CN Turbotrain Part 1 1970 Film

This is it. The 1970 24 minute film on the CN/UA Turbotrain. It is in 3 parts and it is taken from a digital master. The Turbo was Canada's first and only high speed train and this film is fantastic. Enjoy watching this great piece of Canadian passenger rail history. For more information go to: highspeedrailcanada.com

[@dgrollins]

My grandfather was the first person to drive this train. I grew up knowing about the Turbo and resentful that it was canceled. Honestly, I’m still resebtful. Today would have been grandpa’s 101st birthday.

[@PaulLangan]

Thank you for posting this comment.

[@tabhorian]

Thank you! The TurboTrain was a big part of my childhood. My father, Tom Wheaton was one of the design engineers at UAC back in those days. His partner in crime, Alan Cripe spent many a night for dinner at our house in those days. Later, Alan started BiModal/RoadRailer in West Chester, PA and I went to go work for him. After the program, my dad worked on the design of the MARTA system here. I think that Jack Healy came down for a while too, and several others of that team. Good days.

[@tjmfishing]

Like the Avro Arrow, the Turbo Train was truely a great Canadian invention that was years ahead of it's time.

[@Autostade67]

Damn, that thing looked futuristic! Even more spacey than the first generation Shinkansen.

[@briansokoloski776]

I have seen CN Turbo Train parked on the siding outside Toronto Union Station in the 1970s while riding with father on Lakeshore Blvd

[@Railrodder]

As a kid in the 1970's, I remember watching the Turbo fly through at the west end of Kingston! I will never forget seeing them. Have always been a railfan! Just wish I had been into photography at a young age!!! Where did you find this? This was a great documentry! Totally enjoyed it! Thank-you for providing it!!

[@jslasher1]

I flew from Chicago to Toronto for the inaugural CN Turbo train service from Toronto to Montreal and return. Later, I would travel on the Amtrak service from NY to Boston and Chicago to St Louis [this being a trail run] in the early 1970s. I missed the Washington to Parkersberg WV service.

[@mj1234321]

Truly an idea ahead of its time! This was a bit before my time, however. I did get to ride aboard the refurbished Rohr Turboliner in 2003, before Amtrak had it pulled from service and sent into long term storage. It's really a shame that none of the UA Turbos were preserved, and I hope that at least one of the Rohr Turboliners can find a home in a museum.

[@PatrickTomaszewski10]

This was an engineering marvel that we as a country did not capitalize on. The entire corridor should have been all Turbo trains with minor track upgrades, these trains could have easily run speeds over 100-120 mph (160-200km/h). After that, we could keep upgrading. This was decades ahead of its time.

[@nekomasteryoutube3232]

Me and my sister actually watched all of this, and though shes not a fan of trains like me, she though that a turbine powered train was rather cool :)

[@omniconcepts_7275]

When will North America ever have true High-Speed Rail again? We have lost the will, innovation, creativity, and imagination.

[@Highspeedrailcanada1]

You are right it will be tough. In Canada here is the latest on Waterloo Region- Toronto HSR www.highspeedrailcanada.com/2016/10/passenger-rail-innovation-corridor.html

[@alexanderip1003]

@@Highspeedrailcanada1 Here is an example of High speed Rolling Stock www.flickr.com/photos/8293801@N07/galleries/72157674034799033/

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

If you want a tgv or shinkansen here, it's never gonna happen

[@Steve_McMillen]

as long as the automobile industry has the upper hand especially when it comes to lobbying, we won't see any true high speed rail lines any time soon

[@nukinfuts1000]

Love the music

[@claudeboivin8207]

I rode on that train with my mom and my sister when I was a kid.

[@bluecomet390]

Great video. I remember this train. And now MTH is bringing out an O gauge model. I'm in heaven.

[@rondini2]

If it is any consolation, Canada, thru Bombardier, is now one of the leaders in high speed train designs. They built the Chunnel trains for example. shame none of their product is running on Canadian track.

[@howardchey892]

#bringBackTheTurboTrains

[@markpitz3800]

Amazing Ben McPeek soundtrack.

[@je19662008]

One great super-city stretching from Chicago to New York? Thank God that didn't happen.

[@Trainmaster909]

je19662008 Super cities are a horrible idea, just look at India and China. Not gonna go into too much detail, but they become impossible to get in and out of, and incredibly water & power stressed.

