Eating the Competition's Lunch

Eating the Competition’s Lunch: B&O Managers Ride PRR’s Liberty Limited By Ira Silverman The Baltimore and Ohio was the underdog of the big three trunk lines in the east, but it was a proud underdog. Although it did not give up on the large Philadelphia and New York markets until the 1950s, it was always handicapped by the need to dip down to the south through Washington and then head north to Pittsburgh. In the smaller (until World War II) Washington-Chicago market, it could compete on an even footing with the Pennsylvania. In May 1923, the all Pullman Capitol Limited was inau- gurated from New York to Chicago via Washington. The Capitol was playing out its string in serving Pennsylvania Station in New York as an inheritance from the USRA. In 1926 it would move to Jersey City as its origin point. The Pennsylvania was not going to let the B&O have an edge in the Washington market. In 1925 the Washington section of the flagship Broadway Limited was converted to a dedicated Washington train, the Liberty Limited. The Pennsylvania had its own handicap in the Washington market, because their trains had to go northeast for 40 miles to Baltimore and then change direction (actually the trains operated backwards between Washington and Baltimore) to head for Harrisburg over the twisty Northern Central. The two trains operated on a similar schedule, but in 1934 the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie negotiated an agree- ment for the Capitol to use its main line from McKeesport through Pittsburgh, bypassing the B&O’s twisting P&W subdivision and speeding up the Capitol versus the PRR; however, the Capitol still was at a seldom-remarked speed disadvantage leaving Chicago on the circuitous B&O route. So, the Capitol had the edge from Washington to Pittsburgh, but the Pennsy had the advantage from Pittsburgh to Chicago. In 1947 the two routes compared reputation for mediocre service (as late as 1963 my parents as follows: warned me about the poor food on the Pennsy). Still, the B&O Liberty Capitol Capitol Liberty wanted to keep close track of competition. So, in August 1948 Limited Limited Limited Limited they dispatched two Passenger Department managers to ride the 5:30 pm 5:30 pm Washington 8:50 am 8:50 am Liberty and report on the Pennsy’s service. The report reprinted 1:19 am 12:10-12:20 am Pittsburgh 2:30-2:06 am 12:42 am here was discovered in the Archives of the Society in Eldersburg. During a period of Amtrak’s “contemporary” food service even 8:35 am 8:15 am Chicago 4:30 pm 3:50 pm the Pennsy would be welcome, but compared to the Capitol the Dan Willard, president of the B&O, knew that in an era of Liberty Limited suffered by comparison. heavyweight Pullman pool equipment, the B&O had to differenti- As best we can tell, Mr. Van Horn would have been the B&O’s ate itself through onboard service. The most visible aspect of this General Passenger Agent in New York. Mr. Martin was the Super- was in the dining service, ensuring the finest possible service and intendent of Dining Car Service. As the menu reproduced here featuring cuisine from the Chesapeake region. No detail was too shows, Mr. McAbee, the author, was at one point the Acting Man- small. Fortunately for the B&O, the Pennsy had a long-standing ager of the Dining Car and Commissary Department in Baltimore. Second Quarter 2019 13 14 Second Quarter 2019 Second Quarter 2019 15 16 Second Quarter 2019.

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The Pennsylvania Railroad
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD MIDDLE DIVISION MAKE-UP OF PASSENGER TRAINS In Effect 2:00 A.M. Sunday, September 26, 1954 For the Information of Employes J. R. BRITTON, Superintendent This document provides the makeup of passenger trains passing Lewistown during the hours represented during operating sessions. The consists of trains have been determined via prototype Makeup of Trains documents, Pullman car assignment records, dining car assignment records, CT220 consist reports, public timetables, and other sources. Not all research data is reflected herein. It is not practical to model all of the trains per the prototype, so the trains have been organized into groups of similar consists and one train within each group is modeled but runs multiple times to represent the others in the group that are of similar makeup. Information specific to modeling is contained within a border. Jerry Britton's PRR Middle Division jbritton.pennsyrr.com Version 1.0 – April 28, 2013 EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS AND CHARACTERS USED IN MAKE-UP OF PASSENGER TRAINS BM70M...............Modified Postal Car (60 ft. Mail and 10 ft. Bag.) BM70N................Modified Postal Car (60 ft. Mail and 10 ft. Bag.) BM70..................Baggage and Mail Car MS60...................Mail Storage Car (B60, X29, etc.) PBM70................Passenger, Baggage and Mail Car PB70...................Passenger Baggage Car PB70ER...............Lounge Baggage Car PDB85R..............(Budd LW) Lounge, Baggage, Dormitory Car PDB70B...............(SW) Lounge, Baggage, Dormitory B60......................60 ft. Baggage Car (Ventilator Type) B60B....................60 ft. Baggage Car (Balloon Type) B60A....................60 ft. Baggage Car (Auto End Door) B70......................70 ft. Baggage Car B70A....................70 ft. Scenery Car (End Door) B74A....................74 ft.
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Passenger Roster Nov 20, 2019
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VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 FIRST QUARTER 2015 Message from the President Happy New Year! the Past Year Was Is Critical to Survival
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HOMEWOOD, a GLIMPSE of RAILROAD OPERATION William A
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173-532] PRR "RAPIDS"/N&W "COUNTY"/RF&P KING"/L&N "RIVER" SERIES PULLMAN-STANDARD PLAN 4140 LIGHTWEIGHT SLEEPING CARS [Part No
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