Hey Amtrak, as you upgrade (“Empire Builder Refurbish”) your long distance trains, how about bringing back the most famous train names.
For instance, the “Southwest Chief” becomes the “Super Chief”, the “Lake Shore Limited” (aka “Late Show Limited”) becomes the “Broadway Limited” or “The 21st Century Limited” (I know, I know, but most people probably think that it was named after Broadway in New York City and we do have to update the calender although many people probably think that we are in the 20th Century). And how about upgrading the late evening Regional Train out of Boston and renaming it the “Merchant’s Limited”.
Well all just fun ideas, but Amtrak please at least bring back the “Super Chief”. I think that’s a no-brainer.
I think the “Super Chief” example makes sense as it is a great name but in many other cases the name change would only be significant to railfans and would not resonate with the public (much of the population being too young to recall the classic names)…
No brainer or not, when Amtrak was first formed, the Santa Fe Railroad wouldn’t allow the use of the name Super Chief because it was too closely associated with (and copyrighted by) the Santa Fe. I don’t believe their position has changed on this, even through the merger with BN.
The Lakeshore Limited follows the route of the 20th Century Limited. Both were names of New York Central trains. The Broadway Limited (you are correct, NOT named for the theatre district in NYC) was a Pennsylvania Railroad train, that ran on the route of the current Pennsylvanian, and Capitol Limited (PRR and B&O origin names).
Tom: Not quite true. When AMTRAK first started they used the various RRs reservation systems. So a trip on AMTRAK’s Super Chief, Texas Chief at first you were directed to Santa Fe’s reservation system or a local station agent. Santa Fe got so many complaints about the poor AMTRAK service standards that they decided to rescind the use of the Super Chief name. The AMTRAK service was not up their previous service standards of the Super Chief. I believe that Texas Chief and Chief were allowed to continue in use. Then AMTRAK changed the Super Chief to the Southwest Chief.
You are correct about the poor Amtrak service that Sante Fe didn’t believe was deserving of the “Super” nomenclature. Amtrak had to rename the train the “Southwest Limited” and then the “Southwest Chief” when the train was upgraded to Superliner equipment. So the next logical step is to rename it the “Super Chief” when the next upgrade of equipment happens, right?
But also if memory serves me well, I believe the fact that Sante Fe wanted to use the name “Super Chief” for a premium fast freight service (maybe TOFC between Chicago and Los Angeles) was also a major factor.
Bostontrainguy, your memory almost got it right. Santa Fe called its premium freight serice “Super C.” They may not have wanted to confuse people and have them show up looking for drawing rooms and such when there would have been no inside accomodations for passengers.
It is time Amtrak took the passenger train to a new direction. Yes, historical names work well and should be kept. But it is also time to make the passenger train a concept of today and tomorrow with new names and marketing ideas.
Oh I don’t know, this would be problematic. New names would have to all be politically correct and some of the old ones would need to be changed. For instance:
Adirondack - An old Indian name . . . got to change that!
Ethan Allen Express - Secretly negotiated with the British while Vermont was being attacked from Canada - a traitor maybe?
Crescent - It’s the Muslim symbol - would only be controversial - change it!
Cardinal - Must refer to a religious figure, right? - no can do.
Pere Marquette - a Jesuit Priest! - how can you name a train after a Jesuit Priest? Here’s that religion thing again.
City of New Orleans - Brings back horrible memories of Hurricane Katrina - need something more uplifting.
Hiawatha - Another Indian name! I told you before this isn’t cool!
California Zephyr - Yikes he’s the Greek God of the west wind - atheist unite!
Texas Eagle - Change to “Texas Endangered Species” please.
Sunset Limited - Too depressing - might affect people with emotional problems.
Coast Starlight - Change to “Left Coast Starlight” - actually don’t worry, California isn’t going to be there very long anyway.
Lots of things have names from old Indian (oops I mean Native American) languages
Crescent is named for the Crescent City (New Orleans) the southern destination
A Cardinal is a bird
Pere Marquette is also the name of a town, just like the Commonwealth of Virginia is named for the Virgin Queen (of England)
The City of New Orleans was named LONG before Katrina
Our Constitution calls for religious freedom, not freedom from religion, which would be your personal choice. Atheists can choose not to ride a train named for anyone’s God.
Endangered Species is too general a term. Using the actual species name brings more attention to it from the general public
“Sunset” is also seen as a relaxing or romantic symbol.
“Left Coast” is a short term slang word. In twenty years, noone will remember what it means.
Santa Fe had copyrighted the “Chief” name prior to Amtrak. After May 1, 1971, ATSF allowed Amtrak to use the “Super Chief” and “Texas Chief” names for the Chicago-Los Angeles and Chicago-Houston trains, both of which operated over ATSF. In the summer of 1973, there was also a second Chicago-Los Angeles train named the “Chief”. Around 1976 or so, ATSF felt that Amtrak’s service on those trains reflected poorly on Santa Fe’s image and rescinded permission to use the “Chief” name. The “Super Chief” became the “Southwest Limited” and the “Texas Chief” became the “Lone Star”.
Some time after the “Southwest Limited” was re-equipped with Superliners, ATSF felt that the service was up to their standards and again granted permission to use the “Chief” name. The train was renamed the “Southwest Chief” at that time.
She still lives! Everytime I drive Binghamton to New Jersey and back I think of her! And remember the too few rides I had in the Tavern Lounge.
(And of course, the two TL’s are still alive in the blue and gray colors of MNRR…if ever I get service back to Bingo I want at least one of them on the inaugural train!!!
Oh yeah…but I was always looking the other way, watching the tracks disappear…J.J. loved the train and got a way with a lot when photographing, too. Note that he is blocking the view out the back while taking the shot. If you or I tried to take the picture the other passenger would have shove us out the rear door and most, or the someone would put her into emergency so that we’d go flying!
I am not JJ Young. Having done some professional photography, I respect copyright. I would never claim his work as my own, profit from it’s use, or remove his copyright notice from the image.
When they get the new Chicago - Dubuque service started up again they’ll hopefully extend that thing to Waterloo and name the train the “Land O’ Corn”.
Also, if they could EVER get service on UP’s “Overland Route” across Iowa I’d love to see a resuscitation of the “Cities” trains.
The previous name on the Chicago-Dubuque service was the “Black Hawk”, which is appropriate to the area served. Over the years, Amtrak has come up with some pretty good names for its trains.
