Rebel (train)
Encyclopedia
The Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad
Rebels were lightweight, streamlined Diesel-electric trains built by American Car and Foundry
. The first two trains, purchased in 1935, provided service between New Orleans, Louisiana
and Jackson, Tennessee
. The third train, purchased in 1937, allowed service to be added between Jackson, Tennessee
, and Mobile, Alabama
. Unlike other earlier Diesel streamliners, these trains were not articulated, as their normal operation required adding and removing cars from the consist.
The trains were powered by lightweight, shovel-nosed power car
s, styled by Otto Kuhler
, and equipped with 600 hp, six-cylinder Alco
Diesel
531 prime mover
s and Westinghouse
electric transmission components. The units had an uncommon 2-B wheel arrangement, mounted atop a pair of road trucks
. The aft section was divided into two separate compartments: one was used to transport baggage and the other served as a small railway post office
, or RPO (the forward door, located just behind the radiator louvers, was equipped with a mail hook).
Two of these power cars were purchased as part of the 1935 order, along with three buffet-coach cars, and two sleeper-observation cars. Normal operating procedure was for a northbound train to leave New Orleans with two coaches and an observation car. Due to lower ridership on the northern portion of the route, one of the 2 coaches would be removed from the northbound train at Jackson, Mississippi
, and the train would continue on to Jackson, Tennessee as a 3 car consist. The southbound train would add the extra coach during its own stop at Jackson, Mississippi.
The 1937 order included a third power car, and 2 coach-sleepers. This third power car ran from Mobile, to Union, Mississippi
with a single coach-sleeper, which was added to the northbound mainline train from New Orleans. It then returned to Mobile with the coach-sleeper from the southbound train.
While the original Rebel served New Orleans and Jackson, after the merger of the GM&N and Mobile and Ohio to created the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
in 1942, the trains route was extended to St. Louis.
The powercars were scrapped in 1962 .
Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad was a railroad in the Southern United States. The first World War had forced government operation upon the company; and in 1919, when it became once more a free agent, it chose Ike Tigrett to charter its new course...
Rebels were lightweight, streamlined Diesel-electric trains built by American Car and Foundry
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
. The first two trains, purchased in 1935, provided service between New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
. The third train, purchased in 1937, allowed service to be added between Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
, and Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. Unlike other earlier Diesel streamliners, these trains were not articulated, as their normal operation required adding and removing cars from the consist.
The trains were powered by lightweight, shovel-nosed power car
Power car
A power car is a railroad vehicle that is closely related to the locomotive. What differentiates the two is their construction or their use. A true locomotive can be physically separated from its train and does nothing but provide propulsion . A power car, on the other hand, is frequently an...
s, styled by Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler was an American designer, one of the best known industrial designers of the American railroads. According to Trains magazine he streamstyled more locomotives and railroad cars than Cret, Dreyfuss and Loewy combined...
, and equipped with 600 hp, six-cylinder Alco
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
Diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
531 prime mover
Prime mover (locomotive)
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. The term is generally used when discussing any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine...
s and Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
electric transmission components. The units had an uncommon 2-B wheel arrangement, mounted atop a pair of road trucks
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
. The aft section was divided into two separate compartments: one was used to transport baggage and the other served as a small railway post office
Railway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
, or RPO (the forward door, located just behind the radiator louvers, was equipped with a mail hook).
Two of these power cars were purchased as part of the 1935 order, along with three buffet-coach cars, and two sleeper-observation cars. Normal operating procedure was for a northbound train to leave New Orleans with two coaches and an observation car. Due to lower ridership on the northern portion of the route, one of the 2 coaches would be removed from the northbound train at Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, and the train would continue on to Jackson, Tennessee as a 3 car consist. The southbound train would add the extra coach during its own stop at Jackson, Mississippi.
The 1937 order included a third power car, and 2 coach-sleepers. This third power car ran from Mobile, to Union, Mississippi
Union, Mississippi
Union is a town in Neshoba and Newton Counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 2,021 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Union is located at . Most of the town is in Newton County with a portion extending north into adjacent Neshoba County...
with a single coach-sleeper, which was added to the northbound mainline train from New Orleans. It then returned to Mobile with the coach-sleeper from the southbound train.
While the original Rebel served New Orleans and Jackson, after the merger of the GM&N and Mobile and Ohio to created the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was a Class I railroad in the central United States whose primary routes extended from Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to St...
in 1942, the trains route was extended to St. Louis.
The powercars were scrapped in 1962 .
See also
- List of ALCO diesel locomotives
- FM OP800FM OP800The OP800 was a lightweight, streamlined railcar built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1939. Fairbanks-Morse supplied the 800 hp, five-cylinder 8 x 10 opposed piston engine prime mover. The units were configured in a highly-unusual 2-A1A wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of road trucks, and...
, similar St. Louis Car CompanySt. Louis Car CompanyThe St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
built railcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s, powered by Fairbanks-MorseFairbanks-MorseFairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958... - Seaboard Air Line 2027 & 2028SAL 2027Seaboard Air Line 2027 and 2028 were lightweight, streamlined Diesel-electric railcars built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1936. Electromotive Corporation supplied the 600 hp, eight-cylinder Winton Diesel 201-A prime mover and electric transmission components. The units had an B-2 wheel...
, similar St. Louis Car Company built railcars, powered by EMD