Wolverine (NYC train)

Route map
	v; t; e; Legend
	New York
	Ontario
	Ontario
	Michigan
	Michigan
	Indiana
	Indiana
	Illinois

*Wolverine*
Overview
Service type	Ontario, Canada/Midwestern United States
First service	1906
Last service	1967
Successor	Amtrak's Niagara Rainbow
Former operator(s)	New York Central Railroad;
Route
Termini	Reclining seat coaches
Sleeping arrangements	Roomettes, double bedrooms, drawing rooms and compartments (1957)
Catering facilities	Dining car
Observation facilities	Lounge car
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Route map
	v; t; e; Legend
	New York
	Ontario
	Ontario
	Michigan
	Michigan
	Indiana
	Indiana
	Illinois

The Wolverine was an international

Penn Central era.^[1] The name resurfaced on the truncated Detroit–Chicago route with Amtrak's Wolverine

.

All through the train's years it included a separate section of coaches and sleepers from

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania sleepers (for the Syracuse-Buffalo segment).^[6]

In 1957 the Wolverine lost the observation car that it previously had. By 1962 the train included sleepercoaches from the Budd Company for its roomettes. The train dropped the older drawing rooms and compartments. The schedule also dropped Hudson, New York and Ypsilanti, Marshall and Dowagiac, Michigan.^[7] In January 1961 the train lost its Boston sleepers.^[8]

In December 1967 the train lost its name and was simply the numbered 17 / 8.

Penn Central era (following the merger with long time rival Pennsylvania Railroad) the train only had its westbound unnamed #61/#17 with sleeper, coach and dining car service. Yet, eastbound an unnamed #14 only ran on a Chicago–Detroit–Buffalo itinerary. Riders would need to switch at a late night hour to a different train at 2:30 am in Buffalo to complete the trip to New York City.^[10]

Popular culture

Steely Dan's 1973 song, "My Old School", makes a reference to the Wolverine, which stopped at Rhinecliff, NY, very nearby Bard College, the alma mater of the band's two leaders.

References

^ Passenger Time Table (PDF). New York Central. November 5, 1967.
^ Maiken 1989, p. 368
^ Sanders 2003, p. 94
^ New York Central (PDF). New York Central. April 28, 1957.
^ New York Central (PDF). Table 2: New York Central. June 17, 1951.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^ Maiken 1989, p. 367
^ New York Central (PDF). New York Central. April 29, 1962.
^ Sanders 2003, p. 96
^ Passenger Time Table (PDF). New York Central. December 3, 1967.
^ East/West timetable. Penn Central. December 1968.

Bibliography

Maiken, Peter T. (1989). Night Trains: The Pullman System in the Golden Years of American Rail Travel. Chicago: Lakme Press.
OCLC 20461978
.

Sanders, Craig (2003). Limiteds, Locals, and Expresses in Indiana, 1838–1971. Bloomington, Indiana:
ISBN 978-0-253-34216-4
.

External links

[1] Passenger Time Table (PDF). New York Central. November 5, 1967.

[2] Maiken 1989, p. 368

[3] Sanders 2003, p. 94

[4] New York Central (PDF). New York Central. April 28, 1957.

[5] New York Central (PDF). Table 2: New York Central. June 17, 1951.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

[6] Maiken 1989, p. 367

[7] New York Central (PDF). New York Central. April 29, 1962.

[8] Sanders 2003, p. 96

[9] Passenger Time Table (PDF). New York Central. December 3, 1967.

[10] East/West timetable. Penn Central. December 1968.

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