The new issue of Classic Trains mentions a Canadian Pacific publicity run for Vogue magazine featuring some then-new Budd-built cars for The Canadian from Philly to New Hope, PA.

Has anyone seen the magazines or photos from this trip?

I can't imagine the sight of The Canadian rolling through Bucks County!

Rob Davis

There was also another Budd visitor to New Hope in Reading Days.

The Stainless Crusader set was used on occassion for a theater train from Philly to New Hope.

The Crusader train made one or two trips a year to New Hope, some on Friday evenings after it had arrived Reading Terminal from Jersey City. In those days, the branch was rural and scenic and there was (still is) an arts community in New Hope.

So it was not a great leap to take the Canadian out for a ride on the same branch.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect the dome cars did not make the trip account 11 kVAC electrification to Hatboro and some tight bridges.

Phil Mulligan: I suspect the dome cars did not make the trip account 11 kVAC electrification to Hatboro and some tight bridges.

I wonder how dome cars got out of the Budd Plant at all, since the West Trenton Branch that served the place was also electified! The "Canadien"'s observation cars were also domes, and I think I saw a photo of one at New Hope.

Actually the Budd Plant was served off of the joint RDG/B&O New York Short line which is still freight only. Heading south from Budd, this line joins in double track with the Fox Chase/Newtown branch at Cheltenham Jct. While the portion of the line from Cheltenham to Newtown Junction is now electrified, it was not done so until the mid 1960's. Since most of the equipment in question was built prior to the 1960's, this would have most likely been the route out of Budd for most of the equipment, nah? I assume that the freight area near what is now Roberts Yard, then the location of Midvale Steel, was also not electrified. Also, there is a branch that lead to the Port area that breaks off in the same area.....all possible routes out for dome car type equipment.

Budd plant also was served off Reading's New York Branch via a line that went up the hill from Philmont Yard and along side Pine Road just south of Philmont station. When I hired with SEPTA in '84, there was still a facing point switch to Philmont Yard just north of the station and Tomlinson Road. There also was a trailing point unwired crossover south of the switch. Only in the past several years SEPTA removed all but two of the yard tracks that remain as MW stubs on the north end. The line that went up the hill to the plant has been replaced with a parking area for the station, and there is new development along Pine Road.

..."The Canadian Visits New Hope, PA" exists on DVD!

It's about an 8 minute newsreel documentary of excellent quality, and is part of a DVD put out by Rail Innovations (www.railinnovations.com) called "The Legendary Canadian", which also includes a documentary on the current VIA Rail Canadian, as well as Canadian Pacific's original 1950's promo film for The Canadian.

Roger that: the Budd stuff came out via Philmont. The cars themselves would clear the overhead between Philmont and either West Trenton or Wayne Junction but would have problems closer to Reading Terminal.

Then there's the problem of occupied domes under wire. B&O would not allow passengers in their domes while they were under wire at Washington Union Station.

Somehow I do not recall a connection from the NYSL or any rail crossing of Veree Rd near Red Lion. Can some refresh the memory? I thought everything came in and out via Philmont.

A friend of mine used to be a DS for the R.Co. I emailled him, so wr'll see.

Bennett, Ex-R.Co. dispatcher sez not aware of spur into Budd's from NYSL. He notes "It would have had to cross Bustleton Pike, Verree Road, and maybe Red Lion Road too."

Spur at Philmont was no gem either with stiff grade out of yard and tight clearance for auto frames at Oak Lane. Red Lion made mostly auto frames, shipped a train of them daily. They liked to strap as many as possible on a flat car. Remember when autos had frames?