Mike Kmetz Part 1 James Whitcomb Riley... ...was a famous poet from Indiana. It was also the name of a NYC passenger train that ran through that state. While I model the NYC, I am not very familiar with the Big Four lines. Being curious, I decided to look up information about this train. I am glad I did. It would be an excellent (and colorful) train to model. It is not very long, and offers run-through traffic and some interesting switching operations. Here is some of what I learned. Train #3: Cincinnati – Indianapolis – Lafayette – Kankakee – Woodlawn – Chicago Train #4: Chicago – Woodlawn – Kankakee – Lafayette – Indianapolis - Cincinnati Inaugural run: April 28, 1941 All equipment was painted red and gray Locomotive: Pacifics K-5b #4915 and #4917, from the Mercury Baggage car #8551 (heavy weight) Coaches #2560 and #2561 (light weight) Diner #576 (heavy weight) Coaches #2562 and #2563 (light weight) Observation #52 (heavy weight) During the war, the four Budd coaches were replaced by six Pullman-Standard coaches, numbers 2601-2606, painted red and gray. In January 1947 baggage car #8551 was replaced by baggage car #9001, and the two streamlined engines were replaced J-1e by Hudsons #5333 and #5401, both with centipede tenders. In April 1947, ACF combination coach #298 was substituted for the #9001; and new Pullman-Standard coaches #3001-3008 replaced the #2601-2606, which then went to the Mercury trains, painted gray and silver. Finally, in January 1948, Budd tavern/lounge #41 was added, and in April 1948 two Budd grill-diners (#452 and #453) replaced the #41 and heavy weight diner #576. A new Budd tavern/observation #50 replaced the heavy weight observation #52. In 1953, No. 3 included a Pullman-operated 14-roomette/4-double bedroom sleeper from Southern Railway train No. 28 originating in Asheville, North Carolina. Connecting service was made at Cincinnati. In 1955, No. 3's schedule was lengthened to include stops at Greensburg and Shelbyville, Indiana. The dining services were listed as a “thrift grill” but in 1956, the “thrift” disappeared and “dining service” resumed. Also the Southern Railway substituted a 10-6 for the 14-4 and in October 1956, the Riley added another 10-6, this one from Newport News, Virginia, from C&O train No. 1-41 at Cincinnati. This necessitated only a minor lengthening of the train's schedule. Westbound train No. 3 left Cincinnati at 8:15 AM and arrived at Chicago Central Station at 1:15 PM. Eastbound, No. 4 left Chicago at 4:20 PM and arrived Cincinnati Union Terminal at 11:00 PM. You can read more about this train in the book New York Central's Great Steel Fleet 1948-1967, by Geoffrey H. Doughty.
Interesting, a six hour schedule between city centers. Flying today probably is about the same time considering travel to/from airports and security delays. Driving also about the same time even with Interstates. Amazing how much we've lost with virtually no gain, all in the name of progress.
This one ran right up until April 30, 1971--one of the many trains that were (according to the ICC) too vital to the nation to discontinue, but (according to Amtrak) too unpopular to run.
GA's Nancy Hanks had a similar death, extremely popular with rural Georgians until the end, but no Congressional or Amtrak support to continue.
Yes, you're right. The Woodlawn neighborhood is fairly close to the lakefront on the IC main around 63rd Street.
Still here, just not posting much. I am about to start a new discussion about the Timken 1111 trials on the NYC.
Aaaah, the "Four Aces"! Beautiful locomotive, that changed everyday life-both in railroading and the world.
Glad to see you back here, Mike, and I sure will look forward to the Four Aces discussion. Question: I didn't follow NYC diesel or electric stuff. Wasn't there another site, in the midwest, where electrics were in use? I seem to remember a terminal mentioned. Cleveland?
Those lovely juice-jacks were P-Motors, NYC's most powerful electrics. When NYC removed electrification from Cleveland, they were moved to Mott Haven Yard in the Bronx and served the Hudson Division for many years. I saw them occasionally, both in GCT and at Harmon changing to Niagaras and Hudsons. BTW, they were the forerunner and GE's proof of concept for the Pennsy's GG-1s, note the 4-D+D-4 wheel arrangement.
