The 1926 Cardinal's Train

The 1926 Catholic Cardinal's Train to Chicago

Equipment Roster of the 1926 Cardinal's Train

*	*	This list is a work-in-progress -- and probably always will be. Any additions or corrections, please email.
		The Cardinal's Train consisted of a locomotive and seven cars supplied by Pullman. Painted in cardinal red (including the wheels and running gear) with gold trim and lettering, the train was soon dubbed "The Red Special". After their journey, the cars were repainted, renamed, and returned to normal service.
*	LOCOMOTIVES	LOCOMOTIVE NOTES
1162		New York Central 1162 -- T-2a electric locomotive, pulled the train out of Grand Central Terminal in New York City due to smoke restrictions, but soon handed the duty off to a steam locomotive at Harmon, NY. As a side note, the Golden Spike Centennial Limited started off the same way 43 years later -- an electric start from GCT, only to be taken over by steam at Harmon.
4899		New York Central 4899 -- a K-3b 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive. This locomotive was likely the third locomotive to pull the Cardinal's Train, following the T2-a electric and another NYC Pacific steam locomotive. Locomotive 4899 definitely pulled the freshly-shopped red train from the Pullman plant in Chicago to Buffalo, NY on the way to receive the cardinals in NY. It was likely then spruced up in Buffalo before hauling the train to Chicago's Park Row Station with the cardinals on board their 'special section' of the 20th Century Limited. Both steam locomotives that pulled the train with the cardinals aboard were said to be freshly painted. Tires, wheels and running board edges on the locomotives were repainted aluminum, as were the tender wheel rims. Metalwork that was showing was highly polished. It stands to reason 4899 would receive this treatment in Buffalo immediately before taking over on the loaded train coming from Harmon behind another Pacific type. Special thanks go to Karl Kirkman, Carl Horst and R.L. Stoving for much of the research on the Cardinal's Train locomotives. If you know the second locomotive's number, please email.
*	CARS	CAR NOTES
1		CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON. Former Pullman heavyweight baggage-club car EAGLE CLIFF. The car was named for Charles Carroll who was not only a Catholic leader, but a director of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad -- and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
2		CARDINAL BONZANO. Former Pullman 10-compartment car sleeping SUNDERLAND. The car was named for Cardinal Bonzano, the Papal Legate who traveled from Italy to attend the XXVIII International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago. At the time, as personal representative of the pope, he was the highest ranking member of the Roman Catholic clergy to ever set foot in the United States.
3		CARDINAL HAYES. Former Pullman 6-3 heavyweight sleeping car GLEN RIVER. The car was named for the Archbishop of New York.
4		ST. MARY OF THE LAKE. Pullman heavyweight dining car #16, lettered 'New York Central' only for this trip. The chefs, of course, were hand-picked for this assignment. Chartered in 1844, the University of St. Mary of the Lake was and is the principal seminary and school of theology for the Archdiocese of Chicago. After the 'Red Special', the car was returned to Pullman paint and service until sold to the Erie in 1930.
5		BISHOP QUARTER. Former Pullman 6-3 heavyweight sleeping car GLEN FLORA. The car was named for the first Chicago Bishop.
6		FATHER MARQUETTE. Former Pullman 6-3 heavyweight sleeping car GLEN ELLYN. The car was named for the famous missionary/explorer from the Midwest.
7		POPE PIUS XI. Former Pullman heavyweight private car SUPERB. The car served as the private car for Cardinal Bonzano, who presided over the XXVIII International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago. The car was named for the sitting Pope. Today, the car is the second oldest steel private car in existence. It has been in the collection of the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia since 1967 as Seaboard Coast Line 301 SUPERB.
*	*	Acknowledgments
*	*	Research resources include: Keith Muldowney, Arthur Dubin, Pullman Company, Arthur Miller & Steve Vignocchi & David W. Mattoon of Lake Forest College, Karl Kirkman, Mary Jayne & John Z. Rowe, Jerry LaBoda's Passenger Car Photo Index, Carl Horst, R.L. Stoving, New York Central System Historical Society. Many thanks to all who have contributed to keeping track of the histories of the equipment of the 1926 Cardinal's Train!