Columbian (B&O)

The "Columbian" was a named passenger train operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was the all-coach supplemental train of the all-Pullman Capitol Limited. The train's initial route was between Jersey City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., but in 1941 the "Columbian" route was lengthened to Jersey nowrap|City – Chicago, Illinois.

The "Columbian" between Jersey City and Washington was the first air-conditioned passenger train in North America. Air-conditioned equipment began operating on the train on May 24, 1931.Harry Stegmaier, "Baltimore & Ohio Passenger Service, Vol. 2 – Route of the Capitol Limited". Lynchburg, Va.: TLC Publishing, 1997 (ISBN 1-883-089-00X).]

In 1949, a brand new lightweight "Columbian" train set for travel between Baltimore, Maryland, via Washington to Chicago was built. The consists were ordered from Pullman-Standard for April, 1949 delivery and these two train sets have the distinction of being the only all-new consists built for the B&O in the postwar period. These two eight–car streamlined trains were the only trains in the eastern U.S. to be equipped with dome cars. Although the pair were intended as a daytime operation between Chicago and Baltimore by way of Washington the two new trains entered overnight service May 5, 1949.

On April 26, 1958, the B&O discontinued all passenger service between Jersey City and Baltimore, Maryland, and thereafter the eastern terminus of the "Columbian" was Baltimore. By the early 1960s, the "Columbian" was combined with the B&O's formerly all-Pullman "Capitol Limited" between Washington and Chicago. When Amtrak took over train service on May 1, 1971, the B&O's combined "Capitol Limited – Columbian" was discontinued, along with all other B&O long-distance passenger trains.-

Equipment used

The following are the two consists of the "Columbian" (1949):

* 87A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
* 87X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
* 1350 HARPERS FERRY Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory Buffet 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
* 5500 CONNELLSVILLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5502 GARY 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5550 HIGH DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
* 1090 AKRON 38 seat Dining Car
* 5504 MARTINSBURG 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5506 NEW CASTLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 3315 CHICAGO 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

::::Second consist:
* 88A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
* 88X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
* 1351 SILVER SPRING Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
* 5501 CUMBERLAND 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5503 LA PAZ 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5551 SKY DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
* 1091 PITTSBURGH 38 seat Dining Car
* 5505 McKEESPORT 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 5507 YOUNGSTOWN 56 Revenue seat Coach
* 3316 WASHINGTON 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

References