Chicago Night Express

Chicago Night Express
The route of the Chicago Night Express (in orange)

The Chicago Night Express was an American named train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) on its route between Wheeling, West Virginia and Chicago, Illinois with major station stops in Newark, Ohio and Willard, Ohio. The B&O inaugurated the Chicago Night Express in 1912. It was discontinued in 1956 due to declining passenger demand.

Contents

History

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered in 1827 and grew to be one of the largest passenger railways in the United States, often by acquiring other, smaller railroads. B&O trains began operating between Wheeling and Chicago in 1880.[1]

From 1912 until 1956 the B&O provided overnight sleeping car service between Wheeling, West Virginia and Chicago's Grand Central Station on the Chicago Night Express, Train No. 45.[1] The reverse route, Train No. 46, was served by the Wheeling Night Express or the West Virginia Night Express, as it was later known. During World War II, the Chicago Night Express was consolidated with Train No. 9, the Pittsburgh-Chicago Express on the western end of the run from the junction at Willard, Ohio to Chicago. In 1946, the Chicago Night Express resumed independent operation from Willard to Chicago.[1]

Decline and end of the train

By 1956, as railroad passenger traffic was declining nationwide, the Chicago Night Express operated as Train No. 245 from Wheeling only as far west as Willard, via Newark, Ohio.[2] West of Willard, the sleeping car and coaches from train 245 were combined with Train No. 9, the Washington-Pittsburgh-Chicago Express, to Chicago.[2] B&O finally discontinued the Chicago Night Express on December 1, 1956, which ended passenger rail service between Wheeling and Chicago.

Schedule and equipment

Route and schedule

In 1947, westbound Chicago Night Express, Train # 9 operated on the following schedule (departure times at principal stops shown):

City Departure time
Wheeling, W. Va. 7:00 p.m.
Zanesville, Ohio 9:48 p.m.
Newark, Ohio 10:35 p.m.
Mansfield, Ohio 12:18 a.m.
Willard. Ohio 1:30 a.m.
Gary, Ind. 5:04 a.m.
Chicago (Grand Central Terminal) 6:15 a.m.
source: Baltimore and Ohio System Timetable, July 6, 1947[3]

In the 1940s, the westbound Chicago Night Express consisted of two or three head-ended cars, an RPO baggage car, a coach and a sleeper. Between Wheeling and Newark, Ohio there was a diner car. In 1947, the diner car was replaced with a diner-parlor car. The train was dieselized in 1956, the last year it operated.[1] By then, the train had a single 8 section-4 double bedroom sleeping car, a diner-lounge, a combine car and coaches.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Craig Sanders, Limiteds, Locals and Expresses in Indiana, 1838-1971. Bloomington, IN,: University of Indiana Press (ISBN 0-253-34216-3).
  2. ^ a b c Official Guide of the Railways. New York: National Railway Publication Co., February 1956, pp. 414, 426.
  3. ^ Baltimore and Ohio System Timetable. Baltimore: B&0 Press, July 6, 1947, p.31.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Night Express — The Night Express was an American named train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B O) on its route between Detroit, Michigan and Louisville, Kentucky with major station stops in Toledo, Ohio and Cincinnati. The Night Express was numbered Train… …   Wikipedia

  • Cleveland Night Express — The route of the Cleveland Night Express (in orange) The Cleveland Night Express was an American named train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B O) on its route between Baltimore, Maryland and Cleveland, Ohio with major station stops in… …   Wikipedia

  • Washington–Chicago Express — Route of the Washington–Chicago Express (in orange) The Washington–Chicago Express, an American named passenger train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B O), was one of four daily B O trains operating between Washington, D.C., and Chic …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago Bears — Current season Established 1919[1] Play in Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois …   Wikipedia

  • Night Falls on Manhattan — Theatrical release poster Directed by Sidney Lumet …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago Cubs — 2012 Chicago Cubs season Established 1870 …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago Reader — Type Alternative weekly Format Tabloid Owner Creative Loafing Inc. Publisher Alison Draper Editor …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago Bliss — Founded 2004 Based in Chicago, Illinois, United States …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago White Sox — White Sox redirects here. For other uses, see White Sox (disambiguation). Chicago White Sox 2012 Chicago White Sox season Established 1894 Based in Chicago since 1900 …   Wikipedia

  • Chicago Midway International Airport — MDW redirects here. For other uses, see MDW (disambiguation). For other uses, see Midway Airport (disambiguation). Chicago Midway International Airport Aerial view of Chicago Midway International Airport, a.k.a. the world s busiest square mile …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”