Always wanted one of these....

CaldRail · Post by **CaldRail** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 10:06 pm

One book I used to own when I was very young was one on trains from around the world. Like all kids books of the time, the illustrations were always paintings, and good ones too. One train has always stuck in my mind. The picture showed an outrageous curvy white train crossing the american desert. The train in question is the GM Aerotrain. The pic below shows one undergoing restoration. Now I still think this train is a wonderful (and excessive!) example of fifties art-deco, but what do you guys think? Good? Bad? Should never have been built?

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 10:11 pm

What holds up the rear end

CaldRail · Post by **CaldRail** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 10:23 pm

A couple of oil drums probably...

dilflat · Post by **dilflat** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 10:56 pm

Wow, wouldya look at that. Its beautiful, no its hideous. Its like something out of "Thunderbirds" (best bloke telly in the history of mankind).

There is somthing truly wonderful about some of those fifties and sixties American flights of fancy. It is nice to know that at least one has found its way into preservation.

Were they put into production or were just a few prototypes built? How fast were they? I have never seen a picture of one these despite a reasonable collection of early sixties Ian Allen Locospotters Annuals.
Regards
Dave.

48526 · Post by **48526** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 11:04 pm

I like it. But then I am an old fart who still lives in the 60's.
Did you know the coaches it pulled were actually converted Greyhound bus bodies with air suspension, which used to bounce passengers out of their seats at anywhere near its design speed.
[Is this where BR got the idea for Pacers?]
There were 2 prototypes built in 1955, and were demonstrated on various railroads for 2 years, with no success due to the bad riding at speed. In '57 they were sold to the Rock Island for use on Chicago commuter trains, and ran until '66 I think.
I believe the locomotive was based on a standard EMD switcher [shunter to us]. Cant imagine BR doing that to an 08!

CaldRail · Post by **CaldRail** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 11:52 pm

48526 wrote:Did you know the coaches it pulled were actually converted Greyhound bus bodies with air suspension, which used to bounce passengers out of their seats at anywhere near its design speed.
[Is this where BR got the idea for Pacers?]

Dunno about that, but they certainly influenced Citreon. What possessed my dad to buy one is beyond me. I get seasick just thinking of it.

markw · Post by **markw** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 11:55 pm

I've got a video of the Pensylvania RR North East Corridor (now I wonder what made me buy that, my first American rail video...nope, no idea) which has lots of GG1 action and some colour footage of the Aerotrain running a through service from somewhere in New England.

I agree it looks like something Gerry Anderson would have doodled in an off moment - but compared to some of the European designs of that rough period (the TEE "Eidelweiss" units, my beloved FS "Settebello" or the Danish "Lyntogs") it's a bit coarse and looks like a hairdryer.

CaldRail · Post by **CaldRail** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 12:05 am

The current condition doesn't help. It probably looked a bit smarter freshly painted. I think I can remember that TEE train you mentioned from the same book I used to have. Nonetheless it was the dramatic almost-head-on picture of the Aerotrain that I first think of.

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 7:18 am

And some said the SWT Juniper was ugly ? ha ha ha ha ha.....

That is truly a monsterously wierd looking object, bet its no prettier head on is it ?

ianm42 · Post by **ianm42** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 8:15 am

For beautiful curves, check out the Henschel-Wegmann-Zug MSTS model here:

http://www.vmbollig.de/msts/download/

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 1:29 pm

I think it's great! I want one in fact... I'm just surprised that nobody's modelled it yet... or have they?...

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 10:34 pm

ianm42 wrote:For beautiful curves, check out the Henschel-Wegmann-Zug

Looks like a giant sex toy with smoke coming out of it. Nice colour scheme though

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 10:38 pm

Caldrail, wow, interesting find. Reminds me of.... hmmm...let's see. Front is a bit of Comet jet airliner, top is definitely a Norfolk Broads cabin cruiser painted silver, back end is a Soviet Dacha on wheels, and I think there is a bit of Edsel in there too.

Good thing it's been preserved, it'll be a permanent reminder of how not to do train styling!

(no seriously, it is quite nice).

CaldRail · Post by **CaldRail** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 8:22 pm

Fodda wrote:I think it's great! I want one in fact... I'm just surprised that nobody's modelled it yet... or have they?...

I don't think anyones released one yet, but there are hints that at least one person has this in hand.

Regarding comments on preservation, I think ANY preservation is a good thing regardless of intrinsic value. Far too often history has slipped through our fingers. You see, you can look at the photo and come to a decision on how it looks, but ultimately until you see a machine in the flesh its difficult to appreciate the full three dimensional form. Yes, even the Aerotrain too.

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 10:04 pm

Ah yes, I've got a rather good book I demanded at the age of 5 called Diesel Rail Traction (benefit of a state education, you see...), and there's an entry about this bizarre thing (and indeed a number of other more or less challengingly-styled lightweight diesel units of the 50s) - together with a picture of it in working order (though sadly black 'n white).

Can easily scan it, if someone will tell me how to attach the picture to a posting...! (duh!)