" THE TURBOTRAIN" 1968 SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT TILTING RAILROAD PASSENGER TRAIN PROMO FILM XD51594a

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This promotional film shows the TurboTrain (aka UAC TurboTrain) designed by United Aircraft Corporation. The prototype was entered into service in 1968. This concept tilting train was developed on aerodynamic principles and powered by aircraft-type gas turbine engines that would allow it to achieve high speeds. The film shows footage of demonstration runs noting the various innovations in travel the UAC TurboTrain presented.
The film opens with the TurboTrain zooming by at speeds over 170mph (:14). Footage follows of a web of highways intersecting over one another (:49). In order to bring the project to light it required two years of research (1:14). A 17 foot model is tested in a wind tunnel (1:22). Workers put together the aircraft type gas type turbine engine; the ST 6 by United Aircraft of Canada (1:34). The completed scale model of the engine is shown (1:42). This same engine could be used in boats (2:47) and stock cars (3:01). The engines are set into the dome sections of the train (3:18). A diagram depicts the inner parts of the train and engines (3:33). The third rail pickup is highlighted (4:12). The TurboTrain is comprised of aluminum sheets (4:21). Prior to it’s construction, employees scour over blue prints (4:48). The TurboTrain moves out for its first test run (5:22). It was tested for over a year. A single axle was used between cars (6:30) another innovation of the design. The conventional railroad passenger car is compared to the TurboTrain (6:54). The "power dome" car or locomotive is noted (7:31). The vehicle was specifically designed with ease of maintenance in mind (5:32) and it was equipped with bi-directional capability (8:57), as each end is a "power dome". The front of car and the nose door are pointed out (9:20). The camera pans around the interior of the aluminum sided train (9:37). Passengers are viewed eating as they might during in-flight service on an airplane (9:42). These operated frequently between Boston and New York on the New Haven Railroad (10:01). This train reduced travel by one hour (10:19). The Canadian National Railways added their own TurboTrains to run in Montreal and Toronto (10:25). Stewardesses assist passengers along the ride (10:43). This film was produced by Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Aircraft Corporation (11:21).
The UAC TurboTrain was an early high-speed, gas turbine train manufactured by United Aircraft. The trains, which featured articulated cars and cabs on either end of the train, operated in Canada between 1968 and 1982 and in the United States between 1968 and 1976. The TurboTrain concept wasn't a complete failure, but it wasn't an enormous success either. The rise in oil prices during the 1973 oil embargo made the gas turbine expensive to operate, and the trains were complex and needed a great deal of maintenance. Notably, the trains also did not operate at anywhere near their anticipated speeds, were noisy and not altogether comfortable for passengers. Amtrak disposed of the trains in 1980, and Canada ceased operations in 1982. All of the existing units were scrapped.
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[@kittymervine6115]

Love the music, it's like a Mannix TV show or something

[@MichaelJones-uw8gi]

Rode this train several times in early 70's. Loved sitting head end and watching engineer

[@oceanic8424]

How did you find the ride comfort, and noise levels in the cars?

[@BudTheDrummer]

I was 10' from the Turbo Train on the NY,NH&HRR in New Haven on Peck Street. To me it was the greatest thing. I loved how it looked in blue and silver. It was powered with jet engines made by UA Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford so I was proud of it. Unfortunately it was trouble prone, especially the engines. The two sets the NH had were scrapped. When it passed by, the exhaust looked, sounded and felt like jets flying by!

[@johneddy908]

Seven years after this film was made, United Aircraft was renamed United Technologies Corporation. In 2020, UTC merged with Raytheon Company to become Raytheon Technologies Corporation. The Sikorsky division is today part of Lockheed Martin.

[@MoonwolfeConsulting]

My parents took a turbo train once and it was a horror show. Broke down twice, Dad got "seasick " from the tilting and Mom said the jarring was like riding a bicycle with flat tires down the track.

[@jamesstuart3346]

CN Passenger Wet Noodle livery was spectacular

[@chevyj655]

0:15 WHOA!

[@marvintpandroid2213]

Groovy

[@altfactor]

The Turbotrain ran for awhile between Boston and New York, first by Penn Central, and then by Amtrak.

[@plhought]

This variant of Turbotrain was never operated by Amtrak. It was operated by Canadian National in Canada. The gas turbines were all developed in Canada.

[@dustoff499]

I'm not familiar with rail travel in America, but in Europe it was awesome. If we would only put a fraction of money towards rail travel as we do air travel I think passenger travel would be better served.

[@Don-cs7fe]

Talk to California about money for high speed trains

[@coloradostrong]

I have 3 of those jigsaws seen at 04:27 and they're made by Rockwell. Heavy as can be, and they have an all brass gearing system filled with oil. They were made for working on aircraft.

