Last eastbound Black Diamond at Ithaca, May 11, 1959
Lehigh Valley Railroad
Passenger Service Discontinuances
Train #1, "Philadephia-Buffalo Express" Discontinued by June 25, 1916
Changes to Trains 2 and 3
Jan. 19, 1930 - Train #2, "Philadelphia-New York Express" and #3, "Chicago-Toronto Express" renamed "The Toronto"; through sleepers added, New York to Toronto.
April 23, 1938 - Discontinued (operated via mainline, Van Etten to Geneva)
Trains #4, "The Philadelphian" and 11, "Wilkes Barre Night Express"*
Jan. 19, 1930 - No. 4, renamed "The Star"
Sept. 4, 1948 - Diner-club car removed, Bethlehem and Philadelphia on #4.
June 4, 1949 - Rochester sleeper removed
July 14, 1955 - No. 11 named "The Major"
July 14, 1955 - Cafe lounge car removed, Sayre to Buffalo
Oct. 28, 1956 - Sleeper removed, Ithaca to New York
May 11, 1959 - Trains discontinued
*No. 11 became eastbound "The Star" and Trains #19 and #20, "Wilkes Barre Night Express."
Trains #5 and #6, originally called "The Cornelian" rename "The Lehigh Limited" by July 25, 1916
Jan. 19, 1930 - Through sleepers added, New York to Toronto
June 26, 1937 - Discontinued (originally via Ithaca, but shifted to Seneca Lake line by April 29, 1928.
Changes to Trains 7 and 8, "The Maple Leaf" (originally #7, "Chicagoan," and #8,"The New Yorker")
Nov. 29, 1942 - Train switched from mainline to Ithaca Branch
July 11, 1948 - Dining car off, New York to Lehighton
Sept. 26, 1948 - Train switched from Ithaca Branch to mainline
Jan. 9, 1949 - Cafe dining car cut back from Buffalo to Lehighton
Sept. 26, 1954 - Roomette cars first advertised, New York and Philadelphia to Toronto - provided by Canadian National; on occasion sleepers from Pullman pool provided on this train.
May 25, 1959 - Train switched back to Ithaca Branch after discontinuance of #9 and #10
Feb. 3, 1961 - Trains discontinued
Trains #9 and #10, The Black Diamond Express
May 18, 1896 - Train inaugurated. Operated via Seneca Lake mainline, both directions.
Feb. 7, 1903 - Both trains shifted to Ithaca branch.
January 7, 1903 - Temporarily suspended west of Wilkes Barre.
February 8, 1903 - Service restored through to Buffalo
May 14, 1905 - June 28, 1914 - Train 9, main line, Train 10 via Ithaca branch.
Feb. 9, 1908 - Trains discontinued
June 21, 1908 - Trains restored.
Nov. 28, 1915 - The word "Express" dropped.
July 25, 1916 - Sleeping car added, New York/Philadelphia to Chicago, via Michigan Central.
June 28, 1914 - May 11, 1959 - Ran both directions via Ithaca.
June 27, 1937 - Sleeping cars discontinued New York/Philadelphia and Chicago.
April 26, 1942 - Observation lounge last listed. Removed by Aug. 2, 1942.
June 23, 1955 - Philadelphia coach cut back to Lehighton, (ran only Mondays, and July 5 and Sept. 2)
July 14, 1955 - Dining car discontinued, Wilkes Barre to Buffalo.
" Cafe lounge car only between Sayre and Buffalo.
Oct. 28, 1956 - Cafe lounge restored, New York to Buffalo.
Oct. 28, 1956 - Dining car discontinued, New York to Wilkes Barre.
Parlor car removed between Oct. 26, 1958 and May 11, 1959 when the train was discontinued. Only cafe lounge and one coach (1500 series) remained, besides baggage and RPO.
June 23, 1955 - Philadelphia coach running only as far as Lehighton on Mondays, and July 5 and Sept. 2.
May 11, 1959 - Train discontinued.
Trains 23 and 24, "The Asa Packer," New York to Mauch Chunk
Sept. 28, 1941 - Service cut back to Lehighton.
Jan. 12, 1942 - Commenced running into Penn Station.
May 11, 1959 – Discontinued.
