Shenandoah (Amtrak train)
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|Former Amtrak train between Washington, DC, and Cincinnati, OH}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| name = Shenandoah
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Shenandoah at Gaithersburg, March 12, 1978.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = The Shenandoah at Gaithersburg in March 1978
| type = Inter-city rail
| status = Discontinued
| locale = West Virginia
| predecessor =
| first = October 31, 1976
| last = September 30, 1981
| successor = Capitol Limited
| operator =
| formeroperator = Amtrak
| ridership =
| start = Washington
| stops = 18
| end = Cincinnati
| distance = {{convert|546|mi|km|2|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 14 hours 28 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| trainnumber = 32, 33
| class = Unreserved coach
| access =
| seating =
| sleeping =
| autorack =
| catering = On-board café
| observation =
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| otherfacilities =
| stock = Amfleet
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg}}
| el =
| speed =
| owners = Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
| routenumber =
| map = {{Amtrak Shenandoah}}
| map_state = collapsed}}
The Shenandoah was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Washington and Cincinnati from 1976 until 1981.
History
The Shenandoah began operating on October 31, 1976.Corridor Takeover, New Equipment, Highlight Amtrak's 1976 Amtrak News January 15, 1977, page 1 The name came from the Shenandoah, a Washington–Akron train operated by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad until Amtrak took over the nation's passenger trains in 1971.{{rp|29}}
File:Parkersburg Amtrak station.jpg
Connecting service at Cincinnati to Chicago was provided by the Mountaineer/James Whitcomb Riley until 1977, after which it was provided by the Cardinal.
Amtrak discontinued the Shenandoah on September 30, 1981, citing low ridership. Amtrak considered the Shenandoah one of its weakest lines, and the Department of Transportation had recommended its discontinuance in 1979. Service on the Washington–Cumberland segment of the Shenandoah was replaced by the new Washington–Pittsburgh–Chicago Capitol Limited.{{rp|126–127}} The Cincinnati–Cumberland portion never regained passenger rail service, and CSX subsequently abandoned much of the track.{{rp|315}}
Equipment
The Shenandoah originally operated with Amfleet coaches and a cafe car; one or two coaches were used west of Martinsburg, with two additional coaches on the more-heavily-used segment between Martinsburg and Washington, D.C. The original GE P30CH locomotives were replaced by new EMD F40PH locomotives in 1977.{{rp|70}} Consists varied based on demand; many trains were just two to three cars long.{{cite web |title=West Virginia State Rail Plan: Intercity Service Review |author=West Virginia Department of Transportation, State Rail Authority |date=March 12, 2013 |url=http://www.westvirginiarailplan.com/Libraries/project_information/WV_SRP_-_Intercity_Service_Review.sflb.ashx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131524/http://www.westvirginiarailplan.com/Libraries/project_information/WV_SRP_-_Intercity_Service_Review.sflb.ashx |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |pages=4–6}}
The 1978 switch to overnight service required the train to have sleeping facilities per Interstate Commerce Commission rules. Amtrak added two sleeping compartments each to a pair of Amfleet coaches (dubbed "Ampad"), which began service on May 3, 1978. A Congressional mandate resulted in a conventional 10-6 sleeper (10 roomettes and six double bedrooms) being added on October 28, 1979.{{rp|69}} The sleeper was removed on April 26, 1981.{{rp|70}}
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
{{Schwieterman-Leaves-Eastern}}
{{cite news | title=Shenandoah, Cardinal Make Final Runs: Congressmen Seek Ways To Keep Cincinnati Routes | newspaper=Toledo Blade | date=October 1, 1981 | access-date=October 24, 2009 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19811001&id=13cUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6772,115759}}
}}
External links
{{commons category inline}}
- [http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19810426&item=0033 1981 timetable]
{{Former Amtrak routes}}
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Maryland
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Ohio
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Washington, D.C.
Category:Passenger rail transportation in West Virginia