ERIE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Erie in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Erie, during the golden age of passenger trains. Most passenger trains used Union Station.

Union Station
125 W. 14th St.
Opened 1927, replacing earlier station at same location

Number of station tracks: 6 (4 NYC/2 PRR)
Interlocked switches 1 mile east at XC and 3 miles west at Dock Jct.
Non interlocked switches controlled as follows:
French St. switchtender east of station/Myrtle St. switchtender west of station

Nickel Plate Station
211 E. 19th St.

Bessemer & Lake Erie Station
121 W. 12th St.

NEW YORK CENTRAL

Departures-Westbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 41  Knickerbocker         St. Louis      (skip)      12:10
279  Pittsburgh Express    Pittsburgh      3:17        2:50
 11  Southwestern Limited  St. Louis      (skip)  57   5:15
207  Cleveland Mail        Cleveland       4:25  221   5:45
 19  Lake Shore Limited    Chicago         4:41        4:18
 21  Lake Erie             Cleveland       6:45
 57  Cleveland Limited     Chicago        (skip)  59   7:30
 59  Iroquois              Chicago         9:17   35   8:50   63  10:05 am
151  Interstate Express    Chicago         9:56
 43  South Shore Express   Chicago         3:05        3:30
 51  Empire State Express  Cleveland       6:39        6:00        6:40 pm
 83  Pittsburgh Cleveland  Cleveland       7:05
  5  Mohawk                Chicago        10:05        8:38
Arrivals-Westbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 41  Knickerbocker         New York       (skip)      12:10
279  Pittsburgh Express    Buffalo         3:17        2:50
 11  Southwestern Limited  New York       (skip)  57   5:15
207  Cleveland Mail        Buffalo         4:25  221   5:45
 19  Lake Shore Limited    New York        4:41        4:18
 21  Lake Erie             New York        6:45
 57  Cleveland Limited     New York       (skip)  59   7:30
 59  Iroquois              New York        9:17   35   8:50   63  10:05 am
151  Interstate Express    Buffalo         9:56
 43  South Shore Express   New York        3:05        3:30
 51  Empire State Express  New York        6:39        6:00        6:40 pm
 83  Pittsburgh Cleveland  Buffalo         7:05
  5  Mohawk                New York       10:05        8:38
Departures-Eastbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 10  Water Level Limited   New York        1:19
 24  Knickerbocker         New York       (skip)       2:08
132  Henry Hudson          Buffalo         2:53
272                        Buffalo         3:45
 18  Number Eighteen       Buffalo         4:55
 38  Missourian            New York        7:42   40   7:02
 90  Forest City           New York        9:07        8:11   98   8:30 am
 60                        Buffalo        11:01
 50  Empire State Express  New York       11:39       11:30
 32                        Dunkirk         2:10
 52  Easterner             Albany          2:40        1:50
244                        Buffalo         6:20
 14  Interstate Express    Buffalo         7:50   46   7:46
 84  Buffalo Express       Buffalo         8:55  284   7:41
  6  Fifth Avenue Special  New York        9:17        8:46   64   7:38 pm
 12  Southwestern Limited  New York       (skip)      10:34
 28  New England States    Boston         (skip)      (skip)      11:40 pm
Arrivals-Eastbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 10  Water Level Limited   Chicago         1:19
 24  Knickerbocker         St. Louis      (skip)       2:08
132  Henry Hudson          Chicago         2:53
272                        Pittsburgh      3:45
 18  Number Eighteen       Cleveland       4:55
 38  Missourian            St. Louis       7:42   40   7:02
 90  Forest City           Chicago         9:07        8:11   98   8:30 am
 60                        Cleveland      11:01
 50  Empire State Express  Cleveland      11:39       11:30
 32                        Ashtabula       2:10
 52  Easterner             Chicago         2:40        1:50
244                        Cleveland       6:20
 14  Interstate Express    Chicago         7:50   46   7:46
 84  Buffalo Express       Pittsburgh      8:55  284   7:41
  6  Fifth Avenue Special  Chicago         9:17        8:46   64   7:38 pm
 12  Southwestern Limited  St. Louis      (skip)      10:34
 28  New England States    Chicago        (skip)      (skip)      11:40 pm
Passenger service initially discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

570                        Emporium        6:50
474                        Pittsburgh      5:30
580  Southern Express      Harrisburg      6:15        5:15 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

581  Northern Express      Philadelphia    9:20       10:20 am
415                        Pittsburgh     12:30
571                        Emporium       10:20
Passenger service discontinued in 1965.

NICKEL PLATE ROAD

(Nickel Plate Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  7  Westerner             Chicago         6:53        5:55
  6                        Buffalo        11:03        9:54
  8  New Yorker            New York        8:07        7:52
  5  Nickel Plate Limited  Chicago         9:01        8:13
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  7  Westerner             New York        6:53        5:55
  6                        Chicago        11:03        9:54
  8  New Yorker            Chicago         8:07        7:52
  5  Nickel Plate Limited  Buffalo         9:01        8:13
Passenger service discontinued in 1965.

BESSEMER & LAKE ERIE

(Bessemer & Lake Erie Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 13                        Greenville PA   3:20 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 12                        Greenville PA   9:25 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1955.

STATIONS TODAY

Union Station continues to be used by Amtrak.

Union Station (Wikipedia)
Link to a Web site containing further historical information on Erie Union Station.

The Nickel Plate station has been demolished. Trains operated in the middle of 19th St. until 2001, when a railroad relocation project moved the route to pass Union Station. The Bessemer & Lake Erie station also has been demolished.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.