Black Diamond (passenger train)

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The Black Diamond Express in 1898

The Black Diamond was the premier passenger train of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. ^[1]

1 History
2 Origin of Name
3 Miscellaneous
4 Sources
5 References

[edit] History

Service between New York and Buffalo began on May 18, 1896. ^[2]^[3] In 1913, the train had to move to the Central Railroad of New Jersey's terminal in Jersey City, but that only lasted until 1918 when it began to use Penn Station. Its last run was on May 11, 1959, due to wide-spread cuts to all Lehigh Valley passenger service; all passenger service was ended on February 3, 1961. ^[4]

[edit] Origin of Name

The train was named for the railroad's major cargo, anthracite coal, which was known as "the black diamond" because of its exceptional hardness and high value. In turn, the railroad itself was known as "the route of the Black Diamond." ^[5]

[edit] Miscellaneous

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 existing 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives that hauled the train.^{[citation needed]}

The Lehigh Valley Railroad also opperated trains #28 and #29 (The John Wilkes) which also boasted Otto Kuhler designed streamlining shrouds very similar in design to The Black Diamond, but with slightly more complex steel work on the front pilot.^{[citation needed]}