The Cincinnatian, The B&O's Exotic Regional Streamliner

One of the Baltimore & Ohio’s most exotic passenger trains was the Cincinnatian that, interestingly, while being shrouded in stunning streamlining and matching Pacific Type steam locomotives originally served a market rather devoid of passengers. Because of this the train’s routing was soon changed just a few years after its inauguration to serve larger urban areas. The Cincinnatian, while never a profitable train, carried on for nearly 25 years and remained on the B&O timetable until the end when Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail operations in 1971.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, commonly known as the B&O, holds the distinction of being this country’s very first common-carrier railroad (meaning a railroad chartered specifically for public use) being officially incorporated and organized on April 24th, 1827. – Just as a side-note the B&O was not the first railroad actually chartered in this country, that distinction goes to the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad which was created a year earlier in 1826. – By being this country’s first common carrier the railroad was instrumental in helping to build and grow not only our economy but also the country itself when the “west” meant the Ohio River.

While never a wealthy railroad throughout its existence (when compared to the likes of its much larger and powerful northern competitors, the Pennsylvania [PRR] and New York Central [NYC] Railroads) its legacy will forever be remembered as a survivor and that it put customer service above all else. When the company’s name and existence finally came to an end on April 30th, 1987 it had just celebrated its 160th birthday and witnessed the industry grow from nothing more than few scattered systems to a rail network consisting of tens of thousands of miles linking the country from coast to coast (it also outlived its wealthier northern competitors by over a decade).The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was always the underdog in an eastern market dominated by the PRR and NYC. The company also had an on-and-off struggle of remaining independent as it once went into receivership in 1896 and later ownership by the PRR. However, throughout all of this it steadfastly remained independent.

Despite its marginal financial situation the Baltimore and Ohio holds many “firsts.” It was quick to adopt the more efficient mode of diesel power in 1930s, and was the first to include air-conditioning in its passenger fleet. Other accomplishments include one of the fist railroads to use electric locomotives (through its Howard Street tunnel in Baltimore, the locomotives were developed by General Electric), streamlining its passenger trains to make them more appealing and including dome passenger cars in the eastern U.S.

The route the Cincinnatian was selected to cover already featured one premier B&O passenger train, the National Limited, operating originally between New York (Jersey City Terminal) and St. Louis. In a sense, the Cincy was a truncated version of the National serving the cities of Baltimore and Cincinnati (hence the train’s name).

However, like the problem that the National always faced, the Cincinnatian served a region that was lightly populated which did not allow for much online revenue in terms of passengers. Station’s along the Cincy’s route included cities like Martinsburg, Clarksburg, and Parkersburg, West Virginia; and cities in Ohio (east of Cincinnati) that included Athens and Chillicothe.

The train debuted in January of 1947 but due to its lightly populated market soon switched from a Baltimore – Cincinnati run to a Detroit – Cincinnati run (in June 1950). However, wherever the train went it sure got your attention. The Cincy was built entirely from heavyweight equipment but one would never have known it as the B&O’s Mount Clare shop forces turned the old cars into things of beauty (building them completely from the ground up!), and were arguably as finely crafted as anything built from Budd, Pullman-Standard, or American Car & Foundry.

The train itself was clad in a two-tone version of the B&O’s regal dark blue passenger livery and featured silver trim. Even the Cincy’s lead steam locomotive, a Pacific Type, was bedecked in a matching livery and streamlining (somewhat forgotten today under the plethora of other streamliners roaming the rails during that time the B&O’s Cincinnatian Pacifics are one of the all-time classics), and certainly could not be missed out on the main line (it definitely would catch your eye!).

On the Cincinnati – Detroit corridor the Cincinnatian remained in service until the very end with the B&O’s last day operating the train on April 30, 1971, the day before Amtrak took over intercity operations. While the train, along with most other B&O passenger trains have been discontinued under Amtrak one is still in operation today, the Capitol Limited, B&O’s flagship. After Amtrak took over passenger operations it initially canceled all B&O trains, including the Capitol Limited. However, ten years after making its final run under its original creator, Amtrak brought back the Cap in 1981, operating it over its original route between Washington, D.C. and Chicago where it continues to remain in service today.

For more reading on streamliners like the Cincinnatian you might want to also consider the book Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon from renowned author Mike Schafer who covers in detail most of the well-known and remembered “classic” passenger trains to operate in the country. If you have any interest in such you should very much enjoy Mr. Schafer’s book.

Also, you might also be interested in Baltimore & Ohio Railroad written by Kirk Reynolds and David Oroszi. While there are several more excellent books, with superb illustrations, out there covering different aspects of the B&O in more detail this publication includes a fine general history of the railroad with wonderful historical photos (many in color).