GM Aerotrain - St. Louis, MO - Locomotives on Waymarking.com

"The Failure of the Aerotrain"
By the 1950s, train travel was a mere shadow of its former self. Competition from the use of automobiles for medium-distance intercity trips prevented the railroads from increasing fares enough to cover soaring labor and material costs. Beginning in 1952, total passenger revenues began dropping significantly. The railroads saw a possible solution in the development of a stylish, comfortable train which would combine light-weight, high-speed and low operating cost. They felt that such a train would draw people from their automobiles back to train travel.

In 1955, General Motors proposed an answer: the Aerotrain. With air suspension and ultra-lightweight coaches, it was essentially a string of modified GM bus bodies on rails pulled by a 1,200 horsepower diesel engine. Styling was done by GM's Special Projects Studio and featured many GM automobile styling cues from the fifties, including multiple headlights, a wrap-around windshield, sweep-spear side trim in a contrasting color and an observation car/tail looking like the back end of a 1955 Chevy Nomad station wagon complete with wrap-around back window and prehensile fins. Two prototype Aerotrains were made; each consisted of a single engine with ten passenger cars.

The Pennsylvania Railroad leased the Aerotrain from General Motors and introduced it in February 1956. The train itself was very futuristic-looking and made everything else on the Pennsy look old fashioned. But the combination of extremely lightweight, short wheelbase coaches, single-axle trucks plus a bus-tuned air suspension caused the cars to 'almost beat the passengers to death' at anywhere near the designed top speed of 100 miles per hour. The railroad declined to buy any Aerotrains and turned the prototype back to GM after a year or so.

Each of the two prototype Aerotrains then toured the country in an attempt to sell the concept to various other railroads. But the same shortcomings were reported everywhere - the train of the future rode like an old truck. The Aerotrain was a dismal failure - nobody wanted one. In 1957, both prototypes were finally sold at a heavily discounted price to the Rock Island Railroad for Chicago commuter service where slower operating speeds would hopefully produce a less-rough ride. Both Aerotrains were retired from service in 1966 - worn-out and unloved after only 10 years of service.
~ abridged from "The View Through The Windshield - About Cars ... and Everything Else I See"
by Joe Sherlock (visit link)

A wonderful selection of vintage ads for the Aerotrain can be viewed on "Automotive Hollywood: The Battle for the Body Beautiful" (visit link)

Museum of Transportation website (visit link)

Locomotive Type: (required): Diesel Electric Do you need to pay an entrance fee to view this locomotive? (required): Yes If a fee is required what is the approximate cost for admittance? (optional): $6.00 for adults, less for kids and seniors How accessible is this locomotive display? (Required): Only touching is allowed. If "other" what is the engine type? (optional): Not listed

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