American Heritage: New York Central’s M-497 Jet Powered train!

In the long and sometimes wacky technological history of USA, here is one antique piece that is probably forgotten and lost. Considering the number of strange stuff that are already in the vaults, I suppose it is hard not to miss anything, but this surely deserves a mention not just for its sheer craziness but also the great utility it offered. This is the experimental version of the M-497 light rail passenger train and it still is a record holder in its category.

jet powered train

Searching for ways to attract passengers in the post-freeway era in which the number of people that took the trains dwindled drastically, Central was investing in several projects, including high speed rail. One of the questions that hung over the prospect was the whether or not the existing rails could handle high speeds. To answer that question, they built a high speed train - on the cheap. They basically decided that they were first going to see if the tracks could handle the scorching pace and then worry about trying to build high speed trains. Now that is sound strategy indeed.

Now they needed to build the high speed train in a hurry without much fuss in regards to new design or new modeling. The build came in the form of a US Air Force surplus General Electric J47-19 jet engines in a B36-H bomber engine pod planted on the roof of a modified Budd commuter car with a custom made, fitted cowling. They basically put a couple of jet powered engines to help the train skid ahead faster. Yup, they must have been inspired by the Road-Runner Show! On a high speed test run between in 1966 between Butler, IN and Stryker, OH, the M-497 reached a top speed of 183.681 mph - still the current high speed record for light rail in the United States.

With the rails proven capable of high speed transit, the experimental was dismantled and the M497 returned to civilian duty as an NYC commuter car, running the route between Poughkeepsie and Harmon for Metro North where it live until its sale to Conrail in May 1976. In an undignified end, the car was cannibalized for parts in Dec. 1977 and scrapped by Metro-North in 1984. Yup, that is a great story with a pathetic ending. I wonder why not a single person thought of preserving the original test vehicle and putting it in a museum. Economics I suppose, they always kill all fun.

Source: Jalopnik