DAYTON'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Dayton, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Union Station
251 S. Ludlow St.
Opened 1900

Number of station tracks: 6 through
Interlocked switches controlled from Train Director's office
(CTC type system installed 1932 in conjunction with track elevation project)

BALTIMORE & OHIO

Departures



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

 58                        Detroit         1:25        1:25
 57                        Louisville      5:18        5:15
 56                        Toledo         10:10
 55                        Cincinnati      1:17
 54  Great Lakes Limited   Detroit         2:19        2:12       11:30 am
 53  Great Lakes Limited   Cincinnati      8:05        7:35        2:46 pm
Arrivals



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

 58                        Louisville      1:15        1:15
 57                        Detroit         5:13        5:10
 56                        Cincinnati     10:03
 55                        Toledo          1:10
 54  Great Lakes Limited   Cincinnati      2:17        2:07       11:25 am
 53  Great Lakes Limited   Detroit         8:02        7:30        2:41 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

NEW YORK CENTRAL

Departures-Westbound



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

425                        Cincinnati      3:20
  5  Cincinnati Express    Cincinnati      5:30  417   5:34
309  Royal Palm            Cincinnati      5:40        5:20
 15  Ohio State Limited    Cincinnati      7:23        7:26   77   7:30 am
421  Cincinnati Special    Cincinnati     12:35       11:54
447                        Cincinnati      3:05
433  Cincinnati Special    Cincinnati      4:40        5:16
303  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati      4:50        4:46
435  Cincinnati Special    Cincinnati      7:35
Arrivals-Westbound



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

425                        Cleveland       3:20
  5  Cincinnati Express    Cleveland       5:30  417   5:34
309  Royal Palm            Detroit         5:40        5:20
 15  Ohio State Limited    New York        7:23        7:26   77   7:30 am
421  Cincinnati Special    Cleveland      12:35       11:54
447                        Cleveland       3:05
433  Cincinnati Special    Cleveland       4:40        5:16
303  Ponce De Leon         Detroit         4:50        4:46
435  Cincinnati Special    Cleveland       7:35
Departures-Eastbound



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

302  Michigan Special      Detroit        12:48       12:50
442  Midnight Special      Cleveland       1:20       12:28
426  Cleveland Special     Cleveland      10:15       10:05
312  Ponce De Leon         Detroit        10:23       10:15
404  New York Special      Cleveland       1:30
448                        Cleveland       1:50
 16  Ohio State Limited    Cleveland       4:50        5:26   78   5:34 pm
424  Knickerbocker         Cleveland       7:15        4:42
428                        Cleveland      11:35
Arrivals-Eastbound



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

302  Michigan Special      Cincinnati     12:48       12:50
442  Midnight Special      Cincinnati      1:20       12:28
426  Cleveland Special     Cincinnati     10:15       10:05
312  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati     10:23       10:15
404  New York Special      Cincinnati      1:30
448                        Cincinnati      1:50
 16  Ohio State Limited    Cincinnati      4:50        5:26   78   5:34 pm
424  Knickerbocker         Cincinnati      7:15        4:42
428                        Cincinnati     11:35
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

Departures-Westbound



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

155                        Indianapolis   12:02    7  11:45
 33  St. Louisan           St. Louis      (bypass)     1:25
 31  Spirit Of St. Louis   St. Louis       7:41        7:40        7:10 am
 65  Jeffersonian          St. Louis       7:59
 21  Spirit Of St. Louis   Indianapolis    8:07
 67  American              St. Louis      10:57    3   9:46
907  Union                 Richmond IN     3:02   83   3:47
 13                        St. Louis       8:43   87  11:00   13   3:50 pm
203                        Richmond IN    11:00
Arrivals-Westbound



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

 33  St. Louisan           New York       (bypass)     1:25
 31  Spirit Of St. Louis   New York        7:37        7:40        7:10 am
 65  Jeffersonian          New York        7:54
 21  Spirit Of St. Louis   Washington      8:03
 67  American              New York       10:52    3   9:46
907  Union                 Columbus        2:59   83   3:47
 13                        New York        9:00   87  10:35   13   3:50 pm
203                        Springfield    10:38
155                        Pittsburgh     11:52    7  11:45
Departures-Eastbound



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

102  Pennsylvania Limited  Pittsburgh      1:40   32   1:10       12:40 am
 26                        Pittsburgh      2:30
204                        Springfield     8:00   86   6:25
  6  Allegheny             Pittsburgh      9:57        6:45
 66  American              New York        4:56    4   5:18        6:05 pm
 30  Spirit Of St. Louis   New York        7:23        7:55
 20  Spirit Of St. Louis   Washington      7:31
 64  Jeffersonian          New York        7:37
908  Union                 Columbus       (bypass)82   9:15
Arrivals-Eastbound



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

102  Pennsylvania Limited  St. Louis       1:37   32   1:10       12:40 am
 26                        St. Louis       2:08
204                        Richmond IN     7:37   86   6:25
  6  Allegheny             St. Louis       9:47        6:45
 66  American              St. Louis       4:51    4   5:18        6:05 pm
 30  Spirit Of St. Louis   St. Louis       7:20        7:55
 20  Spirit Of St. Louis   Indianapolis    7:28
 64  Jeffersonian          St. Louis       7:34
908  Union                 Richmond IN    (bypass)82   9:20
Passenger service initially retained by Amtrak in 1971, basically trains 4 and 31 the Spirit Of St. Louis at the time.

Prior to the mid 1930's, also using Union Station were Erie Railroad passenger trains.

STATIONS TODAY

Amtrak service ended in 1979. By then, Amtrak was using a modest facility to the east, at 130 E. 6th St. Dayton Union Station was demolished in 1989.

Montgomery County Ohio Railroad Stations
Link to a Web page containing further information on the historic stations.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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

Lines passing through Dayton included the New York Central main line between Cleveland and Columbus and Cincinnati, the Pennsylvania Railroad main line between Columbus and Indianapolis, and the Baltimore & Ohio main line between Cincinnati and Toledo. Dayton Union Railway Co. (DUR) operated the station.

Significant Locations and Distances from Station

Cold Springs (20 miles N) - junction of NYC, Erie with trackage rights.
Second Street (1 mile E) - east end DUR trackage, connect with B&O, NYC.
Wayne Avenue Jct. (1/2 mile E) - junction of DUR, PRR.
Miami City Jct. (1/2 mile W) - west end DUR trackage, connect with B&O, NYC, PRR.