Trains 25 and 26 (also "The Asa Packer") Newark - Wilkes Barre
July 14, 1955 - Cut back to Lehighton (cafe lounge and parlor car, New York to Lehighton)
April 26, 1958 - Discontinued
Trains 28 and 29 New York to Wilkes Barre
Train 28 originally "The Wyoming Valley Express" renamed "John Wilkes," June 4, 1939
Train 29 originally "The Wilkes Barre Express"renamed "John Wilkes," June 4, 1939
Discontinued April 28, 1959 - Lehighton -Wilkes Barre
Feb. 3, 1961 - New York - Lehighton
Lehigh Valley Passenger Service Discontinuances
Branchlines
(Even numbers eastbound - odd numbers westbound. Unless otherwise noted, dates shown are when these trains last appeared in public timetables).
State of New Jersey - Lehigh Division
Clinton & Pittstown Branch, Clinton - Pittstown, 2 miles, two commuter trains not numbered, Sept. 27, 1936.
Perth Amboy Branch, South Plainfield - Perth Amboy, 8.8 miles Trains 408,410, Feb. 25, 1934; Train 408, April 29, 1934
Flemington Branch, Flemington Junction - Flemington , 1.7 miles
commuter service, March, 1952, westbound, trains 415, 427, 421; eastbound, trains 428, 414, 420. Running time, six minutes.
New York City, South Plainfield, 26.5 miles. Commuter trains 52, 53, discontinued May, 1948.
New York State
Buffalo Division
Auburn Branch, Sayre, Pa. to Fair Haven, N.Y., 115.7 miles.
Trains 281, 284 Sayre to Auburn, discontinued April 30, 1938. Trains 282, 283 last listed Trains 282, 283, Fair Haven to North Fair Haven, last listed to Fair Haven, September 26, 1937, and Fair Haven to Auburn, July 11, 1938. Trains 282, 283, Sayre to Auburn, discontinued March 20, 1948.
Auburn and Ithaca Branch, Auburn to Ithaca, 42.8 miles. Trains 301, 302 Discontinued Aug. 31, 1948.
Elmira and Cortland Branch, Elmira to Camden, 139.7 miles. Trains 326, 327, last passenger train to Elmira, discontinued Nov. 25, 1932. These trains discontinued, Elmira to East Ithaca, June 26, 1935.
Trains 829, 832, Canastota to Camden, regular train, July 25, 1928; (mixed) Nov. 29, 1933. Trains 879, 880, Canastota to Camden (mixed) August, 1938. Trains 322,323,327 (East Ithaca to DeRuyter) discontinued as first class trains, July 7, 1948
Ithaca Branch, Geneva to Sayre, Trains 127, 128. Discontinued Nov. 11, 1949
Naples Branch, Geneva to Naples, 29.4 miles. Trains 131 and 132 replaced by mixed trains 595 and 594 Trains 592, 593, (formerly gas electric trains 116 and 119) discontinued July 7, 1930. Trains 594, 595 (mixed) April 24, 1938. Gas electrics inaugurated Dec. 1, 1925.
Rochester Branch, Rochester Junction to Rochester, 13.2 miles, four round trips. Discontinued September 6, 1950; Valley Bus Lines service discontinued January 16, 1957.
Rochester Branch, Rochester to Hemlock 28.6 miles, Trains 645, 547; 644,646 Discontinued Feb. 2, 1935; Trains 784, 715, 719 and 720, Rochester to Honeoye Falls and Lima, Aug. 9. 1937. Trains mixed trains 666,667 discontinued Nov. 26, 1938. These trains were gas electric cars.
Mount Morris Enterprise
Wed., Feb. 13, 1935
Irving Moses of Hemlock bought the last ticket that was sold at Hemlock when the passenger train on the Lehigh Valley Railroad made its last run on the Hemlock branch, Feb. 2.
Seneca Falls Branch, Seneca Falls to Geneva, 10.5 miles. Trains 603, 605, 602,604. Discontinued 1914. Cayuga to Cayuga Junction, 3.8 miles. Trains 793, 794. April 29, 1929.
Waverly Branch, Sayre-Waverly, N.Y. 2.2 miles Trains 572, 573, May 29, 1932.
Trains 570, 571 Sept. 29, 1940.
Willard Branch, Hayts Corners - Willard, 5 miles (Daily) Passenger service last listed Sept. 27, 1936. Trains 587,583,585,581 from Hayt's Corners to Ovid and 580, 584, 582, 586, Ovid to Hayt's Corners.
State of Pennsylvania - Lehigh Division
Bear Creek Branch, White Haven - Bear Creek, 12.8 miles Trains 497-498. January 19, 1930.
Beaver Meadow Branch, Weatherly - Hazleton, 13.4 miles. Trains 232, 237. Nov. 26, 1933.
Bowmans Creek Branch, (Wyoming Division) Towanda to Coxton, 66.3 miles. Last regular passenger trains 503, 506, discontinued April 2, 1934.
