High-speed Rail in North America

Good to hear that. Texas really is a prime region for a decent high speed rail network; and the speeds don't have to be super high to be attractive. Just using fairly standard diesel-hydraulic locomotives, it's possible to have 120+ runs on main lines, close to double automotive speeds.

Milwaukee Road and C&NW got close to those speeds with Steam to keep their average speed around 60mph for the named Passenger Routes, and that was with scheduled stops for the '400' and Hiawatha runs. C&NW was even doing that with old Heavyweight Pullmans, not the new light Budd cars in the '30s.

They weren't using that 140 lbs/yd raid like NYC or PRR was either, just standard mainline rail with slight superelevation on the curves
 

Marc

Donor
Milwaukee Road and C&NW got close to those speeds with Steam to keep their average speed around 60mph for the named Passenger Routes, and that was with scheduled stops for the '400' and Hiawatha runs. C&NW was even doing that with old Heavyweight Pullmans, not the new light Budd cars in the '30s.

They weren't using that 140 lbs/yd raid like NYC or PRR was either, just standard mainline rail with slight superelevation on the curves

Lord, I remember the Budd cars - although they had to be later models, RDC? Now the amusing part, I encountered them in use in Brazil while fairly young and asked if they had any relationship the Budweiser company.
 
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