FORT WAYNE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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


THE STATIONS

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

Pennsylvania Railroad Station
231 W. Baker St.
Opened 1914

Wabash Station
Grand St. between Harrison St. and Calhoun St.

Nickel Plate Station
513 S. Calhoun St.
Opened 1955 replacing earlier station

Cass Street Depot
1004 Cass St.
Opened 1889

The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Wabash stations were adjacent, which was convenient for through trains between Detroit and Chicago operated jointly by the two railroads.


PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

(Pennsylvania Station)

Departures-Westbound



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

 15                        Chicago         3:30
537                        Grand Rapids    3:35
201  Southland             Chicago         3:55
 63  Golden Triangle       Chicago         4:42
  5  Pennsylvania Limited  Chicago         5:06   55   1:10 pm     1:45 pm
 71  Admiral               Chicago         5:46   51  10:04 am
 49  General               Chicago         6:06        4:44 am
 59  Liberty Limited       Chicago         6:28        6:22
 29  Broadway Limited      Chicago         6:37        5:22   49   7:19 am
 77  Trail Blazer          Chicago         6:59
 23  Manhattan Limited     Chicago         9:29        3:36 am     5:45 am
511                        Grand Rapids    9:50
  1  Chicago Arrow         Chicago        10:15
 79  Golden Arrow          Chicago         2:00
 43  Fort Pitt             Chicago         4:00   53   5:05 pm     6:30 pm
  7  Red Bird              Chicago         6:35
519  Northern Arrow        Mackinaw City   8:21        9:50
113                        Chicago         9:33


Arrivals-Westbound



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

201  Southland             Cincinnati      2:52
 15                        Philadelphia    3:10
 63  Golden Triangle       Pittsburgh      4:37
  5  Pennsylvania Limited  New York        5:01   55   1:10 pm     1:45 pm
 71  Admiral               New York        5:46   51  10:04 am
 49  General               New York        6:06        4:44 am
 59  Liberty Limited       Washington      6:24        6:22
 29  Broadway Limited      New York        6:37        5:22   49   7:19 am
 77  Trail Blazer          New York        6:54
 23  Manhattan Limited     New York        9:24        3:36 am     5:45 am
501                        Richmond IN     1:02
 79  Golden Arrow          New York        1:55
 43  Fort Pitt             Pittsburgh      3:53   53   5:05 pm     6:30 pm
519  Northern Arrow        Cincinnati      8:11        9:08
113                        Pittsburgh      9:13


Departures-Eastbound



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

 54  Gotham Limited        New York       12:42
 62  Golden Triangle       Pittsburgh      1:27
200  Southland             Cincinnati      2:27
 44                        Pittsburgh      2:35        3:07
520  Northern Arrow        Cincinnati      4:30        3:36
118                        Pittsburgh      4:40
 52  New Yorker            New York       12:17       10:56
 22  Manhattan Limited     New York        2:03        1:56        2:29 pm
502                        Richmond IN     2:45
 76  Trail Blazer          New York        3:54
 70  Admiral               New York        4:50   50   9:08       10:03 pm
 58  Liberty Limited       Washington      5:44        5:20
 48  General               New York        5:59        5:42
 28  Broadway Limited      New York        6:43        6:15   48   7:29 pm
 78  Pennsylvanian         New York        7:55
 42  Rainbow               Philadelphia    8:05
  2  Pennsylvania Limited  New York       10:59   54  12:55        1:44 am


Arrivals-Eastbound



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

 54  Gotham Limited        Chicago        12:42
 62  Golden Triangle       Chicago         1:27
506                        Grand Rapids    1:33
200  Southland             Chicago         2:12
 12  Mid City Express      Chicago         2:20
 44                        Chicago         2:28
118                        Chicago         4:15
520  Northern Arrow        Mackinaw City   4:25        3:15
  8  Red Bird              Chicago        11:25
 52  New Yorker            Chicago        12:12       10:56
 22  Manhattan Limited     Chicago         1:58        1:56        2:29 pm
 76  Trail Blazer          Chicago         3:50
 70  Admiral               Chicago         4:50   50   9:08       10:03 pm
 58  Liberty Limited       Chicago         5:40        5:20
 48  General               Chicago         5:54        5:42
  4  Detroit Arrow         Chicago         6:23
 28  Broadway Limited      Chicago         6:43        6:15   48   7:29 pm
508                        Mackinaw City   7:35
 42  Rainbow               Chicago         7:50
 78  Pennsylvanian         Chicago         7:55
  2  Pennsylvania Limited  Chicago        10:51   54  12:55        1:44 am


Passenger service initially retained by Amtrak in 1971, with the Broadway Limited.

Certain trains operated between Detroit and Chicago, using the Wabash Railroad east of Fort Wayne.


NEW YORK CENTRAL

(Cass Street Depot)

Departures



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

 49                        Hillsdale       3:00 pm


Arrivals



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

 48                        Hillsdale      10:15 am


Passenger service discontinued in early 1940's.


NICKEL PLATE ROAD

(Nickel Plate Station)

Departures



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

  6                        Buffalo         2:33 am     1:46 am
  5  Nickel Plate Limited  Chicago         3:40 am     2:35 am
  8  New Yorker            New York       12:45 pm    12:35 pm
  7  Westerner             Chicago        12:58 pm    11:18 am


Arrivals



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

  6                        Chicago         2:22 am     1:31 am
  5  Nickel Plate Limited  Buffalo         3:27 am     2:20 am
  8  New Yorker            Chicago        12:40 pm    12:30 pm
  7  Westerner             New York       12:54 pm    11:11 am


Passenger service discontinued in 1965.


WABASH

(Wabash Station)

Departures



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

 44  Mid City Express      Detroit         2:30
  2  Detroit Limited       Detroit         3:54        3:41
 12                        Toledo          4:00        4:00
 70  (mixed train)         Toledo Yard     6:10
 74  (mixed train)         Montpelier      6:30
 73  (mixed train)         Peru            7:00
  1  St. Louis Special     St. Louis      10:20        9:22  301   9:53
  8  Red Bird              Detroit        11:30
  4  Detroit Special       Detroit         6:25        4:51  304   5:53
  3  St. Louis Limited     St. Louis      10:32       10:13


Arrivals



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

201                        Detroit         2:10
  2  Detroit Limited       St. Louis       3:32        3:19
  1  St. Louis Special     Detroit        10:05        9:13  301   9:40
 72  (mixed train)         Peru           11:25
 71  (mixed train)         Toledo Yard    12:08
  4  Detroit Special       St. Louis       6:07        4:40  304   5:38
  7  Red Bird              Detroit         6:30
 13                        Toledo         10:00        9:30
  3  St. Louis Limited     Detroit        10:10        9:48


Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the Wabash Cannonball.

In later years, trains 1 and 4, later trains 301 and 304, carried their more famous name, the Wabash Cannonball. Certain trains operated between Detroit and Chicago, using the Pennsylvania Railroad west of Fort Wayne.


STATIONS TODAY

The Pennsylvania Railroad station building still stands, having ceased to serve as a station in 1990 when the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line was downgraded, and Amtrak trains were rerouted.

The Wabash Railroad station has since been demolished. The two railroads paralleled each other at that location.

The Nickel Plate station has been demolished, but stairways and other evidence still remain.

The Cass Street Depot still stands.

Fort Wayne Train Stations
Link to a Web page including photos and information on historic train stations in Fort Wayne.

Baker Street Station
Link to an official Web site, showing how the Pennsylvania Railroad station has been preserved and transformed for other uses.


MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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