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The ''Washington–Chicago Express'', an American named passenger train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), was one of four daily B&O trains operating between
In addition to a Washington–Chicago through sleeping car and dining car providing full meal service en route, the B&O's ''Washington–Chicago Express'' also offered a "set-out" sleeper in
Washington, D.C.
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
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, Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, via Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
during the 1930s–1960s. Other B&O trains of that period on the route were the ''Capitol Limited'', ''Columbian'', and the ''Shenandoah''.Herbert H. Harwood, Jr., ''Royal Blue Line''. Sykesville, Maryland: Greenberg Publishing, 1990 ().
Operating westbound as Train # 9, the ''Chicago Express'', and eastbound as Train # 10, the ''Washington Express'', it was an "accommodation" train, meaning that it made stops at most stations along the route bypassed by B&O's other trains, resulting in a slower timecard than the more prestigious ''Capitol Limited''. The ''Washington–Chicago Express'' required a leisurely 18½ hours for its journey, compared to the faster ''Capitol Limited''s 16-hour pace. The ''Washington–Chicago Express'' was also B&O's primary train for mail and Railway Express Agency
Railway Express Agency (REA), founded as the American Railway Express Agency and later renamed the American Railway Express Inc., was a national package delivery service that operated in the United States from 1918 to 1975. REA arranged trans ...
shipments, having heavy head end equipment consisting of several Railway Post Office (RPO) cars, baggage cars, and bulk mail boxcar
A boxcar is the North American ( AAR) term for a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is considered one of the most versatile since it can carry most ...
s. The ''Washington–Chicago Express'' continued to offer Pullman sleeping car and dining car service into the mid-1960s.
Latter years
The ending of B&O's mail contract in the late-1960s by the U.S. Postal Service spelled the doom of the train, resulting in the discontinuation of its westbound train in 1967 before the advent ofAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
in 1971. Between 1965 and 1967 the train's sleeping cars were shortened from Washington – Chicago to Pittsburgh – Chicago. Between 1967 and 1968 the train lost its sleeping cars and its dining car. The eastbound train ''Washington Express'' continued into 1968. The train was terminated by 1969, leaving the ''Capitol Limited'' as the B&O's only eastbound Chicago-Washington train. The ''Gateway'', an eastbound-only Chicago-Pittsburgh train, briefly continued the #10 designation. The train operated as a daytime coach, with a food bar.
Stations
Schedule and equipment
In addition to a Washington–Chicago through sleeping car and dining car providing full meal service en route, the B&O's ''Washington–Chicago Express'' also offered a "set-out" sleeper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
. In 1961, for example, the set-out sleeper for Washington was parked on a siding at Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station (used by B&O's long-distance trains) and available for occupancy by passengers at 9:00 p.m., prior to the arrival of the eastbound ''Washington Express'' at 10:30 p.m. The sleeper was then coupled to the rear of the train during the 25-minute layover there.''Baltimore & Ohio — Passenger Train Schedules'', October 29, 1961.
In 1961, the westbound ''Chicago Express'' Train # 9 operated on the following schedule (departure times at principal stops shown in blue, connecting Budd Rail Diesel Car from Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
, in yellow):
References