Ambassador (B&M train)

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]

Ambassador
The Ambassador in New Hampshire in September 1965
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleNortheastern 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
TerminiBoston, Massachusetts and New York City, New York
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 facilitiesParlor car
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
328 mi
528 km
‹See TfM›Montreal
302 mi
486 km
Saint-John
260 mi
418 km
‹See TfM›St. Albans
247 mi
398 km
Milton
236 mi
380 km
‹See TfM›Essex Junction
214 mi
344 km
‹See TfM›Waterbury
196 mi
315 km
‹See TfM›Northfield
175 mi
282 km
‹See TfM›Randolph
167 mi
269 km
Bethel
161 mi
259 km
‹See TfM›South Royalton
143 mi
230 km
‹See TfM›White River Junction
73 mi
117 km
‹See TfM›Concord
56 mi
90 km
Manchester
39 mi
63 km
Nashua
26 mi
42 km
‹See TfM›Lowell
0 mi
Boston

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 Montreal—New 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 

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e 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