Re:RE: (erielack) Lackawanna Lightweight Coaches

["Janet & Randy Brown" <jananran_@_mymailstation.com>]

Ed -- The main difference was the number and type of seats.  The Erie cars had Heywood-Wakefield "Sleepy Hollow" reclining chairs which were specifically designed for overnight runs, and they had no more than 52, spaced on a 44" pitch, in most cars.  The Lackawanna lightweights had 62 seats, spaced much closer together.

The Erie cars were heavier and seemed to me to ride smoother. Have any of the Erie heavyweights survived?

Randy Brown
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LAST NIGHT I REMEMBERED WHERE I GOT THE IDEA THAT THE LACKAWANNA LIGHTWEIGHT COACHES HAD PROBLEMS.  IN THE SPRING OF 1972 WILLIAM D. MIDDLETON WROTE AN ARTICLE IN "TRAINS" ABOUT RIDING THE ERIE AND ERIE-LACKAWANNA BETWEEN CHICAGO AND JERSEY CITY HOBOKEN.  HE MENTIONED THAT HE WOULD BE ONE OF THE FEW PASSENGERS WHO WOULD MAKE THE END-TO-END TRIP.  HE COMPLAINED THAT AFTER THE MERGER THE OLD ERIE REBUILT COACHES WERE REPLACED WITH THE LACKAWANNA CARS WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS DESIGNED MORE FOR DAY-COACH PASSENGERS.  HE MENTIONED THAT THE ERIE CARS WERE BETTER FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL.  ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?

ED MONTGOMERY

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