Lake Cities (train)
Encyclopedia
The Lake Cities was a passenger train operated by the Erie Railroad
and its successor the Erie Lackawanna Railway
between Chicago
, Illinois
and New York City
.
The Lake Cities began in 1939 as the Midlander, a Jersey City-Chicago service with sections to Cleveland, Ohio
and Buffalo, New York
. With the Erie Railroad's merger with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
the Lake Cities began running into the Hoboken Terminal
in Hoboken, New Jersey
rather than the Erie's terminal in Pavonia, Jersey City. Between 1961 and 1962 the train was known as the "Chicago Lake Cities/Buffalo Lake Cities", but reverted to Lake Cities again. Sleeper service ended on October 28, 1962. In connection with the 1964 World's Fair in New York the Lake Cities was renamed The World's Fair between April 26-October 25, 1964. On November 28, 1966 the Lake Cities regained diner and sleeper service to compensate for the withdrawal of the Phoebe Snow, but by 1967 the sleeping service went no further west than Marion, Ohio
while the dining car stopped at Huntington, Indiana
. The Erie Lackawanna withdrew the train on January 6, 1970.
Lake Cities
was also the name of a Chicago-Toledo, Ohio
service operated by Amtrak between 1980-2004.
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
and its successor the Erie Lackawanna Railway
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The Lake Cities began in 1939 as the Midlander, a Jersey City-Chicago service with sections to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. With the Erie Railroad's merger with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
the Lake Cities began running into the Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
rather than the Erie's terminal in Pavonia, Jersey City. Between 1961 and 1962 the train was known as the "Chicago Lake Cities/Buffalo Lake Cities", but reverted to Lake Cities again. Sleeper service ended on October 28, 1962. In connection with the 1964 World's Fair in New York the Lake Cities was renamed The World's Fair between April 26-October 25, 1964. On November 28, 1966 the Lake Cities regained diner and sleeper service to compensate for the withdrawal of the Phoebe Snow, but by 1967 the sleeping service went no further west than Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
while the dining car stopped at Huntington, Indiana
Huntington, Indiana
Huntington, known as the "Lime City", is a small city in and the county seat of Huntington County, Indiana, United States. It is in Huntington Township and Union Township...
. The Erie Lackawanna withdrew the train on January 6, 1970.
Lake Cities
Lake Cities (Amtrak)
The Lake Cities was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio via Detroit, Michigan. It was formerly known as the St. Clair, a Chicago–Detroit train which operated in tandem with the Wolverine...
was also the name of a Chicago-Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
service operated by Amtrak between 1980-2004.