Found these views in a coffee table book, pictured below. I had never heard of this train before, but it is amazing! Does anybody else know more?
Either had I. A rather strange rig, with a conventional locomotive pulling streamlined cars. https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/umsl/islandora/object/umsl:314450#page/1/mode/2up
I heard of it, once, a long time ago. Apparently it really did reduce wind resistance. But it didn't reduce customer resistance, so it was considered a failed experiment.
https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/umsl/islandora/object/umsl:314450#page/1/mode/2up I found this after I posted. Apparently, as often happens, he was way ahead of his time. Very neat and unusual train! Which hardcoaler also posted!
Could this be the first example of a boat-tail observation car? The McKeen motor car had a pointed front and a rounded end, but this Adams design has a lot more in common with later streamlined cars of the 30's.
I think NYC Engineering Department was playing "what if" trying to reduce the Century's New York/Chicago time from 16 hours. They were envisioning speeds accomplished by the French TGV, but too far ahead of its time, like the Adams Wind Splitter. The M-497 Black Beetle was clocked at 183.85 MPH (295,9 KPH) which was amazing in 1966. The TGV didn't achieve 554,3 KPH (344.4 MPH) until 2007.
I can picture an NYC crew assembling at the yard office that morning and asking one another, "Does anyone know what this Extra M-497 we're marked up for is?"
Captain, are you sure you want to engage Warp Drive? SP has excellent track maintenance, but still.....