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New York to Los Angeles
Supertrain's Route
Map
Across the U.S.A.
What cities in the United States did Supertrain serve
on its journey between New York City and Los Angeles? Though a detailed map of the Supertrain route is neither seen
nor spoken of in the series, there is enough information presented in the episodes to draw a general outline of the
fictional route.
Backing up just a bit, let's first consider some basic
givens known about the train and its services. According to information presented in the first installment of the series,
Supertrain operations went from being announced to departing New York City for the first time in only 22-months. Though the
first episode suggests Supertrain is financed by the fictional Trans-Allied Corporation, the "Hail To The Chief" episode
has Harry Flood mentioning the federal money supplied to Supertrain to subsidize operations. Did Supertrain fail to
make profits after only a pair of episodes and come under government control by this third show??? And if the U.S.
government is subsidizing Supertrain, why didn't it get a coat of Amtrak red-white-and-blue paint? Given that Supertrain
is obviously used only by a small and elite group of the rich and famous, how could the government justify
spending tax dollars to support such an operation. Perhaps this is too much thinking.
There is only one set of Supertrain equipment
in service, an unrealistic and odd situation when one considers it, according to comments made during the episode "A Very
Formal Heist." Perhaps had the series been successful NBC could have created a group of programs similar to today's
"Law & Order" collection. We could have had "Supertrain-Eastbound" and "Supertrain-Westbound."
We know Supertrain originally departs New York City and it is stated
that the train travels at over 200mph on its way to California and its final destination of Los Angeles.
This much information is presented in the first episode. Episode Two-"And A
Cup Of Kindness, Too" provides Supertrain with a stop in Chicago, Illinois. Episode Three-"The Queen
And The Improbable Knight" has Supertrain pausing at Denver, Colorado. Rebecca Balding's character
boards Supertrain at a mythical town in Texas called "Desert Junction." Supertrain crosses Arizona
and New Mexico according to dialog from the final episode, "Where Have You Been Billy Boy?"
From the mentioned locations from various episodes, the map of Supertrain's route presented
on this page was created. A map is seen in the background in the episode "Pirouette," but never is the audience
provided a good enough look at this one and only view of the Supertrain route.
Arrival and Departure Times
From the information provided in
the first episode of the series, we find that Supertrain crosses the United States in 36-hours. The train displays shows
a cruising speed of 190mph. The display moves into the red after 200mph, but the gauge does show the possible capability
of 250mph as a top speed.
Supertrain appears to depart New
York's Grand Central in the early evening and arrives in Los Angeles in the morning. The turnaround time for the train
is given as only four hours. The down time between trips is stated at the conclusion of the first episode.
After a frightening arrival into Los Angeles that included guest star Don Stroud flying through and breaking a window in the
forward car, it is stated that the train must be ready to depart for NYC in four hours. So, in just four hours all the
compartments will have to cleaned and prepped; the train re-stocked; plus the hopefully non-standard task of replacing the
window.
The first episode of the series,
"Express To Terror," includes mention of the cost of riding Supertrain. Only $450 bought a ride from New York to Los
Angeles aboard a very roomy compartment aboard Supertrain in 1979.
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