Cruise Talk: Dover Harbor - Cambodge Opts for First-Class Travel

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»	Cruise Talk » Mid-Ships Lounge » Dover Harbor - Cambodge Opts for First-Class Travel

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Topic: Dover Harbor - Cambodge Opts for First-Class Travel

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 04-30-2005 08:25 PM

While techically not a "Sea Story" I think many of you will find Cambodge's recounting of his recent excursion back in time most interesting. Click here to read about the trip.

Thanks Bob for taking the time to share.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

nevadaflip
First Class Passenger
Member # 1682

posted 05-02-2005 12:39 PM

Nice story Bob. And thank you for being the one properly attired (coat & tie) for such a memorable trip.

Jerry

Posts: 280 | From: Minden, NV, USA | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 05-02-2005 08:03 PM

Thanks, Jerry. Actually it was for the dining room requirements at the Williamsburg Inn. But, kidding aside, first class used to mean just that. You have seen the posters for the Orient Express.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 05-04-2005 05:54 PM

Rather a luxurious way to travel, an excellent day out. 22 people to a carriage; wish our local trains offered such comfort, with those chairs

Thanks for the write up and the lovley photos.

My knowledge of trains would fit on 1/2 a postage stamp, so please forgive me if I should know, but what, if any, connection is there regarding the name 'Dover Harbor' to the real Dover Harbour and cruising? .. well got to keep things topical! Was there ever a 'boat train' to Dover Harbour station of the same name? Just curious.

Do Amtrak trains generally generally have a GPS system in their cars so you know your speed/position?

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 05-04-2005 11:27 PM

Pam: The name of the car has absolutely nothing to do with any Dover geographic reference in the UK or the USA. The Pullman Company named most of their cars based on their internal configuration. Those ending in “Falls” meant one type, those ending in “Ridge” another, those begining with "Mt." another and so on. When I was a kid, I would astound my father, who also had an interest in trains, by reciting the types of cars as a limited rolled past, so many open-section sleepers, so many double bedroom cars etc etc.

The DC Chapter’s History tells us that the “Dover Harbor” had a double life. It began in July 1923 as the “Maple Shade,” a combine baggage-library car, with four “open section” sleeping berths, a twelve seat lounge, a barber shop, and a twenty-eight foot baggage area. It weighed 81 tons; was painted in the Pennsylvania Railroad's standard colors (tuscan red); and operated in service at the head of that railroad's name trains, including the Broadway Limited and the Spirit of St. Louis for eleven years. In March, 1934, the Maple Shade was recalled into the Pullman Company Shops; was rebuilt into its current configuration of six double bedrooms, a buffet, and a lounge; and was renamed the DOVER HARBOR.

The DOVER HARBOR and eight other cars with this same configuration were built according to Pullman plan 4015, and were designated the Dover Series. Air conditioning, which was new to railroad cars at this time, was also installed. After rebuilding, the car, which now weighed 87 tons, was repainted to the standard Pullman green and gold livery that it wears so respendently today. Six of its original siblings still exist. Only the Dover harbor has been fitted for high-speed main line railroad operation. Given the margin constraints of the page, I have copied this little table.

"Dover Name" Former Name Fate
Dover Bay Adrian Circus World Museum
Dover Castle Delta Scrapped 3/59
Dover Cliffs Goshen Private: New Jersey
Dover Fort Ligonier RR Society: Ohio
Dover Harbor Maple Shade DCNRHS
Dover Hill Spruce Creek Scrapped 5/61
Dover Patrol Ripley California State RR Museum
Dover Plains Toms River Private: Wisconsin
Dover Strait Stryker Illinois Railroad Museum

I am reluctant to pull the discussion so far from the sea, but I did think it was interesting and worthy of mention. The survivor soldiers on, and I am privileged to have been part of her past and future.

And no, the GPS was installed to keep Chapter members and guests from extending their extremities out the windows of the vestibules, holding their personal GPS units. There may be some in some Amtrak inspection and official cars, or in the Acela Trains, but I have never seen them.

[ 05-05-2005: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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