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Author Topic: 1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?  (Read 1053 times)

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Offline Robert Pence

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1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?
« on: December 06, 2009, 05:16:59 AM »
This three-part set is fascinating on multiple levels, and probably enjoyable for non-train enthusiasts too.

My recollection of early Amtrak was of similar enthusiasm over some short-lived experiments with European-style rolling stock, but the reality of most of my train travel then was on long-neglected, refurbished pre-WWII equipment prone to air-conditioning failures in summer and leaky steam heat in winter that sometimes turned the coaches into steam baths. Decor was then-trendy purple-and-orange paisley and carpeted walls, and diner and lounge service often were rendered with a sneer. One couldn't walk through a coach traveling 40mph on Penn Central's midwestern rails without hanging onto stuff to keep from being thrown about.

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Offline noozer

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Re: 1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2009, 08:32:26 AM »
A lot of optimism that came along at a time when passenger railroading was declining and no foresaw that ever turning around.  Proof that timing is everything.  Imagine if this concept was "new" in today's context.

They ran these in the Boston-New York corridor for several years.  Got to see it "whoosh" by a few times.

BTW: Great videos!
« Last Edit: December 06, 2009, 08:33:45 AM by noozer »
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Offline tedolph

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Re: 1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2009, 08:59:54 AM »
God, the future used to be great!
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Offline KJP

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Re: 1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2009, 12:44:46 PM »
They also ran them in the Toronto - Montreal corridor. Either way, they absolutely inhaled fuel and were put away after the 1973 Arab oil embargo. That pretty much was the end of their bright future.
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Offline tedolph

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Re: 1970s CN Turbo Train Film - What happened to all the optimism?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2009, 11:57:29 AM »
Does the train set still exist? Couldn't we just put a decomissioned Russian submarine reactor in it? We could get Richard Pryor to star in a movie about it!
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