The Cincinnatian Dream Trains

[Dad Howe]

Recently received the special edition Dream trains Magazine. Noted on p. 57 (I think- don't have my copy in front of me) that the original B&O Cincinnatian was scheduled to run on a one and a half hour schedule from Cincinnati to Washington. Living in the former and having family in the latter, I know that by car it is about a 600 mile trip. Thus, it seems that this train was scheduled to run at about 475 mph! I realize this must be a typo. Anyone know what the orginal schedule was really supposed to be before the train was switched to run to Detroit?

Just curious!

Dad Howe

[RudyRockvilleMD]

I rode the Cincinnatian betwen Silver Spring, MD and Cincinnati, OH (Winton Place) several times during its short existence on the Baltimore-Cincinnati run. Its schedule was 12-1/2 hours each way between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the approximate distance is 575 miles. Westbound it left Baltimore at 7 AM EST, and it arrived in Cincinnati at 7:30 PM. Eastbound it left Cincinnati at 8:45 AM, and it arrived in Baltimore at 9:15 PM.

The Cincinnatian was innaugurated on the Washington-Cincinnati run in February, 1947, but it was switched to the Cincinnati-Detroit run in June or July of 1950 although I remember riding it from Silver Spring, MD to Cincinnati in the middle of June of 1950. It was an all coach streamliner and it was hauled by one of four P-7's ( 5301 -5304) which were streamlined for the service; the locomotives were changed in Grafton, WV so two locomotives were used each way. The coaches were rebuilt into wide-window streamlined coaches, and it had a round end observation-diner lounge car. The train was 5 cars long and one P-7 could pull it up 17 Mile Grade unassisted. It had an enviable 95% on-time record, and it was said that if your watch showed that train was late, your watch was fast.

Advance seat reservations were supposedly required, but usually they weren't all that necessary since the train often ran at way less than full capacity. In fact on one of my trips the conductor told me if I didn't like my seat I could change it, but I should let him know first.

[Dad Howe]

Thanks, Rudy, for sharing your memory. I am relieved to know that the B&O didn't have to completely rebuild their track after the passage of this train at 475 mph! Appears they were averaging something closer to 50 mph over the distance. Wish it was still around, especially with a P-7!
Dad Howe