View source for Trail Blazer (train)

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{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Trail Blazer''
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Trail Blazer keystone.jpg
| image_width     = 120px
| caption         = The keystone plate of the ''Trail Blazer''
| type            = 
| status          = 
| locale          = 
| predecessor     = ''[[General (train)|The General]]''
| first           = July 28, 1939
| last            = July 26, 1959
| successor       = ''[[General (train)|General]]''
| operator        = 
| formeroperator  = [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (1939–1959)
| ridership       = 
| website         = 
| start           = 
| end             = 
| distance        = {{convert|907.7|mi|km}}
| journeytime     = 17 hours
| frequency       = Daily
| trainnumber     = 76 (Chicago to New York<br/>77 (New York to Chicago)
| line_used       = 
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = 644 (14-car consist, incl. 72 Lounge seat)
| sleeping        = 
| autorack        = 
| catering        = Twins-Unit Dining Car
| observation     = Lounge observation car
| entertainment   = Radio broadcast, magazines and beverages
| baggage         = Combine Baggage car provided 
| otherfacilities = Extra lounge car at the front-end
| stock           = 
| gauge           = 
| el              = 
| speed           = {{convert|53.4|mph|0|abbr=on}}
| owners          = 
| routenumber     =
| map             = 
| stops           = 
# '''New York, NY (Pennsylvania Station) (ET)'''
# Newark, NJ
# Trenton, NJ
# '''Philadelphia, PA (North Philadelphia Station)'''
# Paoli, PA
# Lancaster, PA
# '''Harrisburg, PA'''
# Altoona, PA
# '''Pittsburgh, PA'''
# Canton, OH
# Mansfield, OH
# '''Crestline, OH'''
# Lima, OH (ET)
# '''Fort Wayne, IN (CT)'''
# Plymouth, IN
# Gary, IN
# '''Englewood, IL (Union Station)'''
# '''Chicago, IL (Union Station) (CT)'''
| map_state       = 
}}
The '''''Trail Blazer''''' was a deluxe all-coach train, inaugurated between New York and Chicago via [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] on 17:25 schedule operated by the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]. The trains departed New York City and Chicago every day at 4:30 pm and 3:00 pm, respectively, and arrived at the destination the next morning. The ''Trail Blazer'' was one of the first all-coach trains (along with the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe]]'s ''[[El Capitan (train)|El Capitan]]'') to provide premium services comparable to a Pullman train. The ''Trail Blazer'' name was first used in 1927 for the East St.{{nbsp}}Louis-Pittsburgh preferred freight VL-6. 

Two days before service began, the ''Trail Blazer'' equipment, including streamlined P70's, twin-unit diner, and observation designed by Raymond Loewy, were exhibited at Penn Station, made press runs to Philadelphia, and returned to New York on July{{nbsp}}28 after display at Philadelphia. On July{{nbsp}}28, 1939, service officially began, and was an immediate success. On July{{nbsp}}29, 1939, the first eastbound ''Trail Blazer'' arrived at New York World's Fair for a special ceremony.  Eastbound trips continued to run direct to the Fair. 

[[File:PRR S1 hauling the Trail Blazer.jpg|thumb|left|325px|[[Pennsylvania Railroad class S1|PRR S1]] #6100 hauling the Trail Blazer, PRR's premier, luxury all-coach train between New York and Chicago in Nov., 1942.]]

According to [[LIFE magazine]], reservations were made as far as six weeks in advance during the first month of service. The PRR felt very pleased with the performance of this new coach-only train. Instead of the eight-car consist originally planned, the train had to carry an average of ten.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=LIFE |date=August 21, 1939}}{{Title missing}}</ref> The number of passengers on the ''Trail Blazer'' frequently exceeded those of Pennsylvania's better-known train, the ''[[Broadway Limited]]'' and PRR's rival, New York Central's coach-only ''Pacemaker''.  New York Central's ''Pacemaker'' offered identical service and schedule but with ordinary heavyweight equipment inaugurated on same day. The ''Trail Blazer'' carried about 132,000 passengers in the first year and 175,000 in the second. In 1940-41 it sometimes operated in second and third sections.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baer |first1=Christopher T. |title=A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY ITS PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT |date=1941 |edition=April 2015 |url=http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1941.pdf |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref>

