Cincinnatian

Cincinnatian
The streamlined steam Cincinnatian in 1956.
Overview
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleMidwestern United States
First serviceJanuary 19, 1947
Last serviceApril 30, 1971
Former operator(s)Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Route
TerminiDetroit, Michigan (1950–1971)
Cincinnati, Ohio (1950–1971)
Stops14 (incl. Toledo, Lima, Dayton) (1950–1971)
Distance travelled258.1 miles (415.4 km) 1950, southbound from Detroit to Cincinnati
Average journey time6 hours, 35 minutes (southbound and northbound)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)75: westbound (To 1950)
76: eastbound
53: southbound (From 1950)
54: northbound
On-board services
Seating arrangementsReclining seat coaches
Catering facilitiesObservation-lounge diner, with radio;
Stewardess service
Observation facilities"Fiesta car," with radio [1955]
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

The Cincinnatian was a named passenger train operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). The B&O inaugurated service on January 19, 1947, with service between Baltimore, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio, carrying the number 75 westbound and 76 eastbound, essentially a truncated route of the National Limited which operated between Jersey City, New Jersey and St. Louis.[2]

This route was unsuccessful due to the thin population along the line, and the route was changed on June 25, 1950, from a Baltimore–Cincinnati daylight schedule to a DetroitCincinnati daylight schedule where it would remain until the creation of Amtrak. On this new routing, originating from the New York Central's Michigan Central Station,[3] the train sets became successful almost from the beginning. This replaced the Great Lakes Limited, which southbound, ran from Detroit to Cincinnati. Passengers wishing to travel all the way to Louisville had to take an unnamed night train counterpart, #57. The northbound night train counterpart was #58.[4][5][6] The 57/58 became named the Night Express in 1960.[7] The Cincinnatian on this route used lots of mail cars, which contributed to the route's success.

  1. ^ C&O/B&O Passenger Timetable, 30 April 1967
  2. ^ Schwieterman, Joseph P. (2001). When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment, Eastern United States. Kirksville, Missouri: Truman State University Press. pp. 312–315. ISBN 978-0-943549-97-2.
  3. ^ "Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Table 50". Official Guide of the Railways. 87 (7). National Railway Publication Company. December 1954.
  4. ^ "trains.com".[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Baltimore & Ohio timetable, July 1948 http://streamlinermemories.info/Eastern/B&O48TT.pdf
  6. ^ Baltimore & Ohio timetable, October 1955
  7. ^ "Baltimore and Ohio, Table 15, Named on the consist table, 'Pullman, Coach and Dining Car Service,'". Official Guide of the Railways. 92 (12). National Railway Publication Company. May 1960.