New England States

This article is about the train. For the region, see New England.

The New England States was a passenger train operated by the New York Central Railroad and its successor Penn Central over the Water Level Route between Chicago and points east. The New York Central introduced the New England States on June 15, 1938, coinciding with the relaunch of the Twentieth Century Limited. The New England States was an all-Pullman train which ran from Chicago to Boston via Toledo and Albany. With the launch of the New England States the Twentieth Century Limited ceased carrying sleepers for Boston.^[1]

Following the Second World War the New England States gradually diminished along with the rest of the New York Central's passenger fleet. The train lost its all-sleeper status in the summer of 1949 with the addition of coaches; the New York Central withdrew its observation car in 1956.^[2] In 1954 a typical eastbound train carried Boston-Chicago and Buffalo-Chicago sleepers, while its westbound counterpart carried Chicago-Boston sleepers and a Pittsburgh-Boston sleeper which it picked up from the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Express in Buffalo.^[3][4] "Sleepercoaches", economy sleepers known elsewhere as Slumbercoaches, were added in 1959. The New York Central consolidated the eastbound New England States and the Pacemaker, a Chicago-New York train, on April 30, 1961.^[5] On November 5, 1967 the New York Central consolidated the New England States and Twentieth Century Limited west of Buffalo, a precursor to the latter's discontinuance one month later. In a major restructuring of passenger services the following day, December 3, the New England States lost its name (becoming known just by its numbers, 27/28) and began running with a mixed consist of coaches and sleepers between Chicago and New York/Boston.^[6]

The New York Central merged with its long-time rival the Pennsylvania Railroad on February 1, 1968 to become the Penn Central. On March 10, 1970, the Penn Central petitioned to end the former New England States, along with all other trains on its route.^[7] The passage of the Passenger Rail Service Act interrupted these proceedings, and the former New England States remained running until the start of Amtrak on May 1, 1971, when it was discontinued.^[8] Two Amtrak trains, the Lake Shore (1971-1972) and Lake Shore Limited (1975-present) provide service over the route.

Notes

1. ^ Sanders (2003), 77.
2. ^ Sanders (2003), 80.
3. ^ New York Central Railroad (September 1954). "Pullman, Coach and Dining Car Service". http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-ptt54p08.gif. Retrieved 2010-07-21. 
4. ^ New York Central Railroad (September 1954). "Pullman, Coach and Dining Car Service". http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-ptt54p10.gif. Retrieved 2010-07-21. 
5. ^ Sanders (2003), 80.
6. ^ Sanders (2003), 82.
7. ^ Sanders (2003), 82.
8. ^ Solomon (2007), 150.

References

• Sanders, Craig (2003). Limiteds, locals, and expresses in Indiana, 1838-1971. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253342163. http://books.google.com/books?id=X9IoXE2tSK0C. 
• Solomon, Brian; Mike Schafer (2007). New York Central Railroad. MBI. http://books.google.com/books?id=mELYxgFA8AYC. 

External links

• 1954 timetable