This probably sounds like a foolish question to pose - please be gentle as I am not knowledgeable about such matters - but why are some trains called "Limited"? Is it because there are limited stops or limited amount of carriages or what?
Is it only in the USA that trains are so-called?
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
That is a perfectly rational question, Stephen.
Presently, Amtrak uses three historical train names that include the term "Limited', namely Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited, and Sunset Limited. They do not represent that there is a level of service any greater than is found on the other Long Distance trains.
Historically, such a title did mean that this was the premier train over a route. Service and amenities offered by a railroad once varied widely amongst their passenger trains - and Limited implied the premier train with limited station stops, limited consists, and limited handling of ancilliary traffic such as Mail and Express.
As I recall in the UK, named trains implying a greater level of service and scheduling were such as "The Cornish Riveria Express', "Flying Scotsman", and "Golden Arrow" the latter being a straight line London to Paris and with a high level of service.
Posted by Stephen W (Member # 6059) on :
As always, thank you Mr Norman.
I used to see the Golden Arrow every day as it passed by the bottom of our garden in Kent en route for the coast - of course, in those days we didn't have the Channel Tunnel so passengers had to leave the train at the port, catch a ferry to France and then embark onto the Fleche D'Or for Paris.
I think, when I was in India in the 70's, we had some Limited trains but my memory dims.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
I recall in recent years that the Sunset Limited arrived in LA in excess of 40 hours late a few times. Someone on this or another forum, in recognition of the dubious honor of lateness being measured in days instead of hours, dubbed it the "Sunsets Unlimited".
Posted by amtraxmaniac (Member # 2251) on :
In the case of the Slugset, the term limited ought to imply passenger expectation.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Hey Gil -- didn't "Limited" initially imply that the train was "limited" to 1st class only? (all sleepers (or "all-Pullman") - no coaches)
--Rich K
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Limited also included all-Pullman trains, such as the Broadway Limited and Panama Limited. Limited seemed to mean "limited" from the banalities of every day railroading.
Somehow, I think there would be a few less train riding enthusiasts about if traveling from Florida, one had only the Palmetto or Palmland to ride to New York or the Seminole and Dixieland to Chicago.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
My understaing is that limited originally meant a limited number of stops, rather than stopping at every station.
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
That's what I always thought as well. Only ten stops on the 1938 Broadway Limited after all.