Just read the article in December TRAINS about the ex-Clinchfield “Santa Claus Special” and how the tradition continues. Thought it was very informative and well-put-together. I grew up within an hour of Kingsport, TN, and thought I “knew it all” but today I learned better!
There are so few classics left that we really ought to experience them while we can.
[2c] Regarding the question “Can a ‘Classic’ be ongoing?”
Why not [?] There are so few trains left that fit the category that to call them something else would be a disservice. Sure, there’s no comparison with today’s Empire Builder (Amtrak) compared to the Great Northern of yesteryear. Many of those trains of today are in name only, but I see them as “Classic” in that some semblance of the past is being maintained. VIA Rail’s “Canadian” running between Toronto and Vancouver is hardly the “same” as when Canadian Pacific instituted it back in the 50’s, then called “The Canadian.” But it’s still a Classic as far as I’m concerned.
Good question! [tup]
I agree. As along as the classic Budd equipment is used and the service is excellent, the Canadian remains a CLASSIC!
Nice they still have it.My first train ride was on a Erie Santa Claus train back in1961.
Why not tell us about it on the new thread on this forum called "Classic PASSENGER trains discussed here! "[?] [tup]
The great classic trains I rode were first the Super Chief and the Panama Limited, next in line would be the CP Candaian, City of Los Angeles and the California Zephyr and the Denver Zephyr. After that I would place the Broadway Limited and the 20th Century in its all-sleeper days. The Merchants and the Yankee Clipper and the Morning and Afternoon Congressionals when they were restricted to the matched silver sided equipment, and the Silver Meteor, retained its round-end-obs long after the other Florida trains
It can be and is. The Crescent still runs under AMTRAK auspices, although service is no where near as diverse as it was under SOUTHERN rail road supervision… and Claytor is probably revolving in his grave at high RPM watching on time performance. Still, the Crescent appears to be busy on the Atlanta-Washington leg of it’s run.
I believe that SP’s Daylight and Starlight trains are still running under an AMTRAK logo now. You can go from LA to Seattle, and the railroad actually has services on board that make the ride comfortable. It isn’t up to the standards of a 20th Century Limited, but then again, much of what we know about the 20th Century comes from enthusiastic press releases.
Erik