https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/9265d7db-c9cc-442c-a11a-22e93679e17a Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com Produced by Sikorsky Aircraft for Amtrak in 1971, "Tour of the Turbo" follows the debut trip of the brand new Turbotrain. This film was photographed by Bob Murray and Bob Grasso, with a script by Paul Burton, narrated by Matthew Warren, and features a song by the Sugar Bears. The Turbotrain was a concept tilting train that was developed on aerodynamic principles and powered by aircraft-type gas turbine engines that would allow it to achieve high speeds. The trains, which featured articulated cars and cabs on either end of the train, operated in Canada between 1968 and 1982 and in the USA between 1968 and 1976. The TurboTrain concept wasn't a complete failure, but it wasn't an enormous success either. The rise in oil prices during the 1973 oil embargo made the gas turbine expensive to operate, and the trains were complex and needed a great deal of maintenance. Notably, the trains also did not operate at anywhere near their anticipated speeds, were noisy and not altogether comfortable for passengers. Amtrak disposed of the trains in 1980, and Canada ceased operations in 1982. All of the existing units were scrapped. 00:00: Over 100 years ago, the train arrived, solving transportation problems. 1:11: 100 years later, a new transportation problem arises. 2:40: In 1971, the Turbo Train is introduced, resembling a wingless airplane, offering comfortable amenities.3:12: The Turbo Train tour is sponsored by the US Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and Sikorsky Aircraft. 4:02: The tour aims to gather passenger feedback on the Turbo Train. Passengers express positive experiences. Public interest in the Turbo Train is high, with large crowds gathering at stops. The tour begins in Providence, RI. The train is used as part of regular Amtrak service to gain feedback from paying passengers. 5:22: Passengers and guests share positive reviews of the train. School children are brought to see the train. The Turbo Train features a pendulous banking suspension system and aircraft-type gas turbine engines. 6:35: Official ceremonies are held in many cities to greet the train. Media covers the tour, and the train attracts photographers. 7:53: Passengers comment on the smooth ride and consider it the "train of tomorrow." The Turbo Train travels across the US, from the East Coast to the West Coast and back, including demonstration runs. 8:45: Passengers enjoy the scenery, and officials note the public's enthusiasm for train travel. This train is one of two built for a high-speed transportation program, previously operating between Boston and New York. 9:33: The train reached 170 mph in testing. A section of track was modified for high-speed testing. The train operated at 157 mph on standard rail in testing. 10:38: The Department of Transportation made an engineering assessment. The public liked the features and interior. The tour suggests this type of train can bring people back to rail travel, particularly in non-electrified corridors. 13:12: The Turbo Train is low-pollution, uses existing rights of way, is lightweight, and uses clean-burning engines. Amtrak co-sponsored the tour to gauge public reaction to new rail equipment, and they were very pleased with the turnout. 14:09: Hundreds of thousands saw the train, 150,000 toured it, and 7,000 rode it. Traffic jams occurred at train stations. The train travels across the country, even through mountains, attracting photographers. 15:32: Passengers praise the comfort, amenities, and views of the train, hoping for more like it. 16:23: A transportation enthusiast praises the Turbo Train's innovation and comfort. Political leaders visited and rode the train. 17:25: Officials emphasize the need for expanded rail service due to overcrowded highways and skies. 17:53: People everywhere came to see the train, even chasing it by boat, car, and airplane. The tour ended on time, having traveled over 12,000 miles, visited 134 cities in 28 states and DC. 18:52: Hundreds of thousands of Americans saw the train. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS-L6h7E_dk Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:29:58 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/9265d7db-c9cc-442c-a11a-22e93679e17a All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.