Background

"The Broadway Limited was the Pennsylvania Railroad's (PRR) premier named passenger train, operating one train daily in either direction between New York (or Washington, D.C.) and Chicago. The Broadway ran from 1912 (although its train Nos. 28 and 29 operated from 1902 as the Pennsylvania Special) and outlasted the Pennsylvania Railroad, operating under Amtrak until 1995.  In 1938, the Broadway Limited was completely reequipped with lightweight steel cars to replace the heavyweight steel cars. The new equipment's industrial design was a product of Raymond Loewy, who would later go on to design the PRR GG1 to pull the train, as well as some streamlined steam locomotives for the PRR. This train was the PRR's only pre-World War II train to receive such an equipment investment; other PRR trains used heavyweight cars until after the War. Most of the equipment in the 1938 upgrade was built new by Pullman-Standard between March and May of that year, but the diners were rebuilt from heavyweight cars by the railroad's Altoona shops. The 1938 consist included the following equipment: sleeper (18 roomettes), one of 8 cars named City of Baltimore, City of Cincinnati, City of Columbus, City of New York, City of Philadelphia, City of Pittsburgh, City of St. Louis or City of Washington. sleeper-lounge (2 double bedrooms, secretary's room, barber shop, shower-bath, bar/lounge), either Harbor Point or Harbor Springs. diner, a heavyweight car rebuilt at the Altoona shops. sleeper (4 compartments, 2 drawing rooms, 4 double bedrooms), one of four cars named Imperial Park, Imperial Pass, Imperial Plateau or Imperial Point. sleeper (13 double bedrooms), either Allegheny County or New York County. sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation (2 master rooms, 1 double bedroom), Metropolitan View, Skyline View, Mountain View, or Tower View. Station stops New York Penn Station Newark Penn Station North Philadelphia Paoli Harrisburg (engine change from GG1 to diesel-electric units) Baker Street Station (Fort Wayne) Englewood Union Station Chicago Union Station Station Stops, 1958 New York Pennsylvania Station Newark Pennsylvania Station Philadelphia (North Philadelphia Station) Paoli Harrisburg Union Station (engine change from GG1 to diesel-electric units) Altoona, PA Pittsburgh Crestline, OH Fort Wayne Englewood Union Station Chicago Union Station Amtrak's Broadway Limited When Amtrak started up on May 1, 1971, the Broadway Limited continued to use the all-PRR route, with a split at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for trains to Washington, DC via Perryville, Maryland along the former Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and Lancaster Railroad, Columbia and Port Deposit Railway and Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad until November 30, 1975. On November 12, 1990, due to Conrail's desire to abandon part of the former Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway in northwest Indiana, the line was rerouted to use the former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Pittsburgh into Chicago. In 1995 the Broadway Limited was ended, though it was later brought back as the Three Rivers, the latter of which has since been discontinued by Amtrak west of Pittsburgh." From: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

 

November-December  2006

Delivered in 1949, “Mountain View” and its sister car “Tower View” were the crown jewels of the Pennsy’s most famous train, "The Broadway Limited."  Both cars were  sleeper/lounge/observation cars with squared off ends and 2 master rooms and 1 double bedroom.  The  “Mountain View” served as the tail-car on the famed Broadway Limited, America’s last all-Pullman train, for over 3 decades.  Occupied by the corporate elite and the rich and famous of the entertainment industry, “Mountain View” represented the height of comfort and service between New York and Chicago.   "These cars remained in BROADWAY LIMITED service until the end of the all-PULLMAN era in December of 1967. Revenue service ended in the winter of 1968, when these cars were assigned to SCL's FLORIDA SPECIAL.  (1)"  The Tower View is currently at the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg, PA.  The Mountain View  "was previously owned by Pullman Classics Limited, assigned private car accounting number 800419 by Amtrak, stored on the Morristown & Erie Railway, and used in Iron Horse Enterprises excursions." (2)  "AMTRAK moved The "Mountain View" to Philadelphia from South Carolina during October 2006.  After its AMTRAK inspection at Bennett Levin's Juniata Terminal Company, Eric Levin had it placed for pick-up and it left Camden NJ for Altoona on an NS light engine move. The Museum, after necessary mechanical and body/glass work, plans to put the car back into excursion and charter service. A huge thanks to Rep Rick Geist, former owner Kelvin Woods, and especially Bennett and Eric Levin for securing this car for the Museum."  (3)

