Quality of Passenger Service on the N&W

[NW Mailing List]

I cannot make a direct comparison of the service provided by the N&W to
Amtrak's level of service today.  

 

But, from the 1900's to roughly the fairly rapid decline in passenger
business in the late 1950's, the N&W endeavored to provide exemplary service
in their territory.  As this was limited in city size and in personal or
family income, the N&W understood that it needed to provide service to the
local Appalachian communities for basic transportation needs as well as
competitive service for long range trains- Norfolk to Cincinnati and
reverse.   To that end, the N&W did create the Powhatan Arrow in 1946 and
bought new light weight equipment in late 1949 for that train even though
the actual level of business was not large by any means.  So, they made a
commitment to passenger service that was of limited scope.

 

After the late 1950's passenger count dropped off significantly and the N&W,
like other railroads, cut back on service, the number of trains, dining car
service and so on as they tried to make the service profitable.  By the late
1960's, the N&W had only the Pocahontas as its long range train combining
the Cavalier, the Powhatan Arrow and the old Pocahontas into the route and
schedule.

 

All railroads had tremendous difficulty making passenger service pay after
the 1920's; WWII did bring back profitability and it seemed that the 1950's
would see traffic levels increase.  But, traffic levels declined after the
late 1950's and the rest is history.

 

As to schedules, during the time of dedicated passenger service, the vast
majority of railroads ran their passenger trains as First Class trains which
meant that they had priority and rights over any other trains on the
railroad.  Also, many railroads had four track mainlines with the inner two
fro passenger trains and the outer for freight.  Many, like the N&W had CTC
and middle passing tracks to keep the passenger trains moving in both
directions fluidly.

 

Today, Amtrak operates without that priority except on the Northeast
Corridor, which is their property and they dispatch it.  Consequently, they
have delays for most of their trains run on other railroads.  Based on this
factor alone it makes comparing Amtrak to the older passenger services
difficult if not impossible.

 

Gary Rolih

INFO at NWHS

 

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 6:57 PM
To: NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
Subject: Quality of Passenger Service on the N&W

 

What was the quality of passenger service on N&W compared to Amtrak today?
For example, did the trains run on time, were you treated well as a
passenger?

 

Mike Weeks

Greenville NC

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