The ''Washington–Chicago Express'', an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

named passenger train of the

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the oldest railroads in North America, oldest railroad in the United States and the first steam engine, steam-operated common carrier. Construction of the line began in 1828, and it operated as B&O from 1830 ...

(B&O), was one of four daily B&O trains operating between

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, and

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

, via

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, 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 (aka REA Express) (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 ...

shipments, having heavy head end equipment consisting of several Railway Post Office (RPO) cars,

baggage car A passenger railroad car or passenger car (American English), also called a passenger carriage, passenger coach (British English and International Union of Railways), or passenger bogie (Indian English) is a railroad car that is designed to c ...

s, and bulk mail

boxcar A boxcar is the North American (Association of American Railroads, AAR) and South Australian Railways term for a Railroad car#Freight cars, railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simpl ...

s. The ''Washington–Chicago Express'' continued to offer Pullman

sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper (often ) is a railway passenger car (rail), passenger car that can accommodate all passengers in beds of one kind or another, for the purpose of sleeping. George Pullman was the main American innovator and owner of sl ...

and

dining car A dining car (American English) or a restaurant car (British English), also a diner, is a passenger railroad car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant. These cars provide the highest level of service of any rai ...

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 The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

spelled the doom of the train, resulting in the discontinuation of its westbound train in 1967 before the advent of

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

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

. In 1961, for example, the set-out sleeper for Washington was parked on a siding at Pittsburgh's

Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station, now Landry's Grand Concourse restaurant in Station Square Plaza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an historic building that was erected in 1898. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Place ...

(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 The Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC), also known as the Budd car or Buddliner, is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit (DMU) railcar. Between 1949 and 1962, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The cars ...

from

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, in yellow):

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington-Chicago Express Named passenger trains of the United States Passenger trains of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Transportation in Chicago Transportation in Baltimore Transportation in Pittsburgh Passenger rail transportation in Illinois Passenger rail transportation in Indiana Passenger rail transportation in Maryland Passenger rail transportation in Ohio Passenger rail transportation in Pennsylvania Passenger rail transportation in Washington, D.C. Passenger rail transportation in West Virginia Night trains of the United States Railway services discontinued in 1967