NYC M-497 Jet Train Presentation

[cjberndt]

This presentation will be at the National Automotive & Truck Museum (NATMUS), behind the ACD Museum on S. Wayne St., Auburn.

Sunday, January 27, 2:00 p.m. It's free and open to the public.

It has been 52½ years since M-497 set the still-standing rail speed record in the U.S., 183.85 MPH. It actually ran over 190, but 183.85 was the trap speed on the second run.

Craig Berndt

[Notch 8]

I put this on my calendar, Too bad this was scrapped I believe that it survived until like 1984. 190 mph on jointed rail nonetheless !

[cjberndt]

It was converted back to RDC-3 M-497 at Beech Grove shops in Indy, and the turbines were made into a snow blower. It was retired in 1976 and scrapped in 1984.

After it was returned to service, it could be identified by the steel plates that were welded on the radiator air intakes, visible below, after the first run. Exhaust from the gas turbines overheated the diesel engine cooling system and it shut down, which turned off the electric service, air conditioning and other hotel services. You don't open windows at 180 MPH.

Craig