Red Arrow
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
Statusdiscontinued
LocaleMidwestern United States/Mid-Atlantic States
First service1925
Last service1960
Former operator(s)Pennsylvania Railroad
Route
TerminiWashington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Detroit, Michigan
Distance travelled756.6 miles (1,217.6 km) Detroit-New York
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)68 (eastbound), 69 (westbound); 574 (branch to Washington), 569 (from Washington)
On-board services
Seating arrangementscoaches (1950)
Sleeping arrangementsSleeping cars: sections, roomettes, duplex rooms, double bedrooms, drawing room (1950)
Catering facilitiesBar-lounge car -New York-Detroit, dining cars New York-Detroit and Washington to Harrisburg (1950)

The Red Arrow was a night train operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad that ran from New York City to Detroit. It had an additional section going to and from Washington, D.C. This was an unusual train, in that the PRR had few trains that ran to Detroit. More of the PRR trains went west to Chicago or St. Louis. The Red Arrow became the premier PRR train on the New York–Detroit circuit.[1]

History

The train began as an eastbound-only train, from Detroit to Pittsburgh in 1925. In the next year it went in both directions, #69, westbound, #68 eastbound. By 1938 the train was extended to New York and Washington, with the route split at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Detroit terminus was the Fort Street Union Depot in downtown Detroit.[1][2]

Route

Going south from Detroit, the route went through Toledo, Ohio, joined the PRR main line at Mansfield, Ohio, and continued east. In the easterly direction the train made a stop in Canton, Ohio. In the westbound direction the train made no stops between Pittsburgh and Mansfield.[3]

Derailment

On February 18, 1947, the eastbound Red Arrow was derailed at Bennington Curve near Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, killing 22 of the 200 people on board at the time. The cause of the accident was determined to be excessive speed around the curve, derailing the two K4s steam locomotives and many of the passenger cars.[4]

Demise

Between April 29, 1956 and July 26, 1959 the route was shrunk in steps, eventually to a local train between Detroit and Toledo. It had its last run on July 26, 1960.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Red Arrow". American Rails.
  2. ^ a b Christopher T. Baer (September 8, 2009). "Named Trains of the PRR Including Through Services" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Pennsylvania Railroad, Tables 6, 13, 76, 93, 103, 170, 181". Official Guide of the Railways. 82 (8). National Railway Publication Company. January 1950.
  4. ^ "Remembering the Red Arrow 70 years later". February 17, 2017.
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