New England States
Encyclopedia
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.
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. 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. "Sleepercoaches", economy sleepers known elsewhere as Slumbercoach
es, 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. 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.
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. 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. Two Amtrak trains, the Lake Shore
(1971-1972) and Lake Shore Limited
(1975-present) provide service over the route.
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
and its successor Penn Central over the Water Level Route 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...
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
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...
and Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. With the launch of the New England States the Twentieth Century Limited ceased carrying sleepers for Boston.
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. In 1954 a typical eastbound train carried Boston-Chicago and Buffalo
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...
-Chicago sleepers, while its westbound counterpart carried Chicago-Boston sleepers and a Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
-Boston sleeper which it picked up from the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Express in Buffalo. "Sleepercoaches", economy sleepers known elsewhere as Slumbercoach
Slumbercoach
The Slumbercoach is an 85-foot-long, 24 single room, 8 double room streamlined sleeping car originally built in 1956 by the Budd Company for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for service on the Denver Zephyr...
es, 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. 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.
The New York Central merged with its long-time rival the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
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. The passage of the Passenger Rail Service Act interrupted these proceedings, and the former New England States remained running until the start of Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
on May 1, 1971, when it was discontinued. Two Amtrak trains, the Lake Shore
Lake Shore
The Lake Shore was a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and New York via Cleveland, Ohio. The Lake Shores route paralleled that of the New York Central's famed Lake Shore Limited...
(1971-1972) and Lake Shore Limited
Lake Shore Limited
The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston...
(1975-present) provide service over the route.