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Aerotrain (GM)

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This article is about the General Motors railroad train. For other uses, seeAerotrain (disambiguation).

AnAerotrainoperating in suburban service in April 1965 asChicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailroadNo. 2 at Chicago'sEnglewood station.

TheAerotrainwas astreamlinedtrainsetthat theGeneral Motors (GM) Electro-Motive Division (EMD)introduced in 1955.[1][2][3]GM originally designated thelight-weightconsistasTrain-Y(Pullman-Standard'sTrain-Xproject was already underway) before the company adopted theAerotrainmarketing name.[3]

Design and components

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GM's Styling Section first brought theAerotrain'strain to life, as it did for all of GM's body designs of that mid-century era.Chuck Jordanwas in charge of designing theAerotrainas chief designer of special projects.[3]GM constructed twoAerotrains,each of which used one of the last two (serial numbers 21463 and 21464) of three experimentaldiesel–electricEMD LWT12power cars[4]that the company built.[5]

GM based the EMD LWT12's power components on those in theEMD SW1200switcher.Like the SW1200, the LWT12 used the company's modelEMD 567C12-cylinderprime moverthat could produce 1,200horsepower.[6]The power car featured acabthat mimicked an aircraft'scockpit.Thelocomotive's overall design was similar to that of General Motors automobiles at the time.[3]

The company completed theAerotrainsby coupling each of the two locomotives to sets of ten modifiedGM Truck & Coach Division (GMC)40-seat intercity highwaybusbodies. Designed to resemble the newPD-4501 Scenicruiserbuses that GMC was building forGreyhound,theAerotrain'spassenger cars had windows with slanted sides.[3][7]The finned back end of the train resembled the rear of a 1955ChevroletorPontiacstation wagon.[8]Each car rode on two axles with anair suspensionsystem that was intended to give a smooth ride, but had the opposite effect.[3][9]

GM returned to a concept first used at the start of the streamliner era: semi-permanently coupled trains. The cars were 40 feet long, half the length of standard designs, thereby reducing the weight by 50%. To further reduce weight, the locomotives and cars were made ofaluminum,rather than steel.[3]

History

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On August 22, 1955, Mrs. N.C. Dezendorf, the wife of GM vice-president and EMD general manager N.C. Dezendorf,christenedthe firstAerotraintrainset (GM-T1) during a press preview of the train that EMD held at its plant inMcCook, Illinois(mailing address:La Grange, Illinois) near Chicago.[3][10]On January 5, 1956, oneAerotrainmade a test run from Washington to Newark on thePennsylvania Railroadwhile the other traveled in four hours from Chicago to Detroit on theNew York Central Railroad.[8]

In late February 1956, the Pennsylvania Railroad rented the first train from GM and began operating it betweenNew York CityandPittsburghas thePennsy(No. 1000).[3][8]In June, the Pennsylvania reduced itsAerotrain'sroute, whereupon the trainset traveled only betweenPhiladelphiaand Pittsburgh.[8]

The New York Central Railroad'sAerotrainat theBuffalo Central Terminalin 1956.

After the second train’s initial test run on January 5, General Motors demonstrated it on several railroads, including theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,where in April the train operated in California betweenLos AngelesandSan Diegoas aSan Diegan.[3]In late April, the New York Central began to operate that train in revenue service as theGreat Lakes AerotrainbetweenChicagoandDetroitduring a trial period.[3][8][12]From July to October, the New York Central ran the train between Chicago andClevelandwhile continuing the trial period, after which it returned the train to GM.[3][8][13]

In December 1956, theUnion Pacific Railroadbegan to operate the second train between Los Angeles andLas Vegasas theCity of Las Vegas(No. 1001).[8][14][15]ThePennsycontinued to run between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh until June 1957, after which time the first trainset joined the second in the Union Pacific'sCity of Las Vegasservice.[8][16]Dissatisfied with both, the Union Pacific stopped operating the trainsets in September and October 1957.[8][14]

In October, 1958, General Motors sold both trainsets at a discount to theChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad(the Rock Island line), which designated their locomotives as numbers 2 and 3 while using both trainsets in commuter service between Chicago andJoliet.[8][17]The two trainsets ended service in 1966, ten years after they first ran. Although the Rock Island scrapped or re-used most of the trainsets' equipment, both locomotives and two pairs ofcoachesremain on display in museums.[8]

An EMD LWT12 locomotive pulling the Rock Island line'sJet Rocket.