[@TheJDLonline]

California should consider using this form of technology versus it's conventional turbo diesel engines found in most all passenger locomotive trains in our state. This would save time, fuel, and be more efficient.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I do like the shared bogie designs here and tilt, but gas turbines on a locomotive are extremely inefficient.

[@kylemacmac2]

0 People like riding the current version of VIA better

[@Robbi496]

The funny thing is, that terchnology is way far ahead of this train now, even with the P42's, but it still was an awesome train and we sure needed some positive passenger train news in 1970!!!

[@LanceCampeau]

Paper tape @ 2:01 Classic!

[@sheltv100]

The narrorator said that costs remain low for building mass inner-city transportation in Canada's main street (401 corridor). Sure and Canada has missed out on that 42 years ago and all they can do is widen the 401 from Toronto to Windsor and further east past Port Hope. And they are still widening the 401 in Mississauga from Mavis Rd. to highway 410. Canada has fallen behind on rapid transit devellopment.

[@downeastrailfan]

From what I've read, the Turbo was a failure. It was rushed into production, not having been properly tested, and using technology unfamiliar to railroaders. It spent far too much time broken down and in the shop. Turbo was really a half way approach to high speed rail in Canada. True high speed requires electrification, a high speed dedicated route separate from freight and slower passenger trains, and elimination of road crossings.

[@Perich29]

cool just like the Supertrain at 4:10, I wish that they didn't scrap the trainset, instead of scraping the trainset, they should have stored it for 30 years and then remove the jet turbine out and put the diesel cumming engine on this thing, the same Cummings used on the Siemen Charger Locomotive.

[@LennoxAlexanderFrancisJr]

What's the mileage on that TURBO?

[@Autostade67]

I love seeing the Canada that was punch-drunk with pride after the dazzling success of expo '67 (which caught most Canucks by surprise); it was delirious, naive, Modernist, and idealistic. There has been a resurgence of a like-pride since the 2010 Olympics (and more recently with the political situation south of the border, but it lacks the sheer joy of the 1967-1980 period.

[@LOTIL62]

@ccaammiiittoo1 I wonder if it had something to do with the shape of the trackage in the US at the time (a lot of the eastern roads especially had tracks in terrible shape I heard, Penn Central in Particular), as well as freight taking priority on the host tracks in quite a few cases. AMTK possibly didn't give it enough time for all the teething issues to be worked out too (recall that early on, it was horribly unreliable). A shame, it was an awesome piece of engineering. :(

[@rexremedy1733]

I think high speed rail between large cities in the US is still technically and economically feasible. The largest distance is between New York ans Los Angeles about 2000 Miles. With a train at 400 to 500 mp/h even that distance can be crossed in 5 to 6 hours. Without the hassle of Airport Check in etc. So the traveling time would be comparable with an increased level of comfort. If this distance can be traversed economically, all shorter distances would be even more economical. You say 400 to 500 mp/h is not feasible? Just look to Japan and their maglev train which is being built and planned for these speeds right now. Of course this is a considerable investment. But more than just immediate gains are at stake here. Namely, national interest. Such a train can boost the entire national economy. Starting with the project itself.

[@MelioraCogito]

If you can, it might be time to re-upload the complete film as one video.

[@rondini2]

I think part of the problem with the whole Turbo Train idea was that CN did not have their hearts in it. They wanted out of passenger rail service.

[@PanekPL]

So where's the one great supercity?

[@am74343]

Today's turbine design is much more efficient than in years past. There's no reason why some company couldn't design a gas-turbine locomotive engine that runs on some kind of clean fuel like ethanol or natural gas. Ultra-high-strenth steels, aluminum and titanium components are already used in aircraft engines, and have been for the past 50 years. Why can't somebody make one for a train?

[@markpitz3800]

am74343 diesels are much more efficient and denser as well. 4300hp+ from a v12. Back then only 3000hp from a v16.

[@thornimation5492]

They should, at least, electrify the Toronto to Montreal main line. The population in southern Ontario and southern Quebec is high enough to support it, I say.

[@markpitz3800]

ThorniMation diesel would still be cheaper.

[@jamesstuart3346]

CN's passenger livery back then was classic...too bad VIA wrecked it

[@Rainer67059]

Whoelse is annoyed by the music because it sounds like a familiar theme? I'm annoyed if I don't find out what the more famous music is. I found out: The Flintstones