KETC | Living St. Louis | Aerotrain

From KETC, Living St. Louis Producer Jim Kirchherr visits the Museum of Transportation where the GM Aerotrain is on display. The Aerotrain was once an attempt for the railroad industry to compete with airplanes, but this idea did not gain popularity with travelers.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• KETC
• LivingStLouis
• Aerotrain
• MuseumofTransportation
• Plane
• Train
• Kirchherr

[trainboy94]

I saw it, in St. Louis, but the car were hidden away, but I got pictures of the cars.

[northstar2007]

I'm kind of sad that there's no engine in there. it would be neat to see it go again..

[Trainfanz]

THE ENGINE BEHIND YOU IS CALLED A STEAM ENGINE.

How do some people not know that?

But anyways great video.

[pennsylvaniajake]

It was so wonderful to see the Aerotrain at your site. My Dad took me to see it when I was a little kid in Johnstown PA. I had just gotten out of the hospital with pneumonia, but I wanted to see that train so bad. It was at night time and I can still see in my head the bright lights of the front of it. I have never forgotten that wonderful night, so very long ago.

Jake Trexel

[grizzleybearz282004]

I WISH THAY WOULD HAVE SAVE THE ONE AND ONLY PRR #6200 TURBINE 6-8-6 THAT WAS A FAIL BUT COLLECTORS LOVE THEM

[grizzleybearz282004]

WELL I WAS NEVER AROUND FOR THIS OR FOR MANY OF THE OTHER GREAT ENGINES THAT RUNNING THE RAIL IN THE DAYS OF CLASS AND PRIDE BUT THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY RARE TYPE OF ENGINE AND IM GLAD THATS ITS BEING REDONE FOR YOU FOLKS

[MsSoundguy]

One of my big childhood memories was the Sunday my family took the Aerotrain from Lancaster to Pittsburgh. It was so much fun riding the Horseshoe Curve and seeing the engine pull the train of tomorrow. Plus, we lived beside the PRR, so I saw the train go by nearly daily. They're right...it was an exciting thing to see. Even the whistle was different, as I recall. Thanks for the memory.

[punkrockpickup]

My last comment is assuming that the Rock Island donated the train. It's possible that the train was bought at scrap value by the museum through donations, in which case it would be cheaper to get it without the engine (less weight for an engineless loco). Since the prime mover (engine) is a common one, it would be possible to eventually buy one to put in.

I should state that I'm not associated with this museum, and I don't know how they acquired the loco, or what their plans are for it.

[punkrockpickup]

@Modeltrainguy GM didn't take the engine out. The Rock Island probably did. The prime mover (engine) was the same that EMD (GM) were putting in their switchers (sw1200), so the RI probably kept it for spare parts for their switchers (assuming they had sw1200's) or sold it. In either case, it was probably the only thing on that locomotive that was worth money to them. It's just good that they donated the loco and cars. Those could have been scrapped too.

[punkrockpickup]

@Gravida12 One survived as a yard office for a while after the trains were taken out of service. I can't find the page where I read that, and I've never seen a picture of it as a yard office. In either case, they're both long gone by now :(

[fujitsulifebooke342]

They should put an engine inside i think