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Super C (freight train)
Encyclopedia
The Super C was a premium, high-speed intermodal
freight train
operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
from 1968 to 1976. Dubbed the "World's Fastest Freight Train," the all-TOFC (trailer-on-flatcar, or "piggyback") and container
train's route ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California
on a 40-hour schedule.
, the Super C (led by a pair of EMD FP45
s) made its inaugural run on January 17, 1968, covering the distance in a record-breaking 34½ hours and averaging 63.7 miles-per-hour (108.4 km/h) in the process. For an added fee of $1,400 per trailer
shippers received guaranteed fast delivery.
Santa Fe first experimented with high-speed freight operations on its Illinois Division in late 1966. By year's end, a set of passenger-geared GE U28CG
locomotives was able to transport 19 piggyback cars from L.A.'s Hobart Yard to Chicago in 61 hours. On June 8, 1967 a joint run using New York Central's Flexi-Van container cars traveled from New York City
to Los Angeles in 54 hours, 21 minutes. The train's cargo typically consisted of such high-priority items such as auto parts and electronic components; the United States Post Office was a consistent customer.
Though the size of the Super C' s consist on a day-to-day basis varied from as little as two to as many as 15 or 20 cars, it always generated positive public relations for the railroad as it tangibly demonstrated the Santa Fe's ability to provided expedited freight service over its modern rail system. In the end, too few shippers opted to pay the premium for 40-hour delivery, especially when considering that a standard TOFC load arrived in just 15 hours more. The final blow came in 1976 when the Santa Fe lost its USPS contract to a joint venture of the Chicago and North Western Railway
and the Union Pacific Railroad
, who could deliver the mail at a lower cost, albeit more slowly.
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
from 1968 to 1976. Dubbed the "World's Fastest Freight Train," the all-TOFC (trailer-on-flatcar, or "piggyback") and container
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
train's route ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on a 40-hour schedule.
Overview
The brainchild of company president John S. ReedJohn S. Reed
John Shepard Reed is the former Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Citicorp, Citibank, and post-merger, Citigroup. He is currently the Chairman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Office of Corporation. He was born in Chicago, Illinois,...
, the Super C (led by a pair of EMD FP45
EMD FP45
The EMD FP45 is a cowl unit type of C-C diesel locomotive produced in the United States by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. It was produced beginning in 1967 at the request of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which did not want its prestigious Super Chief and other passenger...
s) made its inaugural run on January 17, 1968, covering the distance in a record-breaking 34½ hours and averaging 63.7 miles-per-hour (108.4 km/h) in the process. For an added fee of $1,400 per trailer
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
shippers received guaranteed fast delivery.
Santa Fe first experimented with high-speed freight operations on its Illinois Division in late 1966. By year's end, a set of passenger-geared GE U28CG
GE U28C
The U28C was developed by General Electric from the U25C, with a slight increase in power of 300 hp . A passenger-hauling variant, the U28CG, was also produced for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.-External links:* Sarberenyi, Robert. ...
locomotives was able to transport 19 piggyback cars from L.A.'s Hobart Yard to Chicago in 61 hours. On June 8, 1967 a joint run using New York Central's Flexi-Van container cars traveled from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Los Angeles in 54 hours, 21 minutes. The train's cargo typically consisted of such high-priority items such as auto parts and electronic components; the United States Post Office was a consistent customer.
Though the size of the Super C
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
and the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, who could deliver the mail at a lower cost, albeit more slowly.
External links
- ATSF FP45 90 — the history of the first locomotive to lead the Super C.
- "Santa Fe's SUPER 'C' : The World's Fastest Freight Train" article by Jack Elwood at the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society official website.