I was a passenger on the Crescent a few times around this period from DC to Greenville SC. I was just a teen. What I remember most was the train leaving WUS and curving through the city crossing the Potomac into Virginia. Those summer runs were very long trains and there were also a couple of Amtrak through cars in the consist. I was both a coach passenger and sleeper passenger during that time. Either accommodation received the best service by the Southern crews. My last trip before the train was turned over to Amtrak resulted in two section. An all sleeper consist with diner went before the coach and through car section because of a late running Amtrak that failed to bring part of the train into DC from New York on time. I experienced an all Pullman Crecent that night.
At this time I was riding 10 speed bicycle races in New Orleans. I was the only railfan. As we went down Haynes Blvd the southern tracks were parallel. When the crescent passed several riders would let go of the bars and act like they were pulling a whistle cord. When the engineer saw us he would blow his whistle for us we would wave and continue our bicycle race.
My grandparents lived in Laurel Mississippi which the Crescent went through going North to New York in the morning and South to New Orleans in the evening. I don’t know how many Crescents we saw back in the 60s when visiting on vacation. Great times and great memories.
This is friggin’ awesome. I was born in Gainesville in 1970. In ‘77 I was regularly at the depot in Gainesville watching trains with my dad. I remember the Crescent well and the semaphore signal at the depot. The Crescent always seemed to have an Amtrak car on it. I thought that was so cool. Always wanted one for my Lionel set. The bonus of the old GM 10 SD40 is GREAT. A close personal friend of mine was an engineer for the SCL and loved operating it. Interestingly I now live near Hull.
I grew up in Gainesville, GA.. Our farm house was on the Gainesville Midland RR. I was so fortunate to get to ride the Gainesville Midland w/ my Uncles who were Engineers and Conductors back them. I was young back then.. I'm 70 now. Those were glorious days riding the train !! I'll never forget it !!
When I was a small child in the 70s, we'd take those trains from Spartanburg, SC to visit friends in Atlanta, Alabama and Louisiana. I loooooved the Crescent so. I adored the restaurant car and playing cards with my mom in the club car. Those were the days!
I got to ride in the 1st Gainesville, Ga Diesel , the GP-40.. My Uncle was the engineer.. He would let me blow the horn at crossings.. I had that down pat !! 2 longs, 1 short, 1 long !!! If I hadn't went in the Army, I would have been a Train Engineer.. instead, I went to the Army Corps of Engineers.. Go figure~~.. LOL..
thanks for the sub….realized I was already subbed to you but not getting notifications even though the 🔔 was rung…this was a cool video of the SOU Crescents…makes me wanna model a crescent passenger train now but Crescent E’s are hard to find
I was a passenger on the Crescent a few times around this period from DC to Greenville SC. I was just a teen. What I remember most was the train leaving WUS and curving through the city crossing the Potomac into Virginia. Those summer runs were very long trains and there were also a couple of Amtrak through cars in the consist. I was both a coach passenger and sleeper passenger during that time. Either accommodation received the best service by the Southern crews. My last trip before the train was turned over to Amtrak resulted in two section. An all sleeper consist with diner went before the coach and through car section because of a late running Amtrak that failed to bring part of the train into DC from New York on time. I experienced an all Pullman Crecent that night.
I probably watched you skim through West Springfield, VA at milepost 17. I love running my N scale Southern Crescent.
The sleeper ahead of the baggage car was likely used as a dormitory car for the crew of those long trains.
Yep most likely
The streamliner is the total best looking train ever built. The lines are so good. From the engine to the last car on the train 🚆
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve always wanted to see Gainesville in its prime
At this time I was riding 10 speed bicycle races in New Orleans. I was the only railfan. As we went down Haynes Blvd the southern tracks were parallel. When the crescent passed several riders would let go of the bars and act like they were pulling a whistle cord. When the engineer saw us he would blow his whistle for us we would wave and continue our bicycle race.
My grandparents lived in Laurel Mississippi which the Crescent went through going North to New York in the morning and South to New Orleans in the evening. I don’t know how many Crescents we saw back in the 60s when visiting on vacation. Great times and great memories.
This is friggin’ awesome. I was born in Gainesville in 1970. In ‘77 I was regularly at the depot in Gainesville watching trains with my dad. I remember the Crescent well and the semaphore signal at the depot. The Crescent always seemed to have an Amtrak car on it. I thought that was so cool. Always wanted one for my Lionel set. The bonus of the old GM 10 SD40 is GREAT. A close personal friend of mine was an engineer for the SCL and loved operating it. Interestingly I now live near Hull.
what a great video!! That you for sharing !!!
Love those E-8's.
I grew up in Gainesville, GA.. Our farm house was on the Gainesville Midland RR. I was so fortunate to get to ride the Gainesville Midland w/ my Uncles who were Engineers and Conductors back them. I was young back then.. I'm 70 now. Those were glorious days riding the train !! I'll never forget it !!
Thanks for this 👍
love this video, thank you Sir!
Thank you for sharing this with us. Nice job.
When I was a small child in the 70s, we'd take those trains from Spartanburg, SC to visit friends in Atlanta, Alabama and Louisiana. I loooooved the Crescent so. I adored the restaurant car and playing cards with my mom in the club car. Those were the days!
Excellent filming!
I got to ride in the 1st Gainesville, Ga Diesel , the GP-40.. My Uncle was the engineer.. He would let me blow the horn at crossings.. I had that down pat !! 2 longs, 1 short, 1 long !!! If I hadn't went in the Army, I would have been a Train Engineer.. instead, I went to the Army Corps of Engineers.. Go figure~~.. LOL..
Like train
thanks for the sub….realized I was already subbed to you but not getting notifications even though the 🔔 was rung…this was a cool video of the SOU Crescents…makes me wanna model a crescent passenger train now but Crescent E’s are hard to find
Dude, I have scraped up 4 of them for a proper Southern Crescent. Sending a link.
Is very interesting 1977 the southern ran their own passenger consists and weren't under Amtrak?
Yes. Southern stayed out of Amtrak and ran the Southern Crescent until 1979.
@@TheGulfwind that sounds about just right
@@jamesrussell6123 I have many N scale Southern Crescent videos on my channel.
Here's a 1980 version with a surprise!czcams.com/video/RWrV-tjjRiA/video.html
You'll like this one of a 1976 Southern Crescent on my layout.czcams.com/video/pDY44sjYCzU/video.html