Meanwhile, the first EMD LWT12 locomotive (serial number 20826), began to travel on the Rock Island line between Chicago andPeoriain February 1956 when pulling the line'sJet Rockettrain, which bore a strong resemblance to anAerotrain.[5][18][19]The Rock Island later designated the power car as locomotive number 1.[20]

TheAmerican Car and Foundry Companyconstructed theJet Rocket'scoaches, most of which were similar, but not identical, to those of theTalgo II.[18]The last car resembled that of the futureTalgo III.[18]

Unlike the slanted sides of the windows on theAerotrain'sten coaches,[3]the windows on theJet Rocket'stwelve coaches had vertical sides.[18][21]In addition, theJet Rocket'sTalgo-like coaches had oneaxle,[22]whereas theAerotrain'scoaches had two.[9]

After less than two years, the Rock Island shortened theJet Rocket'sroute. The train then traveled only between Chicago and Joliet, as did the railroad's twoAerotrains.The railroad scrapped the train several years later.[18]

GM's "lightweight with a heavyweight future" was introduced at a time when passenger train revenues were declining due to competition from airlines and private automobiles. Although they featured a streamlined design, theAerotrains failed to capture the public's imagination. Their cars, based on GM's bus designs and using an air cushioning system, were rough riding and uncomfortable. The design of the locomotive section made routine maintenance difficult and it was underpowered.[23]

Originally intended to reach speeds of up to 100 mph (161 km/h) and to travel between New York City and Chicago in 10.5 hours,[1]modifications reduced theAerotrain'smaximum speed to 80 mph (129 km/h).[24][25]The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe needed a helper locomotive to enable the 1,200 horsepower LWT-12 power car to climb theSorrentograde outside of San Diego when pulling theAerotrain'sten coaches as aSan Diegan.A Union Pacific LWT-12 later required the assistance of a 1,750 horsepowerEMD GP9switcher locomotive to transport the cars of theCity of Las VegasupSouthern California'sCajon Pass.[8][24]Uncomfortable riding conditions associated with theAerotrain'shigher speeds later prompted the Rock Island line to restrict its two cheaply-purchasedAerotrainsto low-speed commuter service in and near Chicago, retiring the trainsets in 1966, after a decade of active service with the various operators.[24]

Preserved Aerotrains

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The Rock Island line's repaintedAerotrainNo. 2 on display in theNational Railroad MuseuminGreen Bay, Wisconsin(September 2010).
The Rock Island line's repaintedAerotrainNo. 3 on display in the Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri (May 2006).

The EMD LWT12 locomotives and two passenger cars of each of the twoAerotrainsthat GM constructed are now on display.[23]TheNational Railroad MuseuminGreen Bay, Wisconsin,exhibits the Rock Island line's repaintedAerotrainlocomotive number 2 and two of its coaches (parts of trainset number 2).[3][23][26]TheNational Museum of TransportationinKirkwood, Missouri(nearSt. Louis) exhibits the Rock Island's similarly repaintedAerotrainlocomotive number 3 and two coaches (parts of trainset number 1).[3][8][23][27]The designs on the repainted locomotives do not resemble those that the power cars bore when last serving the Rock Island line.

Aerotrain legacy

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Disneylandoperated a scale version of theAerotrainknown as theViewlinerfrom 1957 to 1959.[23][28]TheWashington Park and Zoo RailwayinPortland, Oregon,has operated a scale, diesel-powered replica of theAerotrain(dubbed theZooliner) to transport zoo visitors since 1958.[23]Idlewild ParkinReno, Nevada,operates a small train whose locomotive is fashioned after that of theAerotrain.[23][29]

TheViewliner

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Main article:Viewliner Train of Tomorrow

On June 26, 1957, the narrow-gaugeSanta Fe and DisneylandViewliner(billed by Disneyland as "the fastest miniature train in the world" ) commenced operation. Two separate trains, designed and built as scale replicas of the futuristicAerotrain,traveled a figure-eight track through parts ofTomorrowlandandFantasylandparallel to a portion of theDisneyland Railroad(DRR) main line. The Tomorrowland train featured cars that were named for theplanetswhile the cars of the Fantasyland train were named after various Disney characters.[28]

