With the recent announcement of a high speed rail strategy for the U.S., it’s interesting to look at how passenger service has regressed in the U.S.
Steam vs Diesel
In the 1950s, Norfolk and Western J Class 4-8-4 locomotives could pull 15 car trains at speeds of 110 mph. Unfortunately, today, the last remaining J class locomotive sits cold in the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Norfolk Southern ended their steam excursion program with the 611’s last run in 1994. The engine was declared to be a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
In 1940, the Milwaukee Road’s F7 Hudson Hiawatha 4-6-4 steam locomotive pulled passenger trains at speeds reaching over 100 mph between Chicago and St. Paul. The trip took 6 hours and 15 minutes. Today, it takes Amtrak diesels 8 hours and 16 minutes to cover the same route.
The Northeast Corridor
Despite the investment in Acela trainsets, today the fastest schedule between Washington, D.C. and New York is 2 hours and 45 minutes. Forty years ago, a Penn Central non-stop Metroliner covered the distance in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. The Acela trainsets do have a higher top speed, but are restricted due to track and overhead catenary wire conditions as well as FRA regulations.
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