Remember the red-and-white diamond herald of the "The Pacemaker Service" of the New York Central was unique, it was a mix between "head end" and fast freight. Special Pacemaker Trains were dedicated to carrying LCL Merchandise. They used specially marked high-speed freight cars.
In 1946, the NYC offered overnight service between New York and Buffalo via BN-1/NB-2. This overnight service was resurrected after WW II with the name "Pacemaker" although BN-1/NB-2 ran on essentially the same schedule as the pre-War version which was established in 1935-36, but discontinued during the War.
In 1948-49, BB-1/BB-2 was started to serve the B&A. The Boston-Buffalo Pacemaker trains served Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield, Albany, Utica, Rochester & Buffalo while the New York Pacemakers served NY, Yonkers, Albany, Utica, Syracuse & Buffalo. The New York & Boston Pacemakers connected at Albany, Utica and Buffalo. Around this time, NB-1/BN-2 also served Cleveland (NB-1 arrived at Collinwood around 1 pm next day, while BN-2 left Collinwood in the early afternoon.)
"Pacemaker Service" was extended beyond the terminal points of NB-1/BB-1/BN-2/BB-2 using "ordinary" freight symbol trains and local freights/yard transfers to reach points such as Watertown, Malone, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Detroit, Jackson, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Toledo, Elkhart, South Bend Chicago (Polk Street), Columbus, Springfield, Indianapolis, East St. Louis, Cincinnati & Charleston WV according to NYC's 1951 Merchandise Car Schedule.
By 1957, Pacemaker Service had been dropped, or replaced in kind by Early Bird Service. Hence, PACEMAKER cars became just another boxcar in NYC parlance. - From DTI406 and our thanks.
The original Pacemaker cars were green. 200 brown temporary Pacemaker Service cars were added in 1953. These cars also had a star below the herald that indicated the car was supposed to remain on NYC home rails. I am wondering how long these 200 temporary cars remained in Pacemaker service? Also, was the star removed in the mid-to-late 1950's as the boxcar shortage ended, or did the Pacemaker cars keep the star since they were specialized equipment? How effective were the stars on keeping the cars on home rails?
Marx made five different types of couplers between 1934 and 1974. If you’ve never seen Marx couplers explained before, here’s a primer on how to identify them and use them together. And I even have a few repair tips if you need them. You’ll see tab and slot couplers more often than any other type. Some people also call them hook and slot couplers, or simply hook couplers. Marx introduced this style of coupler in 1936 and continued to use it until the end in 1974, although Marx relegated it to locomotive-to-tender connections after 1972. Marx may or may not have used it longer than anyone else, but they were the last of the big-name train manufacturers to stop using it in the United States. It wasn’t very realistic, but it was inexpensive and effective. It’s also compatible with a number of other coupler types, so a Marx car outfitted with these couplers makes a useful transition car so you can run more than one type together.
Marx had some variants on this design. Cars intended for electric train sets had their couplers attached via a brass eyelet. Cars intended for clockwork-powered train sets had their couplers attached via tabs or a dimple that allowed them to slide. Clockwork locomotives like some slack in the couplers, as it makes it easier to get the train started. Electric sets work better without that much slack. The small amount of slack you get from fixed couplers is adequate for electric sets.
The tilt - fork coupler dates to 1942. Marx kept making it all the way to the end of its train production, in 1974. It was Marx’s top of the line coupler. All of the train makers wanted a coupler design that could automatically couple or uncouple so as to improve play value. The tilt - fork coupler was Mars's second and more successful effort. The tilt-fork couplers will automatically mate by running the cars into each other, as long as their height is close. It’s a good idea to check your metal tilt couplers’ height against a plastic tilt coupler for smoother running. You can adjust the height slightly by gently bending the coupler up or down.Later tilt couplers made of plastic had a slot in them to make them compatible with tab and slot couplers. When Jim and Debby Flynn licensed the name Marx Trains and started producing trains in the old Marx style, they included a slot in their metal coupler. Some hobbyists cut a slot in their metal couplers with a Dremel cut-off wheel so they can attach a tab and slot coupler to them. A small cut at the back of the existing opening suffices. ** SiliconeUnderground - Dave Farquhar
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