The modern, streamlined trains were placed in service to represent the future of rail travel in contrast to the steam-powered DRR which represented its past. Motive power for each train consisted of an integral head-end unit driven by anOldsmobile"Rocket" V8gasoline engine. Oldsmobile also furnished the windscreen, doors and instrument console for each of the two 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) locomotives. The attraction operated until September 15, 1958, when construction began on theMatterhornandSubmarine Voyage;theDisneyland Monorail Systemtook the place of theViewlinerin June of the following year.[28]

TheZooliner

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The Zooliner arriving at Washington Park station in September 2010

TheZooliner,one of three trains on theWashington Park and Zoo Railwayoperating in theOregon ZooinPortland,is a 5/8-scale replica of theAerotrain.TheZoolinerentered service in 1958.[30]On June 14, 2008, the zoo held a "50th Birthday" celebration for the locomotive.[31]TheZoolinerremains the primary train for the zoo.[30]

Train-X

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Further information:Baldwin RP-210
The New York Central Railroad'sOhio Xplorerin June 1956

Train-Xwas a lightweight set of nine short all-aluminum coachesarticulatedtogether that Pullman-Standard built and that two 1,000–horsepowerBaldwin RP-210diesel-hydrauliclocomotives (one on each end) transported. TheNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad(the New Haven Railroad) operated as theDan'l Websterthe consist that the coaches and locomotives formed.[32]The train traveled between New York City'sGrand Central TerminalandBoston'sSouth Stationfrom 1957 to 1958.[33]

A nearly identical train having only one locomotive ran between Cleveland andCincinnatias the New York Central Railroad'sOhio Xplorerfrom 1956 to 1957.[33][34]Timetables show that theOhio Xplorerran in 1956 during a time that the railroad was running the secondAerotraintrainset (theGreat Lakes Aerotrain) between Cleveland and Chicago. The two left Cleveland at 6:45 and 6:35 a.m. respectively and returned during the evening.[35]

