BRHSLIST
[Top] [All Lists]

[CBQ] Special trains

To: <CBQ@YahooGroups.com>
Subject: [CBQ] Special trains
From: "Rupert and Maureen" <gamlenz@ihug.co.nz>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 13:22:33 +1200
Delivered-to: archives@nauer.org
Delivered-to: mailing list CBQ@yahoogroups.com
List-unsubscribe: <mailto:CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>
Mailing-list: list CBQ@yahoogroups.com; contact CBQ-owner@yahoogroups.com
Reply-to: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Looking through the CB&Q records at the Newberry Library in Chicago, I found 
notes about a special train which, perhaps, summarises the different world of 
the late 19th Century.

Mr M N de Young, editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, was in Boston in May 
1881 when he received a telegram advising that his mother was ill.  Once he 
reached Chicago, a special train was put at his disposal (including the General 
Manager's own private car) to get him to Omaha in time to connect with the UP's 
train to San Francisco.

His special train left Chicago at 2.25 am on 13 May 1881 behind loco #134 and 
reached Omaha just before 5 pm, having travelled 491 miles in 12 hours 24 
minutes running time.  This was nearly 1 hour faster than the previous record 
set two years earlier, and represents a speed of 33 mph for the whole journey, 
or an actual average speed of 39 mph excluding stoppages. 

No charge was made for the use of the train!

There was also a report about another "special" used by J Mayham on 15 February 
1887 to get from Chicago to Denver.  The train left Chicago at 10 am, reaching 
Burlington at 1.48 pm, Red Oak at 6.20 pm, Mc Cook at 12.15 am and Denver at 
3.53 am.  The travelling time was 17 hours 49 minutes (excluding 64 minutes for 
stoppages), at an average speed of 57.63 mph - a new long distance running 
record.


The Library has dozens of boxes of fascinating CB&Q records spanning the whole 
life of the railroad including subsidiary and predecessor roads.  There is, for 
example, a whole box on Silver Dome complete with adverts, flyers, letters and 
comments about the "new" car, as well as the considerations for the second dome 
Silver Castle.  It is apparent from these reports that the shortcomings of the 
car - such as the sideways facing seats under the dome - were recognised 
straight away, as were the great advantages particularly from a public 
relations viewpoint.  To a passenger car fanatic, these records are a goldmine. 

Rupert

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/8ZCslB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • [CBQ] Special trains, Rupert and Maureen <=