C. J. Riley writes, "In 1938, sensing the end of the depression, the management of the Pennsy decided to upgrade its premiere trains. They hired famed industrial designer Raymond Leowy. The result was new streamline train sets from Pullman, and Altoona-built "Buck Rogers" inspired streamlined shrouds for the existing K-4 power. (Note that the sharknose T-1's were later used as power.)
"This theme was applied to four passenger trains: the "Broadway Limited", the "Liberty Limited", the "General", and the "Spirit of St. Louis".
"The PRR purchased 142 painted smoothside cars, to which was applied the new paint scheme. The roof remained Tuscan. A new darker red window band and a series of horizontal gold stripes were added. Many existing cars were retrofitted to the new theme.
"Square-end observation cars were replaced with round-ended cars. Pullman upper/lower berths were replaced with all compartment cars. The interiors featured flourescent lighting, formed plywood, cork, aluminum trim, and other elegant comtemporary materials. The master bedrooms featured a radio."
Andy Miller expands upon Riley's description of the new and refurbished equipment: "New Pullmans were built for most of the 'Blue Ribbon' trains especially the Broadway. 10-5s (Cascades), 4-4-2 (Imperials), 18 roomettes (City of's) and 13 double bedroom (County's) cars were built for all of the trains. Also midtrain lounges 3-1 (Colonials) and 6 bdrm ('tree' Falls) and boat tailed observations cars Metropolitan View and Skyline View for the Broadway and 'PRR President' cars for the other trains. 12-5 (Brooks) were also built for all of the trains except the Broadway. This last car is the AHM streamlined duplex sleeper, not to be confused for the post war 12-4 Creek cars which did run on the Broadway.
"Diners and coaches were rebuilds from older heavyweights. P70ks were 56 seat long distance rebuilds of P70s. Plans for them appear in an ancient Railroad Model Craftsman. They received streamlied a appearance as did the rebuilt D70s dining cars; although the diners retained the round end to their roofs.
"As someone else mentioned the FOMs were mostly a marketing gimmick and a Leowy paint scheme. Only a few types were unique to the PRR and they were not all new equipment.
"A good chapter on all of this can be found in Arthur Dubin's 'More Classic Trains'."
Dan Cupper notes that the "Fleet of Modernism" moniker for the Blue Ribbon fleet changed over the years, and was expanded to include more routes: "The Fleet was introduced on June 15, 1938, as four trains in each direction -- the 'Broadway Limited' (NY-Chicago), 'General' (NY-Chicago), 'Spirit of St. Louis' (NY-St. Louis), and 'Liberty Limited' (Wash-Chicago). By late 1939, it was expanded to two more trains in each direction, the 'Golden Triangle' (Pittsburgh-Chicago), and the 'Pittsburgher' (NY-Pittsburgh).
"By mid-1940, the name 'Fleet of Modernism' was retired in favor of simply 'The Luxury Fleet,' and the Advance General was added to the list. This marketing title soon gave way to more generic titles such as 'The Great East-West Fleet' and the 'All-Weather Fleet'. Refer to any PRR Form 1 public timetable published between mid-1938 and early 1940."
Regarding motive power at the head of "The Fleet", Rich Orr stated, "My guess list would be: S1, K4, E7, GG1, BP20, M1, M1a, M1b, and T1."
Cupper added "Almost certainly the two K5 engines for Baltimore-Harrisburg service on the Liberty Limited. BP20 Baldwin passenger sharknoses and AP20 Alco PAs/PBs, though it should be understood that by this time (1948-49), 'solid' trains of Fleet of Modernism equipment would have become less common as more cars with the tuscan body/gold striping style began to show up, and intermixing took place.
"By the time the E8s started arriving (1950-52), unrepainted Fleet cars were fewer and farther between, but they persisted for quite awhile, as many Clarence Weaver films will prove. Some lasted well into the 1950's without being repainted."
Riley, C.J., "Great Trains: The Golden Age of the Passenger Train: From Steam to Diesel and Beyond", Metrobooks, 1997. ISBN 1-56799-383-4.
From the "PRR-Talk" mailing list: Dan Cupper, Andy Miller, Rich Orr.
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Last modified: November 23 2007.
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