References

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  1. ^ab"Press Release: New Passenger Train: Expected To Revolutionize Railroading".Automotive Hollywood: The Battle for Body Beautiful.carofthecentury.com. June 13, 1955. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2005.RetrievedMay 4,2020.
  2. ^"Here Comes Tomorrow --- Fast".Advertisement by General Motors Electro-Motive Division.Saturday Evening Post.December 10, 1955. p. 89.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2011.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmno"GM's" Aerotrain ": History And Operation".American-Rails.com.Archivedfrom the original on May 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 13,2020..
  4. ^U.S. patent D177814
  5. ^abMultiple sources:
  6. ^Multiple sources:
  7. ^Multiple sources:
  8. ^abcdefghijklmTrain Lover (February 28, 2013)."The Aerotrain".Streamliner Memories.Archivedfrom the original on May 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 12,2020.
  9. ^abO'Clair, Jim."The GM Aerotrain: Stylistically successful but a financial boondoggle".Hemmings Feature (from February 2010 issue ofHemmings Motor News).RetrievedMay 15,2020.
  10. ^"Automotive Hollywood: The Battle for Body Beautiful".carofthecentury.com. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2005.RetrievedMay 4,2020.
  11. ^Timetable Treasury.New York: Wayner Publications. 1979. p. 141.
  12. ^"Cover; Table No. 8: Chicago (Central Station) and Detroit to Niagara Falls and Buffalo and Table No. 16: Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Detroit to (Central Station) Chicago (see Great LakesAerotrain) "(PDF).Timetable: New York Central Railroad.New York Central Railroad.April 29, 1956. pp. cover, 19, 29.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 19, 2019.RetrievedApril 20,2021– via canadasouthern.com.
  13. ^"Cover; Table No. 7: Chicago (La Salle St. Station), Elkhart, Toledo and Cleveland to Buffalo and Table No. 15: Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo and Elkhart to (La Salle St. Station (see Great LakesAerotrain) Chicago "(PDF).Timetable: New York Central Railroad.New York Central Railroad.July 15, 1956. pp. cover, 18, 28.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 27, 2021.RetrievedApril 20,2021– via canadasouthern.com.
  14. ^abSolomon, Brian (2000)."Chapter 5: Riding the Rails of Union Pacific".Union Pacific Railroad.Osceola, Wisconsin:MBI Publishing Company. p. 87.ISBN0760307563.LCCN00042165.OCLC44406086– viaGoogle Books.TheAerotrainran on the UP from December 18, 1956, until September 14, 1957, when it was replaced by conventional service.
  15. ^Multiple sources:
  16. ^"Front of Union Pacific Railroad Aerotrain operating as" City of Las Vegas "Number 116"(photograph).1957.RetrievedOctober 28,2020– viaPinterest.
  17. ^Multiple sources:
  18. ^abcdeTrain Lover (March 1, 2013)."The Jet Rocket".Streamliner Memories.Archivedfrom the original on May 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 12,2020.
  19. ^Longmire, Steve (February 1956)."Peoria's Jet Rocket Train"(7 photographs).Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2020.RetrievedJune 6,2020– viaFlickr.
  20. ^"EMD LWT12 locomotive No. 1 (serial number 20826) pulling the Jet Rocket on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad"(photograph).October 14, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on May 4, 2020.RetrievedMay 4,2020– viaFlickr.
  21. ^Multiple sources:
  22. ^Guillén, Mauro F.(2001).The Limits of Convergence.Princeton, New Jersey:Princeton University Press.p.104.ISBN0-691-05705-2.RetrievedMay 4,2020– viaInternet Archive.In addition, the cars would... have only one axle with two wheels at the rear end, while the front end would be mounted on the next car's axle.
  23. ^abcdefgKnight, Nick (May 4, 2016)."When Streamliners died! Aerotrain failed to capture the imagination of the American public".The Vintage News.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2016.RetrievedMay 9,2020..
  24. ^abcSherlock, Joseph M."The Failure of the Aerotrain"(Blog).The View Through The Windshield.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2019.RetrievedJune 6,2020.
  25. ^GUSTAVTIME (December 6, 2018)."High Speed Aerotrain!"(video).RetrievedMay 18,2020– viaYouTube.
  26. ^Multiple sources:
    • "The General Motors Aerotrain".Green Bay, Wisconsin:National Railroad Museum(nationalrailroadmuseum.org). Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2020.RetrievedMay 4,2020.Note: Page contains a description of theAerotrainand an image of the front ofAerotrainlocomotive number 2.
    • "Aerotrain No. 2"(photograph).August 1970.Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2020 – viaFlickr}.Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR... "Aerotrain No. 2" at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, 8/70
      Note: Photograph shows a train apparently consisting of Rock IslandAerotrainlocomotive number 2, twoAerotraincoaches and additional non-Aerotraincoaches.
  27. ^Multiple sources:
  28. ^abcBroggie, Michael(2006)."Viewliner Train of Tomorrow".Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom(2nd ed.).Virginia Beach, Virginia:The Donning Company Publishers.pp. 293–296.ISBN9781578643097.OCLC756842761– viaGoogle Books.
  29. ^Multiple sources:
    • "The Little Engine That Could (in Idlewild Park!)".Ol' Reno Guy.April 15, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on October 21, 2014.RetrievedMay 17,2020– viaWordPress.Aldo opted for another engine the brothers had built, this one a gasoline/propane powered replica of a 1957 General Motors passenger diesel....
    • City of Reno Parks, Recreation & Community Services (2015)."Ride the Idlewild Park Train".NewToReno.com.Archivedfrom the original on March 13, 2015.RetrievedMay 17,2020.In 2015, the train will run daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, April 12.
  30. ^abMultiple sources:
  31. ^Multiple sources:
    • Cathcart, Faith (June 13, 2008)."Fabulous at 50".The Oregonian.Portland, Oregon. p. F1.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2012.RetrievedApril 11,2012.
    • "Zooliner 50th Anniversary".Washington Park & Zoo Railway, Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon.Bob Harbison Photography (bobharbison.com). October 14, 2008. Archived fromthe original(photographs)on July 8, 2011.RetrievedMay 15,2020.
  32. ^Multiple sources:
  33. ^abTrain Lover (March 4, 2013)."Dan'l Webster and the Xplorer".Streamliner Memories.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2020.RetrievedApril 19,2021.
  34. ^Doughty, Geoffrey H. (July 1997).New York Central and the Trains of the Future.Motorbooks International.ISBN1-883089-28-X.LCCN97060352.OCLC37728618.
  35. ^"Cover; Table No. 23: Cincinnati to Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland / Cleveland to Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati (seeOhio Xplorer); Table No. 7: Chicago (La Salle St. Station), Elkhart, Toledo and Cleveland to Buffalo and Table No. 15: Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo and Elkhart to (La Salle St. Station) Chicago (seeGreat Lakes Aerotrain) "(PDF).Timetable: New York Central Railroad.New York Central Railroad.July 15, 1956. pp. cover, 18, 28, 33.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 27, 2021.RetrievedApril 20,2021– via canadasouthern.com.
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