[@panzerdivizzion]

Far out music man! Those guys must have been some far out cats.

[@johnorlitta]

Around 4:46 they used music heard in the Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse cartoons

[@alphaomega8373]

Love every kind of trains! Toy or real or pictures :)

[@sherryhannah9262]

Alpha Omega me too one of my ex boyfriends Greg who had cerebral palsy was nutty about trains he had a big toy train display in his home

[@jayski8987]

Me too. My favorites are the old streamliners from the 50’s and 60’s

[@krashd]

The irony that the US is one of the only developed countries not to have high speed rail today is not lost on anyone.

[@jagboy69]

Yeah, I'm not getting on a train. They work well in Europe, but in the US, I drive.

[@johnbauer9628]

Amtrak Acela between NY and Albany does 110 mph. I guess that's not high speed enough for you

[@michaelsteele4587]

@@johnbauer9628 as do the Amtrak trains between Porter IN and Kzoo Michigan.

[@philipnasadowski1060]

It’s not considered high speed by anyone. Assuming those things even get to 110, which the jokes pulling the train can’t do with more than 6 cats, usually

[@uprr838]

@@johnbauer9628 Err … The Acela runs at 150 for a few miles on the NEC in MA and RI, slower elsewhere, AFAIK. Be neat to see it fly on the Hudson Line.

[@oceanic8424]

[09/15/22] An excellent idea that had lots of potential, but was never fully refined, and optimized. North America at the time was ahead of Europe in high speed train development. Inefficient usage of the platform did not fully realize its potential and it was withdrawn from service after a few short years. Yes, there were teething problems, and glitches, but those are to be expected from any advanced technology, especially entering the rail transportation industry which is traditionally old school, and old iron.

[@andrewk.7498]

🌞🌞🌞♥️♥️♥️I Love it

[@outlet6989]

Japanee railroad CEO, "Look what the Americans have made." Chief Design Engineer, "Anything they can do, we can do better, and ours will be faster." CEO, "What do you want to call it?" Chief Design Engineer, "I suggest we call it the Bullet Train."

[@vultschlange]

the turbo train came out after the Shinkansen, dude.

[@franzkoviakalak6981]

Shame none of these were preserved.

[@SkydiveHake]

Cant believe they went with gearboxes and differentials, etc.

[@K-Effect]

2:58 they used the wrong race car sound effect

[@johnp139]

And boat.

[@soundyourhooter1523]

I figured that screaming noise was truth behind the glamor. Who would want 3 seconds of startling engine noise in a rural community? A slow appear diesel rumble is common enough to actually get used to (train horns are a whole different problem since satin himself sounds them).

[@K-Effect]

@@soundyourhooter1523 I also think Satan created the bells/electronic siren used on the crossing gates. Those are the worst, what are they for, blind people with echolocation that can drive?

[@Hubjeep]

No mention of noise! Were they loud?

[@nycsguy]

Look at about 9:30. Frasier Crane's Dad would be right at home aboard this train...

[@TheChicagoL]

This video is both informative and nostalgic. When I was growing up in the late sixties, I do remember seeing still photos and show movie demonstration of this "new" railroad technology. But what I can't understand is, if this train had all the great features highlighted in this video, why was it not successful in boosting rail travel in the U.S. and Canada?

[@MemorialRifleRange]

'73 oil embargo.........

[@WA1LBK]

@@MemorialRifleRange It also had reliaiblity issues. I rode it once on the old New Haven mainline before Amtrak upgraded the mainline to welded rail; the "guided single axle" wheelbase of the coaches was about the same as a length of jointed rail, resulting in a noisy "ka-thump, ka-thump" at lower speeds. Being over to literally look over the engineer's shoulder in the power dome cars (just a glass partition between hgm & the passengers) was far & away the best part about riding them, especially for a rail buff. 😃

[@unconventionalideas5683]

There were various faults with the infrastructure, oil embargo, reliability problems, and other factors as well.

[@diegomontoya796]

The tubotorian. Excellent.

[@craigwiester9177]

The scene right at the end, the one of the lift-bridge in the distance, is on a CN line that, to my knowledge, the Turbo never operated.

[@Beemer917]

I saw a teacher one time pointing at a very very nice jet engine cutaway model like the one portrayed in the beginning of this film. He was actually doing just what the guy in the film is doing pointing at it while it ran with a rubber tipped maple stick. Unfortunately he got the stick caught in one of the compressor blades it got sucked into the model at about two RPMs and broke and then it just stopped the whole model. I don't think it would have stopped if a finger got caught in it though but apparently it was geared down some to the electric motor that was turning it. Pretty dangerous little model.

[@oaktadopbok665]

Top 10 things that never happened

[@xr6lad]

@@oaktadopbok665 pity one of them wasn’t your mum meeting your dad.