Easton & Northern Branch, Belfast Junction - Easton, 11.1 miles
Trains 445, 446. April 29, 1929.
Freeland Branch, Ashmore - Freeland, 5.2 miles. Trains 241, 243; 242,244 April 28, 1940; mentions mixed service until Nov. 1, 1942.
Highland Branch, Ashmore - Sandy Junction, 8.7 miles.
Trains 250, 216, 244, 240; 239, 241, 245, 249 May 8, 1927.
Montrose Branch, Tunkhannock - Montrose, 27 miles.Trains 560, 561 discontinued Sept. 29, 1940.
Pottsville Branch, Andreas - Pottsville, 20.1 miles.Trains 495, 496 (mixed), Feb. 20, 1939.
Sheppton Branch, Hazelton - Sheppton, 11.4 miles Trains 181-184. June 1, 1930.
Tomhicken Branch, Tomhicken - Hazleton Junction, 10.4 miles. Pennsylvania RR Trains 191, 193, 184,186. Feb. 20, 1939.
There was once a Lehigh Valley train that originated in Phillipsburg, N.J. called the "Lehigh - Pennsylvania Express." It took sort of round-about routing. The train was inaugurated in April, 1916 and operated until July 16, 1938. Public timetables show it as Train #510 eastbound and #509 westbound, leaving Phillipsburg at 7:50 a.m. and arriving in Pittsburgh at 7:55 p.m. Returning it left Pittsburgh at 7:17 a.m. and arrived in Phillipsburg at 7:30 p.m. It carried a drawing room parlor car, broiler buffet service and coaches. It passed through Weatherly, Hazleton, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah, and was turned over to the Pennsy at Mt. Carmel, passing through Shamokin, Sunbury, Northumberland, Milton, Williamsport; then west through Jersey Shore, Lock Haven, Bellefonte, Tyrone and Altoona; then on the main line to Pittsburgh. The distance was 398.3 miles via this route. Eastbound Train #510 ran the same route and was called the "Pennsylvania - Lehigh Express." It was a daily round trip.
One source states this train was inaugurated in April, 1916 at the behest of Charles M. Schwab of Bethlehem Steel for steel executives "commuting" to Pittsburgh. The parlor car was cut back to Sunbury on Nov. 1, 1931. The train itself terminated at Mt. Carmel on April 24, 1932. Easton became its terminus on Sept. 29, 1935.
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Last Lehigh Valley Railroad Local Mainline Passenger Service.
Mainline west of Wilkes-Barre
Trains 125 and 126 - Wilkes Barre - Sayre
Discontinued January 4, 1941
Last passenger service at:
Ransom, Wyoanna, Falls, Whites Ferry, LaGrange, Vosburg, Mahoopeny, Meshoppen, Myobah, Black Walnut, Skinner's Ferry, Laceyville, Wyalusing, Homets Ferry, Rummerfield, Standing Stone, Wysox, East Towanda, Ulster, Milan, Athens.
Trains 120 and 121 - Sayre -Geneva
Discontinued Sept. 23, 1933
Last passenger service at:
East Waverly, Lockwood, Cayuta, Alpine, Odessa, Burdett, Hector, Valois, Caywood, Lodi, Gilbert (flag stop), Kendaia, Yale (also known as Varick)
Trains 127 and 128 - Sayre - Geneva via Ithaca branch (gas-electric)
Discontinued November 11, 1949
Van Etten, Spencer, North Spencer (closed 1937); West Danby (flag - closed, 1936); Newfield, Willow Creek (flag), Taughannock Falls (flag); Trumansburg, Covert, Interlaken, Sheldrake Springs (flag); Hayts Corners, Romulus, MacDougall. (Discontinued between Geneva and Rochester, May 7, 1927).
Trains 129 and 130 - Sayre - Buffalo
Discontinued Rochester Junction - Buffalo April 24, 1932
Last passenger service at:
Rush, Caledonia, North LeRoy, Stafford
Trains 129 and 130 - Geneva to Rochester Junction (gas-electric)
Discontinued February 2, 1935
Last passenger service at:
Oaks Corners and Phelps (dropped Sept. 28, 1930); Manchester, Farmington, (flag) closed Sept. 12, 1940; Victor and Mendon. The "Black Diamond," "Star" and "Major" continued to stop at Clifton Springs, Rochester Junction, Caledonia and Batavia until discontinued on May 11, 1959. The remaining night train, the "Maple Leaf" did not stop at these stations.
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Compiled by Carl Rose
