Ambassador (B&M train)

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Ambassador
Boston & Maine southbound Train 76, The Ambassador, passing freight north of Bellows Falls, VT on September 5, 1965.jpg
The Ambassador in New Hampshire in September 1965
Overview
Service type Inter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
Locale Northeastern United States/Quebec
First serviceApril 26, 1926
Last serviceSeptember 3, 1966
Former operator(s) Boston & Maine
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Canadian National Railway
Central Vermont Railway
Route
Start Boston, Massachusetts and New York City, New York
End Montreal, Quebec
Distance travelled327.2 miles (526.6 km) (1949) (Boston - Montreal)
Average journey time9 hours, 25 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)307 (northbound)
332 (southbound)
On-board services
Seating arrangementsCoach seating
Catering facilitiesCafe grill car, only Montreal to White River Junction (1949)
Observation facilities Parlor car
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

The Ambassador was a passenger train that traveled from Boston, Massachusetts and New York City, New York to Montreal, Quebec. The train was jointly operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Boston and Maine Railroad, the Central Vermont Railroad, and the Canadian National Railway. [1] :112 Beginning service on April 26, 1926, the Ambassador operated on a daytime schedule between Boston and Montreal, with coach, dining, and parlor cars in the consist. The route going north of White River Junction went northwest, through Montpelier and Essex Junction toward Montreal. [1] :112 There were also through cars to New York City offered until the mid-1950s, split from the Ambassador's consist in White River Junction, Vermont and added to the Connecticut Yankee train for points south. [1] :112 In its route from Boston's North Station it passed through Manchester (Union Station, Concord and Franklin in New Hampshire. [2] [3]

In 1956, with traffic declining, through service to Boston from Montreal was terminated, replaced with a transfer to Boston and Maine rail diesel cars at White River Junction, and the Ambassador name was applied to the MontrealNew York City train, which by 1958 lost food service and consisted only of coaches. [1] :114 On September 3, 1966, the Ambassador was discontinued after its operators sought and received approval from the Interstate Commerce Commission to terminate service. [1] :151

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Holland, Kevin (2004). Passenger Trains of Northern New England in the Streamline Era. Lynchburg, VA: TLC Publishing. ISBN   1-883089-69-7.
  2. 'Official Guide of the Railways' August 1949, Boston and Maine section, Table 22
  3. 'Official Guide of the Railways' August 1949, Central Vermont Railway section, Table 5