We've added a few dome car and lounge/observation tickets behind the 765 on October 26th and 27th and now that our wait list has had a chance they are a few more publicly available:

http://fortwaynerailroad.org/wabash-cannonball

Tickets include boxed lunch, snacks, refreshments and on board entertainment.

Included in the consist is the New York Central Hickory Creek, a former 20th Century Limited obs/lounge. Passengers get to ride in both the Hickory Creek and New York Central lounge car no. 43. As we understand, this is likely the Hickory Creek's first trip behind steam. Ever.

Thanks for your interest and support. For those interested in chasing, the route is here: http://www.fortwaynerailroad.org/track-765

KL

These seem to be round trips out of Fort Wayne, Ind. to Lafayette, Ind.

That they are.

i rode your horseshoe curve trip back in may. are you planning to do it again next year?
thanks
jon

Sounds like a great trip. Hope it goes well.

"As we understand, this is likely the Hickory Creek's first trip behind steam. Ever."

Interesting conjecture, may actually be correct ?

The E7's showed up on the NYCRR in 1945 and where of course assigned to the Century (the Century always got the newest and best equipment).

The Hickory Creek and Sandy Creek came on board in 1948 after the Central had more E7's and E8's.

So the "Creek" series cars likely spent almost all of their service life behind Diesel's, but I bet just once or twice a Niagara had to "pinch hit" when the Diesel's came up short. But I cannot point to a photo at this moment "proving" that fact.

There is a story related in Staufer's (sp ?) Thoroughbreds book (I think, it's in one of the books about that era) where the Century was proceeded through a blizzard in upstate NY by a Niagara pushing a snowplow. And I think the story says they added a Mohawk on the head end to help out the Diesels. So maybe the Hickory Creek was never pulled by a steamer, but it may have had one once as a helper or as a Pilot Train ?

The Century made it to Chicago about 4 (maybe 6) hours late. Compare that to a major snowstorm today when you are lucky to make it to your destination by plane within 24-48 hours.

Pilot Trains where used ahead of an important train to make sure the tracks where clear. My father was called to fire a pilot train (lone engine) ahead of the POTUS train (FDR) once. So if somebody blew up a bridge my dad would have taken the "bullet" instead of FDR.

Cheers, Kevin.

We've bantered back and forth about that possibility in the winter of 1948, but even in that case it's certainly the first trip in the post-steam era...though I did choose my words carefully ;)

KL

Yes indeed, the first trip behind steam in the "post steam era".

We will probably never know for sure if the Hickory Creek ever/never ran behind steam before. But IF it did it was certainly VERY RARE.

Kudos to your organization, I hope your trips run as smooth as silk, wish I could be there.

Cheers, Kevin.