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Black Diamond (passenger train)
Encyclopedia
The Black Diamond was the flagship passenger train of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
(LV). It ran from New York
to Buffalo
from 1896 until 1959, when the Lehigh Valley's passenger service was reduced to four mainline trains.
and Buffalo
began on 18 May 1896, though it originally had to use the Pennsylvania Railroad
's Exchange Place
station as an eastern terminus because the Lehigh Valley did not have a route into New York. In 1913, the train was forced by the PRR to vacate the station, and so the eastern terminus was changed to the Central Railroad of New Jersey
's terminal in Jersey City. That lasted only five years, as the United States Railroad Administration
decided in 1918 to re-route all Lehigh Valley trains into Penn Station
to centralize traffic.
The Black Diamond competed with services offered by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
and the New York Central Railroad
; although slower than either of these, its level of service won it the nicknames "the Handsomest Train in the World" and "the Honeymoon Express." In 1940 the train was provided with the line's first set of lightweight streamlined coaches, designed by Otto Kuhler
, who also designed streamlined shroudings for the existing 4-6-2
Pacific locomotives that hauled the train. Later, the Pacific engine was replaced by Alco's PA-1
, which was painted Cornell red with black playing a secondary role. The black was used in a role similar to the "cat whiskers" that appeared on the PRR's GG-1's.
The train's last run was on 12 May 1959, due to widespread cuts to all Lehigh Valley
passenger service. All passenger service ended on February 3, 1961.
, which was known as "the black diamond" because of its exceptional hardness and high value. As a result, the railroad used "The Route of the Black Diamond" as its slogan.
designed streamlining
shrouds very similar in design to the Black Diamond.
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
(LV). It ran from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
from 1896 until 1959, when the Lehigh Valley's passenger service was reduced to four mainline trains.
History
Service between New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
began on 18 May 1896, though it originally had to use the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
's Exchange Place
Exchange Place (PRR station)
The Pennsylvania Railroad Station was the intermodal passenger terminal for the Pennsylvania Railroad's vast holdings on the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey. By the 1920s the station was called Exchange Place in response to local nomenclature...
station as an eastern terminus because the Lehigh Valley did not have a route into New York. In 1913, the train was forced by the PRR to vacate the station, and so the eastern terminus was changed to the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
's terminal in Jersey City. That lasted only five years, as the United States Railroad Administration
United States Railroad Administration
The United States Railroad Administration was the name of the nationalized railroad system of the United States between 1917 and 1920. It was possibly the largest American experiment with nationalization, and was undertaken against a background of war emergency.- Background :On April 6, 1917, the...
decided in 1918 to re-route all Lehigh Valley trains into Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
to centralize traffic.
The Black Diamond competed with services offered by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
and the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
; although slower than either of these, its level of service won it the nicknames "the Handsomest Train in the World" and "the Honeymoon Express." In 1940 the train was provided with the line's first set of lightweight streamlined coaches, designed by Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler was an American designer, one of the best known industrial designers of the American railroads. According to Trains magazine he streamstyled more locomotives and railroad cars than Cret, Dreyfuss and Loewy combined...
, who also designed streamlined shroudings for the existing 4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
Pacific locomotives that hauled the train. Later, the Pacific engine was replaced by Alco's PA-1
ALCO PA
ALCO PA refers to a family of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains that were built in Schenectady, New York in the United States by a partnership of the American Locomotive Company and General Electric between June, 1946 and December, 1953...
, which was painted Cornell red with black playing a secondary role. The black was used in a role similar to the "cat whiskers" that appeared on the PRR's GG-1's.
The train's last run was on 12 May 1959, due to widespread cuts to all Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
passenger service. All passenger service ended on February 3, 1961.
Origin of Name
The train was named for the railroad's major cargo, anthracite coalAnthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
, which was known as "the black diamond" because of its exceptional hardness and high value. As a result, the railroad used "The Route of the Black Diamond" as its slogan.
Miscellaneous
The Lehigh Valley Railroad also operated trains #28 and #29 (the John Wilkes) which also boasted Otto KuhlerOtto Kuhler
Otto Kuhler was an American designer, one of the best known industrial designers of the American railroads. According to Trains magazine he streamstyled more locomotives and railroad cars than Cret, Dreyfuss and Loewy combined...
designed streamlining
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
shrouds very similar in design to the Black Diamond.