East Wind (train)
Encyclopedia
The East Wind was a summer passenger train between large cities of the northeastern United States
and resorts along the southern Maine
coast. Travel time was approximately 14 hours over a 700-mile (1100 km) route similar to Amtrak
's Northeast Corridor
. Travel was over the Pennsylvania Railroad
from Washington, D.C.
through Philadelphia to New York City
and then over the New Haven Railroad to Groton, Connecticut
where it left the Northeast Corridor to reach the Boston and Maine Railroad
in Worcester, Massachusetts
. The train continued over the Boston & Maine to Portland, Maine
; where a coach and diner continued to Bangor, Maine
on the connecting Pine Tree Limited.
, a dining car
, and as many as 8 lightweight coaches. New Haven and Boston & Maine provided American Flyer
coaches built in the 1930's by Pullman Company
's former Osgood Bradley Car Company
plant in Worcester. New Haven provided a similar grill car while Pennsylvania Railroad provided P-70 coaches and a lounge car
. Similar service continued through the summers of 1941 and 1942.
, service resumed for the summer of 1946 without the distinctive paint scheme of the earlier years. Dining cars were sometimes leased from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
, and other times Boston and Maine or New Haven heavyweight diners were used. The New Haven diners were sometimes painted silver. The train ran for the last time in the summer of 1955.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and resorts along the southern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
coast. Travel time was approximately 14 hours over a 700-mile (1100 km) route similar to Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
. Travel was over 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....
from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
through Philadelphia to New York City
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...
and then over the New Haven Railroad to Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
where it left the Northeast Corridor to reach the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. The train continued over the Boston & Maine to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
; where a coach and diner continued to Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
on the connecting Pine Tree Limited.
Equipment
Service was initiated in the summer of 1940 with two dedicated consists of pooled passenger cars painted yellow with a silver window band and pinstripes. Each train had an arch-roof baggage carBaggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
, a dining car
Dining car
A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
, and as many as 8 lightweight coaches. New Haven and Boston & Maine provided American Flyer
American Flyer
American Flyer was a popular brand of toy train and model railroad in the United States in the middle part of the 20th century.- The Chicago era, 1907–1938 :...
coaches built in the 1930's by Pullman Company
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
's former Osgood Bradley Car Company
Osgood Bradley Car Company
The Osgood Bradley Car Company manufactured railway passenger cars and streetcars in Worcester, Massachusetts.-History:The company was founded in 1822 to manufacture stagecoaches and sleighs. The company's first railway passenger cars were built for the Boston and Worcester Railroad in 1835. ...
plant in Worcester. New Haven provided a similar grill car while Pennsylvania Railroad provided P-70 coaches and a lounge car
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
. Similar service continued through the summers of 1941 and 1942.
Later years
East Wind train service was not offered during the summers of 1943, 1944 and 1945. After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, service resumed for the summer of 1946 without the distinctive paint scheme of the earlier years. Dining cars were sometimes leased from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
, and other times Boston and Maine or New Haven heavyweight diners were used. The New Haven diners were sometimes painted silver. The train ran for the last time in the summer of 1955.