“Must be the Congressional”
Yesterday (Monday, November 13) the morning-man at the FM classical-music radio-station we listen to (WXXI) played an extract from an “on-the-road” musical.
The protagonist, also the singer, announced the following: “now loading on Track 7, the southbound Congressional Limited, with stops in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Change trains at Washington for all points south.”
It choked me up some (partly a stroke-effect — it’s called “lability”) because I rode the Congo in 1959 with Bruce Stewart.
And I was impressed.
We got on it at 30th St. Station, after a day reconnoitering the Philadelphia train-sites (one of which I’m sure was Baldwin #60,000 at the Franklin Institute).
A mighty G was on the point, and in no time at all we were cruising at 80 mph. —And that was despite 17 cars.
By then the Congo had a coach section, and was one of the many trains Pennsy fielded on The Corridor.
The infamous Corridor wasn’t electrified at first. In fact, full electrification to Washington, D.C. wasn’t completed until 1935, financed by the New Deal.
Electrification turned the Corridor into a highly patronized subway, and Pennsy needed a locomotive that would handle all the traffic.
That, of course, was the mighty G (the GG1).
No doubt the Congo did not have coaches at first. It was probably all first-class, Pullman.
But it wasn’t a sleeper, since its route could be covered in a couple hours.
But demand for coach-seats was outstripping train-frequency. The Congo became part of Pennsy’s Corridor-service. Still a name-train, but part of the Big Red Subway.
Even now Amtrak’s Corridor-service is still saddled with some of the same deficiencies that bothered Pennsy’s Corridor-service; namely the tight-clearance tunnel-restrictions in the Hudson Tubes and Baltimore.
There are also numerous tight curves; like in Zoo Interlocking and approaching Wilmington Station (both directions).
In one of my cab-rides the Amtrak engineer slows his train for a 90-mph curve.
What the Corridor needs is a new alignment, like in Europe — something capable of consistent 150-mph running. And perhaps new tunnels (or access) into New York City — something that would clear double-stacks or double-deck passenger cars. (Freight [in trains] still gets ferried across the Hudson.)
Nevertheless, the Congo, and its mighty Gs, was impressive.
My paternal grandfather apparently rode the Congo, and was similarly impressed.
I remember returning from Sandy Hill in 1954 (my first time) on Route 40 in the Blue Bomb (we had just got it). A GG1 streamliner flashed by on the Corridor where Route 40 jumps over near Elkton.
It was fluted stainless-steel cars, so probably not a Pennsy train. Probably the Silver Meteor or Comet that ran through to Floridy.
“Must be the Congressional,” my grandfather said, obvious awe in his voice.
After we got married my grandparents lived in apartments up the hill from Edgemoor.
A train boomed through Edgemoor. We couldn’t see it, but inside the kitchen we could hear it.
“Must be the Congressional,” he said.
The protagonist, also the singer, announced the following: “now loading on Track 7, the southbound Congressional Limited, with stops in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Change trains at Washington for all points south.”
 |
| The Keed. |
| Congo. |
And I was impressed.
We got on it at 30th St. Station, after a day reconnoitering the Philadelphia train-sites (one of which I’m sure was Baldwin #60,000 at the Franklin Institute).
A mighty G was on the point, and in no time at all we were cruising at 80 mph. —And that was despite 17 cars.
By then the Congo had a coach section, and was one of the many trains Pennsy fielded on The Corridor.
The infamous Corridor wasn’t electrified at first. In fact, full electrification to Washington, D.C. wasn’t completed until 1935, financed by the New Deal.
Electrification turned the Corridor into a highly patronized subway, and Pennsy needed a locomotive that would handle all the traffic.
That, of course, was the mighty G (the GG1).
No doubt the Congo did not have coaches at first. It was probably all first-class, Pullman.
But it wasn’t a sleeper, since its route could be covered in a couple hours.
But demand for coach-seats was outstripping train-frequency. The Congo became part of Pennsy’s Corridor-service. Still a name-train, but part of the Big Red Subway.
Even now Amtrak’s Corridor-service is still saddled with some of the same deficiencies that bothered Pennsy’s Corridor-service; namely the tight-clearance tunnel-restrictions in the Hudson Tubes and Baltimore.
There are also numerous tight curves; like in Zoo Interlocking and approaching Wilmington Station (both directions).
In one of my cab-rides the Amtrak engineer slows his train for a 90-mph curve.
 |
| The Keed. |
STAND BACK! Boy-oh-boy, if I had not wrapped my arm around a light-standard, I wouldn’t be here. This thing is doin’ at least 90; yet my ancient Hawkeye managed to stop it, even at only 1/125th (it's fastest). |
What the Corridor needs is a new alignment, like in Europe — something capable of consistent 150-mph running. And perhaps new tunnels (or access) into New York City — something that would clear double-stacks or double-deck passenger cars. (Freight [in trains] still gets ferried across the Hudson.)
Nevertheless, the Congo, and its mighty Gs, was impressive.
My paternal grandfather apparently rode the Congo, and was similarly impressed.
I remember returning from Sandy Hill in 1954 (my first time) on Route 40 in the Blue Bomb (we had just got it). A GG1 streamliner flashed by on the Corridor where Route 40 jumps over near Elkton.
It was fluted stainless-steel cars, so probably not a Pennsy train. Probably the Silver Meteor or Comet that ran through to Floridy.
“Must be the Congressional,” my grandfather said, obvious awe in his voice.
After we got married my grandparents lived in apartments up the hill from Edgemoor.
A train boomed through Edgemoor. We couldn’t see it, but inside the kitchen we could hear it.
“Must be the Congressional,” he said.
posted by BobbaLew at 11:04 AM
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