N Turbo Train Ua/Us DOT 3-Car Set
The United Aircraft TurboTrain is an important part of our railroad heritage.
The Turbo was a high-speed passenger train that operated in Canada and the
United States from the 1960s to the 1980s. To this day, it is the fastest
production train in North American history. It achieved the American speed
record of 170.8 MPH in 1967 and the Canadian speed record of 140.6 MPH in 1976,
both of which still stand today.
The TurboTrain was designed and marketed by United Aircraft Corporate Systems
Center (later Sikorsky Aircraft) as a gas turbine-powered, high-speed intercity
train. Each train was powered by four or five Pratt & Whitney ST-6 gas turbine
engines, with an additional gas turbine providing auxiliary power. The Turbo
featured a unique pendular suspension over articulated single-axle trucks, which
allowed the train to tilt in curves. That feature, combined with the short
Intermediate Car length, meant that the Turbo could travel much faster than
regular trains on conventional track. It was a high-speed train without the need
to invest in high-speed train infrastructure.
The American TurboTrain operated first for Penn Central and then toured the
United States in 1971 to introduce the nation to Amtrak. The Amtrak Turbo
operated mainly between New York and Boston until 1976. In Canada, the Turbo
operated first for CN and later for VIA Rail Canada. Operating between Montreal
and Toronto (and, for a time, Ottawa), the Turbo became one of the most reliable
trains in the country. Sadly, the Turbo era came to an end in 1982. Each and
every Turbo was scrapped.
The Rapido Trains Inc. N scale TurboTrain is your chance to recreate this
important piece of our railroad history on your own model railroad.
The Rapido Trains Inc. TurboTrain features:
Dont miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a piece of history!