Columbian (B&O train)

Columbian
The Columbian at Thomas Viaduct, Relay, Maryland
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	discontinued
First service	1931
Last service	1964
Former operator(s)	Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Route
Start	Washington, DC (1931–1941) Jersey City, New Jersey (1941–1958) Baltimore, Maryland (1958–1971)
End	[Grand Central Station (Chicago)
Train number(s)	25/26
Technical
Rolling stock	all coach w/diner and observation car
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The route of the Columbian (in orange)

The Columbian was a named passenger train operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was the all-coach supplemental train of the all-Pullman Capitol Limited. The train's initial route was between Jersey City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., but in 1941 the Columbian route was lengthened to Jersey City – Chicago, Illinois.

The Columbian between Jersey City and Washington was the first air-conditioned passenger train in North America. Air-conditioned equipment began operating on the train on May 24, 1931.^[1]

In 1949, a brand new lightweight Columbian train set for travel between Baltimore, Maryland, via Washington to Chicago was built. The consists were ordered from Pullman-Standard for April, 1949 delivery and these two train sets have the distinction of being the only all-new consists built for the B&O in the postwar period. These two eight–car streamlined trains were the only trains in the eastern U.S. to be equipped with dome cars.^[1] Although the pair were intended as a daytime operation between Chicago and Baltimore by way of Washington the two new trains entered overnight service May 5, 1949.^[1]

On April 26, 1958, the B&O discontinued all passenger service between Jersey City and Baltimore, Maryland, and thereafter the eastern terminus of the Columbian was Baltimore. By the early 1960s, the Columbian was combined with the B&O's formerly all-Pullman Capitol Limited between Washington and Chicago. When Amtrak took over train service on May 1, 1971, the B&O's combined Capitol Limited – Columbian was discontinued, along with all other B&O long-distance passenger trains.^[1]

Equipment used

The following are the two consists of the Columbian (1949):

• 87A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
• 87X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
• 1350 HARPERS FERRY Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory Buffet 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
• 5500 CONNELLSVILLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5502 GARY 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5550 HIGH DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
• 1090 AKRON 38 seat Dining Car
• 5504 MARTINSBURG 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5506 NEW CASTLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 3315 CHICAGO 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

Second consist:

• 88A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
• 88X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
• 1351 SILVER SPRING Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
• 5501 CUMBERLAND 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5503 LA PAZ 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5551 SKY DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
• 1091 PITTSBURGH 38 seat Dining Car
• 5505 McKEESPORT 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5507 YOUNGSTOWN 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 3316 WASHINGTON 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Harry Stegmaier, Baltimore & Ohio Passenger Service, Vol. 2 – Route of the Capitol Limited. Lynchburg, Va.: TLC Publishing, 1997 (ISBN 1-883089-00-X).