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Wabash Timetables (August, 1952)

Published: February 23, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Presented below is public timetables of the Wabash Railroad, featured in the August, 1952 issue of The Official Guide Of The Railways.  This period featured the company at its zenith when most of the network and its flagship trains were in operation. 

The Wabash Railroad, officially the Wabash Railway until 1942, was a significant Class I railroad connecting the America Midwest's heartland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Founded in 1837, it served a large area, including tracks running through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, eventually expanding to Buffalo, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Its rise was contributing to the development of these regional economies. The Wabash's main revenue was from the transportation of grain, livestock, and coal. Despite several economic challenges and bankruptcy filings, it managed to reshape itself over the years.

In 1964, it was absorbed by the Norfolk & Western Railway, losing its corporate identity but leaving a legacy in the system's Wabash Track, still operating today.

Significant court cases like Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway Company v. Illinois in 1886 shaped legislation surrounding the railroad business, with this case ultimately leading to the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Despite its troubled history, the Wabash Railroad played a pivotal role in America's railroad history, contributing to the growth and development of the Midwest and leaving a lasting impact on America's railroad laws and regulations.

Public Timetables (August, 1952)