Old Timer's Airline Quiz and Discussion.
Mar 5, 2024, 6:02 pm
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 1,263
Bonus question: Which was the last all-Pullman (sleeper) and all-Pullman (parlor car) train in the U.S.?
I'm thinking the last all-sleeper train may have been Santa Fe's Super Chief. Though historically an all-Pullman train, by the late sixties the Santa Fe began to combine the Super Chief and the all-coach El Capitan. During peak periods however, I recall hearing that the Chief was operated as a separate all-sleeper train as late as 1969. I might add that I say "All-sleeper" because Pullman ceased operating at the end of 1968. If we're talking "all Pullman"... I dunno... maybe the Broadway Limited.
As for all-Parlor, I have no idea. Probably somewhere back east in the Northeast Corridor...
I'm thinking the last all-sleeper train may have been Santa Fe's Super Chief. Though historically an all-Pullman train, by the late sixties the Santa Fe began to combine the Super Chief and the all-coach El Capitan. During peak periods however, I recall hearing that the Chief was operated as a separate all-sleeper train as late as 1969. I might add that I say "All-sleeper" because Pullman ceased operating at the end of 1968. If we're talking "all Pullman"... I dunno... maybe the Broadway Limited.
As for all-Parlor, I have no idea. Probably somewhere back east in the Northeast Corridor...
Santa Fe's Chief ran until 1968, but it already conveyed coaches in the mid-1950s. The Super Chief was billed as an all-sleeper train until 1971, but in fact after 1958 it was only an appendage of Santa Fe's all-coach El Capitan in the off season.
And, even more surprisingly, the last all-Parlor Car train was the Friday-only Long Island Railroad's Cannonball (Jamaica-Montauk). I think the all-parlor consists ran until the depression. The 1930 Official Guide of the Railways shows the Cannonball (along with half a dozen other trains) with parlor cars, but does not mention "parlor cars only" as was still the case with several other railroads, e.g., PRR, NYNH&H. I remember reading about the all-parlor Cannonball running after World War II, and in the mid-1970's I saw it in Jamaica with eight parlor cars and three coaches.
Last edited by Track; Mar 6, 2024 at 5:20 pm
Mar 6, 2024, 10:16 am
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 315
Mar 6, 2024, 1:06 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,835
Mar 6, 2024, 4:13 pm
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 315
I was aware that Leadville is higher than Telluride, but I did not know that Leadville once had commercial service.
Mar 6, 2024, 11:03 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,171
16. What is the highest elevation airport in the U.S. to have been served by scheduled airline flights?
I'll guess TEX for this one. Telluride currently has Denver Air Connection service (perhaps seasonal? I'm not sure).
Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) sits at 9,078 feet. Were the question worded say - currently served by scheduled airline flights - I suspect TEX would be correct. However, given the wording - to have been served - brings the past into play, and as such there was an airport (still is, actually, though it no longer receives scheduled airline service) that's almost 900 feet higher than TEX. I've been to both airports - though have never flown into either - and given its spectacular setting, Telluride's airport, situated on a high plateau, definitely gives the appearance of being the highest. Leadville's airport sits in a high, broad valley, in the shadow of Colorado's two highest peaks.
I'll guess TEX for this one. Telluride currently has Denver Air Connection service (perhaps seasonal? I'm not sure).
Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) sits at 9,078 feet. Were the question worded say - currently served by scheduled airline flights - I suspect TEX would be correct. However, given the wording - to have been served - brings the past into play, and as such there was an airport (still is, actually, though it no longer receives scheduled airline service) that's almost 900 feet higher than TEX. I've been to both airports - though have never flown into either - and given its spectacular setting, Telluride's airport, situated on a high plateau, definitely gives the appearance of being the highest. Leadville's airport sits in a high, broad valley, in the shadow of Colorado's two highest peaks.
Mar 6, 2024, 11:31 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,171
16. What is the highest elevation airport in the U.S. to have been served by scheduled airline flights?
I believe this is the airfield serving Leadville, Colorado. And I recall seeing a Rocky Mountain Airways DHC-6 Twin Otter at the Leadville airport many years ago.
Correct! Leadville Airport, a.k.a. Lake County Airport (LXV) , sits at 9,934', making it the highest airport in North America. And yep, as noted RMA did once serve LXV. RMA was the launch customer for the de Havilland Canada DHC-7, though I don't believe Leadville's population ever warranted the use of the larger aircraft.
Leadville hasn't had commercial air service since the nineties, I think. Aspen's airport (ASE) is only 29 miles from Leadville, but via Independence Pass (12095') only accessible during the summer and early autumn. Otherwise, you can take US 24 up over Tennessee Pass to I-70, turn left and end up at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) 62 miles away.
I believe this is the airfield serving Leadville, Colorado. And I recall seeing a Rocky Mountain Airways DHC-6 Twin Otter at the Leadville airport many years ago.
Correct! Leadville Airport, a.k.a. Lake County Airport (LXV) , sits at 9,934', making it the highest airport in North America. And yep, as noted RMA did once serve LXV. RMA was the launch customer for the de Havilland Canada DHC-7, though I don't believe Leadville's population ever warranted the use of the larger aircraft.
Leadville hasn't had commercial air service since the nineties, I think. Aspen's airport (ASE) is only 29 miles from Leadville, but via Independence Pass (12095') only accessible during the summer and early autumn. Otherwise, you can take US 24 up over Tennessee Pass to I-70, turn left and end up at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) 62 miles away.
Mar 7, 2024, 8:56 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA — the REAL Washington; occasionally (but a lot less often than before) in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K (closing in on 0.5MM)
Posts: 21,636
Mar 7, 2024, 1:33 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,835
Well, I could not find a photo of a Rocky Mountain Airways DHC-6 Twin Otter at the Lake County Airport in Leadville, Colorado.
But I did find this photo...
https://www.airliners.net/photo/unti...a-150/429012/L
The Continental Divide is in background.
BTW, the highest mountain peak in Colorado is located near Leadville, being Mt. Elbert with a summit elevation of 14,433 feet.
But I did find this photo...
https://www.airliners.net/photo/unti...a-150/429012/L
The Continental Divide is in background.
BTW, the highest mountain peak in Colorado is located near Leadville, being Mt. Elbert with a summit elevation of 14,433 feet.
Last edited by jlemon; Mar 7, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Mar 7, 2024, 6:55 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,171
Mar 7, 2024, 7:11 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA — the REAL Washington; occasionally (but a lot less often than before) in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K (closing in on 0.5MM)
Posts: 21,636
- PA
- TW
- BA
- LH
- AF
Mar 7, 2024, 10:35 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,171
13- second guess (JL certainly wasn’t any earlier, so I’m presuming AF is out of sequence and LH was indeed the fourth customer):
- PA Correct!
- TW Correct!
- BA Incorrect
- LH Correct!
- AF Incorrect
Mar 8, 2024, 5:33 am
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA — the REAL Washington; occasionally (but a lot less often than before) in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K (closing in on 0.5MM)
Posts: 21,636
Mar 8, 2024, 3:59 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,171
13. Can you list – in order – the first five airlines to receive Boeing’s 747?
Okay then, let’s try NW as the third and United as the fifth
Okay then, let’s try NW as the third and United as the fifth
- Pan Am Correct!
- TWA Correct!
- Northwest Incorrect
- Lufthansa Correct!
- United Incorrect
Mar 8, 2024, 10:38 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA — the REAL Washington; occasionally (but a lot less often than before) in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K (closing in on 0.5MM)
Posts: 21,636
I will promote JAL to third position and move Northwest as number 5, thus:
- PA
- TW
- JL
- LH
- NW