Karl Zimmerman, in his book The California Zephyr, states on page 34 that the
NYC
leased one of the D&RGW sleepers. Because of the long layover, only one
additional car was needed to protect the transcontinental sleeper line CZ11.
However, in 1957, when Pennsy wanted out, New York Central was, according to
Zimmerman (pp. 76-77) still willing to continue the service (Remember, at the
time, the NYC Chairman was Robert Young, who promoted these transcontinental
services). However, even with alternate day service, 7 sleepers would have been
required to protect the service. Unfortunately, when Pennsy threw in the towel,
they reclaimed their sleeper, the Silver Rapids. Because the CZ cars had the
intercom system that the other Burlington cars did not, according to Zimmerman,
the loss of the car meant the loss of the car line. Zimmerman states that the
Pennsy was willing to trade the Silver Rapids for another 10-6 sleeper, but none
of the 3 CZ partner railroads "..had one to offer.."
It is very likely that the NYC participation in the transcontinental line would
have ended in 1958 anyway. Chairman Young committed suicide that year, and his
next-in-command Al Perlman, saw passenger trains as moneylosers and discontinued
and consolidated them. While the 20th Century Limited and the Commodore
Vanderbilt had been temporarily combined during the latter part of the summer of
1957, in 1958, the combination was made permanent. I believe, at that time, all
participation by the NYC in transcontinental sleeping cars ended, and this
included cars forwarded on the Union Pacific and on the Santa Fe.
sjl
rgortowski@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 11/16/00 9:53:26 PM Pacific Standard Time, sjl@p...
> writes:
>
> << When the transcontinental sleeper ran (up until 1957) one of the Chicago
> Sleepers would head east on either the Pennsylvania or New York Central
> Railroads and other would come off of those runs (they alternated Pennsy one
> day, NYC the next) for that Afternoon's CZ. Only one additional car, PRR's
> Silver Rapids, was
> needed to protect this service. >>
>
> Steve,
>
> Great answer. Thanks. On the transcon car, we had talked about this in one
> of the Q&A's in the Zephyr. The $64,000 question is, how did the NYC
> discharge it's obligation to the pool if it didn't own a CZ car like the PRR.
> It must have paid mileage to the pool and used the available 10-6 sleepers.
> The NYC car would also have to be transferred between La Salle Street station
> and Union station. Anyone have some more information on this, especially how
> the transfer would take place?
>
> Rich
>
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