Historical photographic and films evidences showing that [[PRR S1]] #6100 "The Big Engine" was the preferred engine of this popular, highly profitable (It carried 35 times more passengers than [[List of Pennsylvania Railroad passenger trains|Broadway Limited]] in 1939, gross revenue equal to $2,260,000 in 1940 or ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2260000|1940}}}} in {{inflation year|US}}). The ''Trail Blazer'' was one of the longest and heaviest passenger train (more than 1000 tons) during the heyday of PRR's passenger services in the early 40s. Besides PRR S1 #6100, streamlined K4s, [[PRR S2]] direct-drive steam turbine engine #6200, and [[PRR T1]] were assigned to haul the train occasionally.

In 1948, PRR re-equipped the ''Trail Blazer'' with new [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] E8 Diesel engines, new lightweight P85b 44-seat coaches and new twin-unit dining car built by PRR's own shop and [[American Car and Foundry Company|ACF]]. In 1949, the westbound schedule shortened to 15 hours 40 mins. Due to rapidly declining demand, the Pennsylvania Railroad combined the ''Trail Blazer'' and ''[[General (train)|General]]'' into one service. However, their timetable continued to distinguish the two trains until July{{nbsp}}26, 1959, when PRR removed the  name ''Trail Blazer'' <ref>{{Welsh-Broadway}}</ref>

==Standard Consist in 1943==
According to the PRR's roster on November{{nbsp}}26, 1943, the consist of Train #77 [[List of Pennsylvania Railroad passenger trains|The Trailblazer]] had 14 rebuilt heavyweight passenger cars with streamlined features in total which including one PB70ER passenger baggage car, nine P70KR 56-seat coaches, one D70CR Kitchen Dormitory car with 18 berths for the staff and a D70DR full Dining car with [[Polaroid Corporation| Polaroid]] windows installed, one P70GSR 68-seat coach, and one POC70R coach-observation.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pennsy Streamliners: The Blue Ribbon Fleet |first=Joe |last=Welsh |date=1999 |page=54 |isbn=978-0890242933}}</ref> 

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Train Number: 76 The Trail Blazer, Westbound, Depart at 3pm

Destination: New York City, arrive at 9:25am

* [[PRR S1]] #6100 6-4-4-6 Duplex Steam Engine or [[PRR K4s]] Double Headed
* PB70ER Baggage Lounge Car (25 lounge seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* D70CR Full Dining Car (60 seats, 18 tables)
* D70DR Kitchen Dormitory (18 berths)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70KR Reclining Seat Coach (56 seats)
* P70GSR Reclining Seat Coach (68 seats) 
* POC70R Observation-Lounge Car (31 lounge seats, 16 dining seats, 4 tables)

Consist weight (minus locomotive): {{convert|2124700|lb|ST|0|abbr=in}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?sel=pass&sz=sm&fr=|title = PRR Passenger Car diagrams}}</ref>

==Motive Power==
Here is a list of motive power used on the ''Trail Blazer'':

*[[PRR GG1]] 4-6-0+0-6-4 electric locomotive (1939-1959, East of Harrisburg, electrified region)
*[[PRR K4s]] [[4-6-2]] type steam locomotive (1939-1948)
*[[PRR S1]] [[6-4-4-6]] type steam locomotive (1941-1946)
*[[PRR S2]] [[6-8-6]] type steam turbine locomotive (1944-1948)
*[[PRR T1]] [[4-4-4-4]] type steam locomotive (1942-1948)
*[[ALCO PA]] passenger diesel electric locomotive (1948-1952)
*[[Baldwin_DR-6 | BLW DR-6]] passenger diesel electric locomotive (1948-1952)
*[[Baldwin DR-12-8-1500/2|BLW DR-12]] passenger diesel electric locomotive (1948-1952)
*[[EMD E8]] passenger diesel electric locomotive (1948-1959)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{PRR named trains}}

[[Category:Passenger trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1939]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1959]]


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