Berkshire Hills Express

American named passenger train (1919–1934)

Berkshire Hills ExpressOverview

Service type| Inter-city rail
Status| discontinued
Locale| Northeastern United States
First service| 1919
Last service| 1934
Former operator(s)| New York Central Railroad & Boston & Albany Railroad
Route
Termini| New York, New York
North Adams, Massachusetts
Distance travelled| 175.5 miles (282.4 km)
Service frequency| Daily (shortened on Sundays to Pittsfield)
Train number(s)| 911 (southbound)
916 (northbound)
On-board services
Seating arrangements| Coach
Catering facilities| Buffet car
Observation facilities| Parlor car
| Route map

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Legend

|  |  |

|  | North Adams

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  | Renfrew
|  |

|  | Adams
|  |

|  | Maple Grove
|  |

|  | Cheshire
|  |

|  | Pittsfield
|  |

|  | Richmond
|  |

|  |

| Massachusetts

New York

|  |

|  | State Line
|  |

|  | Canaan
|  |

|  | Chatham
|  |

|  | Millerton
|  |

|  | Sharon Station
|  |

|  | Dover Plains
|  |

|  | Pawling
|  |

|  | Brewster
|  |

|  | White Plains
|  |

|  | 125th Street Station
|  |

|  | New York City–Grand Central Terminal
|  |  |  |  |  |

The Berkshire Hills Express was a full-service passenger train of the New York Central Railroad that went from New York City to North Adams, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. It served as a channel for tourist travel from downstate New York, through the Taconic Mountains, to resorts and other attractions in the Berkshires and for students traveling to Williams College, 11 miles west of North Adams. The train operated from 1919 to 1934. However, it continued in unnamed form for nearly two decades longer.[1]

## Route

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The train, carrying the number, #916, departing mid-afternoon, went in express fashion on the New York Central's Harlem Line, bypassing most stations between 125th Street Station and Chatham, New York. From Chatham, the train headed east on the territory of the Boston and Albany Railroad that the NYC had leased, to Pittsfield, and then headed north on the B&A's North Adams branch. The train took the name, New York Express and #911 on the southbound route to New York City. In addition to carrying coach cars it included a buffet car and parlor car as well.[2]

Following the NYC's dropping of the Berkshire Hills Express and New York Express in 1934, the train continued as #1516 north and #5417 south. By this time a morning train took the route as well in both directions.[3]

## Demise

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In 1950, the through service to North Adams was trimmed to a shuttle from Chatham to North Adams, requiring a transfer at Chatham.[4] Passenger service between Chatham and North Adams ended in 1953.[5]

## See also

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* Berkshire Flyer

## References

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1. ^ "New York Central Railroad, Tables 6, 98". Official Guide of the Railways. 64 (9). National Railway Publication Company. February 1932.
2. ^ "New York Central Railroad, Tables 6, 98". Official Guide of the Railways. 64 (9). National Railway Publication Company. February 1932.
3. ^ "New York Central Railroad, Tables 11, 90". Official Guide of the Railways. 71 (3). National Railway Publication Company. August 1938.
4. ^ New York Central June 1950 timetable, Table 42
5. ^ Karr, Ronald Dale. 'Lost Railroads of New England,' Pepperell, MA: Branch Line Press, Third edition, 2010, p. 207

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Named trains of the New York Central Railroad

* Berkshire Hills Express
* Buffalo-Pittsburgh Express
* Canadian
* Cayuga
* Chicagoan
* Cincinnati Special
* Cleveland Limited
* Detroiter
* Empire State Express
* Fifth Avenue Special
* Genessee
* Great Lakes Aerotrain
* Green Mountain Flyer
* Interstate Express
* Iroquois
* James Whitcomb Riley
* Knickerbocker
* Lake Shore Limited
* The Mercurys (Cleveland Mercury, Chicago Mercury, Cincinnati Mercury)
* Michigan Special
* Mohawk
* Motor City Special
* Mount Royal
* New England States
* New York Special
* North Shore Limited
* North Star
* Northerner
* Ohio Special
* Ohio State Limited
* Ohio Xplorer
* Ontarian
* Pacemaker
* Southwestern Limited
* Sycamore
* Timberliner
* 20th Century Limited
* Twilight Limited
* Wolverine

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