[@dant.3505]

@@oaktadopbok665 that's what I was thinking.

[@submechanophobia768]

This can happen. Displays of this type are usually shielded by plexiglass. Our museum received an cut away jet engine from a school and the shaft had been locked for the purpose of preventing injury. The tips of the blades are very sharp and can cause severe lacerations if fingers are put into the works, even at very slow speeds.

[@cats0182]

Remember AMTRAK's Rohr Turbo Train? That was an epic failure.

[@carlwedekind3868]

I worked at Super Steel Schenectady during the rebuild of the Rohr Turboliners (RTL) for Amtrak during the 2000's. They were fitted with Turbomeca engines and Voith transmissions. I was working in the Test Department at the time and was privileged to be able to commission three of the trainsets (each trainset was two powercars, two passenger, and one food service). They were extensively tested between Rensselaer, NY and Penn Station. For some reason Amtrak lost interest and they were mothballed in Delaware, I think. The other two trainsets were allowed to sit in Schenectady and were pillaged for copper wiring. Eventually, the unfinished trainsets went to the scrapyard. I don't know what happened to the mothballed trainsets. They made a big deal of it when the project started. Had a big shindig in front of our facility with Governor Pataki and other dignitaries. I built and tested passenger and freight locos that we built for GM's Electromotive Division, as well. One of the most interesting jobs of my career.

[@nycsguy]

I used to ride a Rohr Turbotrain between East Lansing and Niles MI (Port Huron - Chicago route). It seemed to be OK. There was one occasion, though, when the train keep slowing down and stopping, then starting and stopping. After one particularly long stop, it started up and kept going, but of course arrived at its stops late. Only after I was off the train, I learned from my father that there had been a fire in the engine.

[@nycsguy]

@@carlwedekind3868 I read that there is a trainset sitting near a highway somewhere in central Indiana, but I can't remember the name of the city.. A while back, there was a trainset outside a secondhand barn a little west of Michigan City IN, amongst old trucks and trailers, etc. When I saw it, it wasn't in great shape. I haven't been there in a long time, and the guy that owned the place has died, so i don't know if what he had has been redistributed, scrapped, or sold to a collector. I hope it was the latter.

[@trainsimulatordriver]

They lost me at right angle gear boxes then said they also have traction motors, now there's a lost opportunity. They should have generated electricity from the engines and used that to run the traction motors.

[@sentry_repair_mann]

Im gonna just call this thing the haul-ass

[@jamesthorne8488]

WOW! Why wasn't these trains put in full service with Amtrak ? major blunder!!!

[@midbc1midbc199]

CN is a Canadian train?

[@mittelfruh]

Yes, at that time, we had both CN an CP operating passenger trains. Via Rail took over in 1976 I believe.

[@maisonmallninja]

lmao, that thing was made of SO much aluminum

[@phil6506]

Train between Sydney and Brisbane is soo slow,mainly I think is the single track

[@er3ichuff335]

1968? When does "Laugh In" come on tonight?

[@coloradostrong]

Right after Hee-Haw and Hogan's Heroes.

[@er3ichuff335]

@@coloradostrong Now those three shows are some classic TV!

[@steven2212]

A beautiful, colossal failure.

[@RIXRADvidz]

United Aircraft logo looking like the United Artists logo.

[@ralf7817]

Turbo Car sounds like a V-8 at 3:00?

[@freedomforever6718]

Apparently the Turbo Train didn't get off the ground.

[@rtrobinson88321]

good one

[@Jay-vr9ir]

No it did not , but it caught on fire at least one time.

[@Telcom100]

Who's the narrator? Sound a little like John Forsythe.

[@mouser485]

You know, he does kinda sound like John Forsythe.

[@jeffbezdek2642]

Amazing narration!

[@Trumpholdings]

I thought maybe Bud Linderman.

[@dubdaze68]

What doomed it? Cost? The death of passenger rail and consolidation under Amtrak?

[@R32R38]

Mostly its high fuel consumption.

[@Dmitriy_Pivko]

So, where this turbotrain is nowdays?

[@diegomontoya796]

China.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Scrapped.

[@randyrosy]

TGV, ICE, Shinkansen, but do not know of any of that type in US/CAN

[@kingey71]

Look at those tin cans in your cupboard

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

Curious Droid does a great rundown of why this failed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mae6oJSihrOAqLc

[@theoldar]

I have never heard anyone say a kind word about this train. The ride was atrocious and the noise was excessive.

[@panam747]

It sure was a good idea!

[@sunsetlights100]

Running the compresses air cheap fuel

[@markfrench8892]

You forgot to mention that had a bad habit of catching on fire.

