Ontarian (train)
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail |
| Status | Discontinued |
| First service | April, 1938 |
| Last service | December 2, 1967 |
| Former operators | New York Central Railroad, Canadian Pacific Railway, Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway |
| Route | |
| Termini | New York City Toronto |
| Service frequency | Daily |
| Train number | 371/376 |
| On-board services | |
| Seating arrangements | coaches |
| Sleeping arrangements | roomettes, double bedrooms |
The Ontarian was an overnight Pullman passenger train connecting New York City with Toronto via the New York Central’s Water Level Route and the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo line. Discontinued as a through service in 1967, Amtrak eventually began service on the same route as the Maple Leaf day train and even experimented with a weekend overnight service in the 1990’s.[1]
History
The train began service in April 1938, replacing the Toronto-New Yorker train.[2] The train carried a lounge car between Toronto and Syracuse which it swapped for a diner between Syracuse and New York City. It carried a coach between Toronto and Buffalo, requiring all other passengers to purchase sleeper berths east of Buffalo.[3] The Ontarian was discontinued when the New York Central dropped most of their overnight trains for day trains on a memory timetable.[4][5]
References
- ^ Angus, Fred F. (May–June 1996). "Twenty-Five Years of Amtrak in Canada" (PDF). Canadian Rail. No. 452. pp. 63–73. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "New York Central Railroad Timetable 1937" (PDF). Canadian Southern. 27 June 1937. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "New York Central Railroad Timetable 1938" (PDF). Canadian Southern. 24 April 1938. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "New York Central Railroad Timetable November1967" (PDF). Canadian Southern. 5 November 1967. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "New York Central Railroad Timetable December 1967" (PDF). Canadian Southern. 3 December 1967. Retrieved 28 November 2025.