked for CNR.

 SD 40s  were almost  like riding in a Cadillac compare the Alco version (3000) horsepower,   Rough riders for sure.

 

Good point Gregg. The equipment is as much responsible for ride comfort as the track. Even today, CP's stainless Budd built cars from the 1950's, due to their heavy weight and increased frame stiffness will offer a considerable smoother ride than VIA Rail's modern LRC cars, which are lightweight, lacking stiffness, causing vibration, sway and other occupant discomfort, even on smooth track.

Hot Water posted:

Tom,

....The absolute worst and roughest main line I was ever on , was the New York Central, during the winter of 1963/1964 with the EMD demonstrator GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set!

OK Jack, forgive me if you will.

I never knew that those engines made it onto NYC tracks. I did read about them. I thought they were just a South West thing!

Did the SP ever buy any? I remember reading that they did not. I would think the engine would suit them for their terrain? Maybe some tunnel problems? Weight on the rails?

Engineer-Joe posted:

Hot Water posted:

Tom,

....The absolute worst and roughest main line I was ever on , was the New York Central, during the winter of 1963/1964 with the EMD demonstrator GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35 set!

OK Jack, forgive me if you will.

I never knew that those engines made it onto NYC tracks. I did read about them. I thought they were just a South West thing!

Did the SP ever buy any?

Yes, the SP purchased a bunch of GP35 units, and I think only 2 or 3 DD35 units. The SP folks seemed to be afraid of the DD35, so I think they may have sold them to the UP.

I remember reading that they did not. I would think the engine would suit them for their terrain? Maybe some tunnel problems? Weight on the rails?

Erie Lackawanna out of Newark to ...?
i remember a family friend was a conductor.
but i was a kid so i was rarely sitting still long enough to care about comfort.

these were probably commuter-type coaches.  even in kid time, i don't recall the rides being very long.  i do remember the reversible seats... thought those were pretty cool.

cheers...gary

Smoothest was the Burlington out of Denver east to McCook, as far as I went. It was like riding on a cloud. Not far behind was the UP from Ogallala to Denver. I've actually gone two different routes on that stretch - Ogallala to Denver via Sterling and Ogallala to Denver via Cheyenne. The Cheyenne Denver stretch was pretty good, some of the guys here who have made the Frontier Days special could probably elaborate more on that.

Then there was the trip I made from Ft. Sill for Christmas leave in 1968 OKC to somewhere in Missouri (as I recall), then on the Rock Island to Colorado Springs, bus to Denver then UP to Ogallala. Lordy, what an ordeal. The stretch from Limon to the Springs on the Rock lasted an eternity. I doubt that we ever hit 40 mph, and that might be optimistic. Rocking and rolling the whole time. That track was pulled up years ago and I sure as hell won't miss it.