 

**Advance Media Preview Opportunity**       Railroaders Memorial Museum To Dedicate Turntable And Unveil Historic New Acquisition   Pennsylvania Railroad Broadway Limited Car “Mountain View” To Grace Museum Turntable   What:                     Acquired by The Railroaders Memorial Museum in 2004, a 105’ turntable has been installed as the centerpiece of the Museum’s yard and roundhouse complex, The Harry Bennett Center.  A former Richmond, Fredericksburg, & Potomac Railroad turntable, it served the RF&P for more than 6 decades in the famed Potomac Yard near Alexandria, Virginia.  Purchased from Mr. Jack Showalter and the Virginia Central Railroad in Staunton, VA, the table was cleaned, repaired, and installed by a combination of Museum staff, contractors, and volunteers.                                                                 Parked on the turntable will be the Museum’s newest acquisition and the most historically significant piece in the Museum’s collection.  The sleeper/lounge/observation car “Mountain View” served as the tail-car on the famed Broadway Limited, America’s last all-Pullman train, for over 3 decades.  Delivered in 1949, “Mountain View” and its sister car “Tower View” were the crown jewels of the Pennsy’s most famous train.  Occupied by the corporate elite and the rich and famous of the entertainment industry, “Mountain View” represented the height of comfort and service between New York and Chicago.                                                                 The turntable will be publicly dedicated and “Mountain View” opened for public tours on Sunday, November 19 at 2PM.  HOWEVER, THE MEDIA IS INVITED FOR A SPECIAL PREVIEW AS THE TURNTABLE, NEW CENTERPIECE OF THE HARRY BENNETT CENTER, WILL BE USED TO DISPLAY THE VALUABLE AND HISTORIC “MOUNTAIN VIEW” WHICH WILL BE OPEN FOR INSPECTION.   When:                    Thursday, November 16, 2006                                 10:00 AM – Noon   Where:                  Railroaders Memorial Museum                                 1300 Ninth Avenue, Altoona, PA   Who:                      Scott Cessna, President & Chief Executive Officer, Railroaders Memorial Museum   Media Opportunities: -          Visual opportunities as the 85 ft “Mountain View” is displayed on the turntable -          Tours of the turntable and “Mountain View” -          Interview opportunities with Museum spokespersons about the history of and the processes involved in restoring the 105’ turntable -          Interview opportunities with Museum spokespersons about the history and acquisition of “Mountain View”   Contacts:               Scott Cessna, 814-946-0834, ext 224                                 Heather Eckels Ritchey, 814-946-0834,

 

Photographs

	11-8-06		11-8-06
	Dick Charlesworth and Neil Myers		Neil Myers and David Seidel
	11-8-06		11-8-06
	11-8-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		Neil Myers
	Dick Charlesworth and Neil Myers		11-8-06
	11-8-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	11-8-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06		12-15-06
	12-15-06	--	--

Photographs by David Seidel

Photographs are by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.
(The logos for the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Conrail, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak are trademarks of their respective organizations.)

The Museum is a business partner with the Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS.
Reporting on the restoration of PRR k-4 #1361 is done under agreement with Museum Officials.

Railfest is a trademark of Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc. 
The logos for the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum are trademarks of the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc. 
NRHS and its logo are trademarks of the National Railway Historical Society.  Photographs are by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.
 

(1) John Laubenheimer, RAILROAD.NET Forum)

(2)Mark Bej's, "PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD HOME PAGE, "

(3) Scott Cessna / 09 November 2006