Michigan Central and New York Central Passenger Trains in Chicago.

Classic Trains General Discussion
1

This post is regarding the Michigan Central and New York Central passenger trains in Chicago.

I recently read that the MC passenger trains moved from IC’s Central Station to LaSalle Street and that the IC sued the NYC for breach of contract because the NYC did not give the IC the required notice to move.

Then, after the PC merger all former NYC passenger trains to Union Station, which continued until AMTRAK.

What track connections did the MC or NYC proper have to construct or obtain to get from Union Station to their respective railroads?

Thanks,

Ed Burns of Anoka, MN

2

Ed…no track connections were required . The Pennsy had always called Union Station home.

3

It seems this connection from NY Central to PRR dates from about 1968 (tho it was single track for the first few years)

http://binged.it/IvWqG6

MC trains presumably could get always on the LS&MS main at Porter instead of crossing it. As I recall, even when most MC trains (and Big Four trains) went to IC’s Chicago station one or two MC trains went to La Salle St.

4

Big Four passenger trains never left Central Station, right up to April 30, 1971.

5

Amtrak operated trains out of Central Station via IC-Big Four aligment until November of 1971 timetable change. “South Wind” was among these. Hope that helps, Art

6

Thjere was a single-track connection between the NYC main and the PRR main east of Englewood for many years. PC quickly made it double-track.

For many years, as long as I can remember, the Wolverine, the Boston and New York to and from Chicago through train via Detroit went into La Salle instead of Central. On the other hand, the Twilight LImited and the Chicago - Toronto through train (at one time coaches as well as sleepers) nYC-0CP, went out oof Central Station.

7

Starting sometime in 1948-49 the Wolverine was the only Mich Centr train that ran to La Salle St. Before that the Twilight Ltd ran to La Salle St and all the other MC trains ran to Central.

8

In February of 1950, the Wolverne ran to Central Station and from LaSalle Street.

Interesting.

9

Two related questions:

Any suggestions on how to access information (e.g., track plans, diagrams) of the old Root Street Coach Yard of the NYC in Chicago?

Any thoughts on how NYC and ATSF exchanged through sleepers? I assume the connection had to be somewhere along the C&WI stretch by the south branch of the river, near 18th street–but not certain.

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Mike - Welcome to trains.com! [C):-)]

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On every good reason the Wolverine left from La Salle is that it was standard proceedure for NYC ticket sellers to suggest that train for Chicago passengers to New York when the via Cleveland trains were sold out. I believe I was routed this way once, in a through sleeper’s roomette.

12

CNW Mike,

If you manage to locate a diagram of NYC’s Root St Yard please let me know as I am interested as well.

NYC and ATSF exchanged sleepers via a connection between the NYC/CRIP joint line and the ATSF coach yard. The track came out of the south end of the ATSF coach yard.

13

Penn Central put in a connection near the Indiana Harbor steel works to get the New York Central (LS&MS) trains onto the Pennsylvania, and the Michigan trains went from the Michigan Central to the LS&MS at Porter. The current Michigan service uses both of those connections.