No,I never went to the Derby myself by train or any other way.
But lots of people did take the train to the Derby at one time.
So much so that Lousville became known each year as Pullman City. There was a neat and very complete article on this in TRAINS Magazine in the early 60's, I guess.
It meant: 1. lots of extra cars on regular trains and 2. complete extra trains. Railroads had lots of spare equipment at one time. Oh, yes, and of course, private cars.
People could use their sleeping car rooms as their hotel while in Louisville.Also extra dining cars and lounge cars for those purposes. I have no clue about the pricing, etc.
Used to be I could see extra equipment going through Chattanooga the night before the Derby.
Note that the pre-Amtrak railroads often had their own color schemes, so seeing the colors of the rainbow parked at the station would have been fantastic. Wish I had seen it even once in person.
About the only thing remotely resembling this might be at a large amusement park when you see all colors and kinds of buses, tour buses, etc. Not that buses are one millionth as interesting as trains but I trust you get the idea.
Of course there was a lot more rail use in the past than Amtrak gets today for other sports events and political conventions, etc.
But lots of people did take the train to the Derby at one time.
So much so that Lousville became known each year as Pullman City. There was a neat and very complete article on this in TRAINS Magazine in the early 60's, I guess.
It meant: 1. lots of extra cars on regular trains and 2. complete extra trains. Railroads had lots of spare equipment at one time. Oh, yes, and of course, private cars.
People could use their sleeping car rooms as their hotel while in Louisville.Also extra dining cars and lounge cars for those purposes. I have no clue about the pricing, etc.
Used to be I could see extra equipment going through Chattanooga the night before the Derby.
Note that the pre-Amtrak railroads often had their own color schemes, so seeing the colors of the rainbow parked at the station would have been fantastic. Wish I had seen it even once in person.
About the only thing remotely resembling this might be at a large amusement park when you see all colors and kinds of buses, tour buses, etc. Not that buses are one millionth as interesting as trains but I trust you get the idea.
Of course there was a lot more rail use in the past than Amtrak gets today for other sports events and political conventions, etc.