Atlantic Express and Pacific Express

The Atlantic Express and Pacific Express were a pair of Erie Railroad passenger trains which together provided round-trip service between the New York City area and Chicago, Illinois. They were the Erie's oldest named passenger trains, having been named in 1885 and discontinued in 1965 under the Erie Lackawanna Railway, successor to the Erie.[1] Specifically, the train originated at the Erie Railroad's Pavonia Terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey until 1956.[2][3] For the last nine years the train began at the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western's Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. For the last five years the train was an Erie Lackawanna Railroad train, as the Erie and the Lackawanna railroads merged in 1960. It was the last long distance passenger train to run along the Erie Main Line.[4]

Atlantic Express [east] and Pacific Express [west]
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleMidwestern United States/Northeastern United States
First service1885
Last service1965
Former operator(s)Erie Railroad
after 1960: Erie-Lackawanna Railroad
Route
TerminiJersey City, New Jersey/ 1956-1965:Hoboken, New Jersey
Chicago, Illinois
Distance travelled998.7 miles (1,607.3 km) [1954]
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)East: 8
West: 7 [1954]
On-board services
Seating arrangementsCoaches
Sleeping arrangementsOpen sections, roomettes and double bedrooms [1954]
Catering facilitiesDiner-lounge car
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

References

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  1. ^ Sanders, Craig (2003). Limiteds, Locals, and Expresses in Indiana, 1838–1971. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34216-4.
  2. ^ 'Official Guide of the Railways,' December 1954, Erie Railroad section, Table 2, 3, 8
  3. ^ Erie Railroad timetable, April 1958, Table 4
  4. ^ 'Official Guide of the Railways,' June 1961, Erie-Lackawanna section, Table 5, 6