[@djjamar]

Bring them to California to run on the San Joaquin. Oh i forget CARB would have a fit

[@robertklein9190]

Over Xmas leave in 1964 at Ft. Gordon, train had single axel cars, every freight train passed us to NYC, even the buses beat us to Port Authority. Worst train ride ever, crew told us it was experimental, don't know if it powered by turbine at the time.

[@j.sterling9167]

And that's why, people, Sikorsky Aircraft was better known for it's Helicopters.

[@jamielacourse7578]

Talk about your brass- heavy opener..........my ears are ringin'........

[@xr6lad]

Great idea badly executed

[@papabits5721]

Fires, soot coating the windows, parts shortages because of the war, brakes didn't work in the cold. And a few times there were breakdowns some wich lasted a year or more. It could not run at its top speed because of incurred level crossings, on it first trip to Montreal it hit a truck. CN sold off it's passenger service to VIA rail and they ran them till the 1980. All were replaced by diesel units.

[@LongTran-em6hc]

I was like, wait, what war? Then I remembered that I'm a Vietnamese and, right, THAT war.

[@AlexCab_49]

Didn't the Soviets also try the same thing in that period before giving up and continuing with electric trains?

[@moefuggerr2970]

Too bad that did not become accepted.

[@Beltane70]

Sounds like they just should have saved money and asked Japan to just make bullet trains for them since Japan had been running bullet trains successfully for almost five years before them!

[@Neville60001]

Where would they get the current to run said trains?🙄

[@alwayscensored6871]

I wonder why they never took off.

[@jonathanbabb5559]

They forgot to attach the wings

[@ponkkaa]

Turbine engines are noisy as heck. That might have had some effect on its popularity.

[@BrassLock]

"Stop Whining", said the passengers. "I can't help it", said the turbo train. "I'm a Pratt & Whitney Gas Turbine, and we whine all day and night", he explained.

[@ponkkaa]

@@BrassLock 🤣

[@youmakeitreal]

@@jonathanbabb5559 you beat me to it😄

[@teacher555555]

this train was designed to fail from the start.

[@danielkennedy1524]

Anyone out there know why it failed? There was much $$$ spent in its development!

[@Bendigo1]

Most likely too expensive to build and maintain compared to what it earned.

[@voidjavelin23]

bonus with their turd quality suspension and with the turbine consuming many gallons of fuel plus being nototrious for bay fire

[@worldcomicsreview354]

USA (and, to an extent, the UK): Lets try to innovate with strange expensive trains. Japan, France, Germany etc: Let's just make a normal train, but more so.

[@Don-cs7fe]

Passenger train companies were going bankrupt around 1968. Not the best time for a teething newcomer.

[@LucDesaulniers1]

And braking down all the time

[@tuffguy428]

Braking is good, breaking is bad.

[@stealthfighter2923]

Spoiler alert, it’s not a success

[@MrCheeto01]

Must have been an epic failure

[@austinlawler3739]

Yes and no. It was modeled after the Shinkansen in Japan, which was the first true high speed train (the precursor to the bullet train.) There are many reasons why it never took off. Passenger rail service by then was in horrible shape, and was hemorrhaging money. Amtrak took over passenger rail service in 1971. The top speeds were not possible most of the time due to the horrible track conditions as railroads were not investing in maintenance. While the train was unique, it did have reliability issues. There are other reasons as well, but these are just some of the issues it faced.

[@MrCheeto01]

@@austinlawler3739 so it was an epic failure

[@austinlawler3739]

@@MrCheeto01 not an epic failure, a lot came down to just the time it came out. If tracks were in better shape, if passenger rail service was actually good back then, it probably could have lasted a while. It is not unusual for new trains to have issues, even for years after they first come out. Most of the time the issues can be fixed. This still happens today with trains and transit systems.

[@MrCheeto01]

@@austinlawler3739 I get it now . . . if you ignore current conditions of the time such as known facts such as bad tracks, limited customers it wouldn't have been an epic failure like it was . . . maybe it's a "victim"

[@danielskira8861]

the music is horrible.

[@Don-cs7fe]

Typical late 60’s background music

[@steveb60879]

Isn't a turban Sikh headgear?

[@gpicken]

Beginning of the end of the US empire. Dropped high-speed rail thecrest of the world especially China ran with it. Same same for smart grid and space flight. So sad but as the empire eats the republic history rhymes.

[@plhought]

This train never operated in USA.

[@voidjavelin23]

​@@plhought it did silly

[@curtislynch8189]

Buses and trains make several stops and are for poor schmucks that live in large metropolitan areas or don’t have a car.

[@mxr572]

Canada/USA cannot build or run hi speed trains.

[@johnhall8364]

Those trains were utter junk. Endless suspension failures and more alarmingly engine bay fires. They were all out of service after a few years