There has been an interesting discussion going on on the Erie Lackawanna email list about the DL&W/EL subscription commuter cars. Basically these cars were operated for a commuter club and offered a premium service on specific commuter runs. Two questions:

1. What ever happed to the DL&W MU subscription cars? Do I remember correctly that one is to be a stand-in for an NYO&W trout stocking car?

2. I know there was at least one subscription car on the NY&LB. Were there any subscription cars on commuter lines out of Boston? Chicago? Any other places?

SO

As far as I know there were no such cars on the PRR or RDG lines running out of Philadelphia.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

I am sure others can provide more information but I know the LIRR ran such cars. Most were former Pullman cars that would be added to specific runs. Details on specific cars at the link below.

Roger

> There has been an interesting discussion
> going on on the Erie Lackawanna email list
> about the DL&W/EL subscription commuter
> cars. Basically these cars were operated for
> a commuter club and offered a premium
> service on specific commuter runs. Two
> questions:

> 1. What ever happed to the DL&W MU
> subscription cars? Do I remember correctly
> that one is to be a stand-in for an
> NYO&W trout stocking car?

> 2. I know there was at least one
> subscription car on the NY&LB. Were
> there any subscription cars on commuter
> lines out of Boston? Chicago? Any other
> places?

> SO


Long Island Rail Road Heavyweight Parlor Cars
belpaire@aol.com

Based on my recollections from the 1960's, the CNJ had the largest fleet of such cars, both on the Raritan Valley line and the NY&LB. There was at least one on the PRR assigned to a NY&LB train. The DL&W had 4 electric trailer cars and at least 1 locomotive hauled car on the Boonton line. The New Haven had 4 MU cars and the NYC at least 3 cars running out of Grand Central. The Long Island had at least 2, probably more, although most LIRR parlor cars were assigned to Montauk trains and were available to all who desired to pay the extre fare.

Outside of New York, the only commuter operation that I know of that had such cars was the C&NW out of Chicago.


artschwartz@sprintmail.com

C&NW operated a couple cars here in Chicagoland. There is still one in operation on METRA's ex-C&NW line to Kenosha, WI.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

The NH had the four 1954 MU cars, built as part of the 100-car P-S streamlined MU order. Two were used on the New Canaan Branch (very wealthy ridership there), and replaced a heavyweight parlor car (Westport) on a locomotive-hauled train. There were also at least 3-4 subscription cars on the mainline of the NH; the other two MU club cars, and one or two "American Flyers" made into club cars (1952). Then there was the famed "V:XI GBC" (5:11 Gentlemen's Bar Car), operated out of GCT at 5:11 PM, which was a beautiful heavyweight parlor-buffet-lounge; it operated well into the 60s, was sold for restaurant use in Boston, and was cut up for scrap after the restaurant went toes up about 1980.

The Boston-area NH commuter service also had demoted Pullman parlors as subscription club cars; one was "Stag Hound", built in 1930 for the "Yankee Clipper", one of the most exclusive trains in the US at the time (all-Pullman parlor car and extra fare--not even an RPO).

RMNE has MU club car 5111, the car 5111 replaced in 1954 (Westport), and Stag Hound.

The NY&LB car, a converted PRR P70FBR coach, operated right up the end of the GG-1s in October 1983, and then went into the NJ State RR collection.

> C&NW operated a couple cars here in
> Chicagoland. There is still one in operation
> on METRA's ex-C&NW line to Kenosha, WI.

> Boyd

I just saw that car operate on a Kenosha train a few weeks ago. Is it still a club-owned or -operated car?

There used to be another, but as far as I know the other Metra club car hasn't operated in a decade or so.

There used to be several clubs that operated on Metra and predecessor commuter trains, including bridge clubs, etc., but most of them had their activities on the standard equipment.

Chris.

chrisjacks@chrisjacksnospam.com

> Is it still a
> club-owned or -operated car?
It's owned and operated by METRA, and leased for use by the club.
> There used to be another, but as far as I
> know the other Metra club car hasn't
> operated in a decade or so.
The other car has been off the METRA roster for quite a while now. Last I knew, it belonged to a private individual who had it stored in Indiana.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

Without the details at hand, I recall reading that the LIrr had a number of special cars running out to the Hamptons on the Montauk Line. mostly summer seasonal operations.

The runs on the north shore where I lived were too short to bother.

Ted Miles


ted_miles@nps.gov

The NY&LB had more than one club into the 70's. The club HP mentioned, that operated the P-70 now has half a Comet car set aside for them. I think it is the last commuter club in operation on NJT, but not sure.

The DL&W electric club cars (not sure if they were subscription or not) went to the United NJ group. One is scheduled for kitbashing as an "O&W" fish car, the other is unrestored.

Rob

trains@robertjohndavis.com

Ted,
The LIRR did run Parlor car trains to the East end of the island on Fridays during the summer season, noteably the Cannon Ball. They definately had subscription cars for commuters on other branches. If my memory is correct, one of the groups that produces LIRR calendars had a photo of a G5 (4-6-0) pulling a regular commuter train on the Oyster Bay branch with one of these heavyweight coaches on the head end.

Roger

> Without the details at hand, I recall
> reading that the LIrr had a number of
> special cars running out to the Hamptons on
> the Montauk Line. mostly summer seasonal
> operations.

> The runs on the north shore where I lived
> were too short to bother.

> Ted Miles


belpaire@aol.com

Rogers Whittaker (and others) in the book "All Aboard with E. M. Frimbo" tells of trying to organize a Phila.-New York parlor car club on the PRR after the regular parlor car was discontinued on a Clocker from Phila. about 8:00 a.m. He found a sufficient crowd, but they came back at different times, and a one-way club would have been too expensive!

104577.651@compuserve.com