HenryG18
Train X
What is this mysterious Jones Tours demonstrator train? An early Talgo or Budd concept? For $2 at a lowly antique store in the armpit of Florida, I couldn’t say no
“In 1964 the New Haven sold the trainset to the Pickens Railroad of South Carolina, whose subsidiary Jones Tours operated public excursions. Interestingly, this company also purchased the New York Central's Xplorer for the same purpose. Both sets were scrapped around 1970”
In 1955 the New York Central and New Haven each ordered a set of Pullman lightweight, single axle, "Train X" passenger cars. Baldwin was contracted to build the locomotives. The NYC train would have one locomotive while the NH train would have a locomotive at each end, so three units were ordered, they were completed in 1956.
The NYC train, called the Xplorer, entered service in 1956 and the NH train called the Dan'l Webster entered service in 1957. Both trains were retired in 1960, due largely to the rough ride of the single axle passenger cars.
In June of 1963, a gentleman by the name of James F Jones, who owned the Pickens Railroad in South Carolina and operated an excursion service called Jones Tours, purchased the old Xplorer set, which had been dormant for 5 years, dragged it down to South Carolina and got it operational with plans to run excursions over Southern Railway and Seaboard Air Line to Charlotte and Atlanta, with farther trips to Alabama and Florida on occasion. In '64, he also purchased the Dan'l Webster set from New Haven, which had stored theirs at Cedar Hill, and shipped it south as well. Jones reportedly purchased it for scrap price, while New Haven had spent $1.3 million on it when new.
Both trains were sold to a subsidiary of the Pickens Railroad called Jones Tours (see below photos) to run excursions. Both trains were eventually scrapped around 1970.
yardlimit.railfan.net/baldwindiesels/rp210/
streamlinermemories.info/?p=2287
Train X
What is this mysterious Jones Tours demonstrator train? An early Talgo or Budd concept? For $2 at a lowly antique store in the armpit of Florida, I couldn’t say no
“In 1964 the New Haven sold the trainset to the Pickens Railroad of South Carolina, whose subsidiary Jones Tours operated public excursions. Interestingly, this company also purchased the New York Central's Xplorer for the same purpose. Both sets were scrapped around 1970”
In 1955 the New York Central and New Haven each ordered a set of Pullman lightweight, single axle, "Train X" passenger cars. Baldwin was contracted to build the locomotives. The NYC train would have one locomotive while the NH train would have a locomotive at each end, so three units were ordered, they were completed in 1956.
The NYC train, called the Xplorer, entered service in 1956 and the NH train called the Dan'l Webster entered service in 1957. Both trains were retired in 1960, due largely to the rough ride of the single axle passenger cars.
In June of 1963, a gentleman by the name of James F Jones, who owned the Pickens Railroad in South Carolina and operated an excursion service called Jones Tours, purchased the old Xplorer set, which had been dormant for 5 years, dragged it down to South Carolina and got it operational with plans to run excursions over Southern Railway and Seaboard Air Line to Charlotte and Atlanta, with farther trips to Alabama and Florida on occasion. In '64, he also purchased the Dan'l Webster set from New Haven, which had stored theirs at Cedar Hill, and shipped it south as well. Jones reportedly purchased it for scrap price, while New Haven had spent $1.3 million on it when new.
Both trains were sold to a subsidiary of the Pickens Railroad called Jones Tours (see below photos) to run excursions. Both trains were eventually scrapped around 1970.
yardlimit.railfan.net/baldwindiesels/rp210/
streamlinermemories.info/?p=2287