Silver Comet (train)

Infobox rail line
name = "Silver Comet"
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type = Inter-city rail
system = Seaboard Air Line (1939–1967)
Seaboard Coast Line (1967–1969)
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start = New York City
end = Birmingham, Alabama
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ridership =
open = 1947
close = 1969
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linelength = convert|1089.9|mi|km
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gauge = RailGauge|ussg
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map_state = show

The "Silver Comet" was a streamlined passenger train inaugurated on May 18, 1947, by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (Seaboard Coast Line after merger with the Atlantic Coast Line on July 1, 1967). Before its inaugural run, the new train was christened by actress Jean Parker at Pennsylvania Station in New York City. [http://www.srmduluth.org/Features/magic.htm]

The train's daily service extended from New York via Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia to Birmingham, Alabama. From New York to Washington, the train was handled by the Pennsylvania Railroad; from Washington to Richmond, by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad; and by Seaboard from Richmond to points south.

The consist of the "Silver Comet" included baggage cars, coaches, Pullman sleepers, and a dining car between New York and Birmingham, along with through coaches and Pullmans to or from Portsmouth, Virginia, connecting at Raleigh.

Owing to declining passenger and mail revenues, the "Silver Comet" was discontinued in June 1969.

Following abandonment of the right-of-way of the "Silver Comet" route by SAL successor CSX in 1989, portions were converted to the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia and the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama.

External links

* [http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track1/silvercomet194706.html Silver Comet timetable and consist as of May 1947]
* [http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track1/extras/cometad194706.pdf Seaboard ad announcing the new Silver Comet, 1947]
* [http://www.cobbdot.org/cobb-trails.htm#Silver%20Comet Cobb County, Georgia, official site of the Silver Comet Trail]
* [http://www.cobbdot.org/cobb-trails.htm#Silver%20Comet Links to information and maps about the Silver Comet Trail and Chief Ladiga Trail]