Maple Leaf (LV train)

The Maple Leaf was an international night train between New York City and Toronto, operated by the Lehigh Valley Railroad in coordination with the Canadian National Railway.[1] It ran from Pennsylvania Station in New York City and it concluded at Toronto's Union Station. It began in 1937; and a predecessor LV train on a similar itinerary was the Toronto. The Maple Leaf and the John Wilkes were the last named passenger trains operated by the Lehigh Valley Railroad.[2]

This article is about the Lehigh Valley Railroad train. For other trains, see Maple leaf (disambiguation) § Transport.
Maple Leaf
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleNortheastern United States/Ontario
PredecessorToronto
First service1937
Last serviceFebruary 3, 1961
Former operator(s)Lehigh Valley Railroad
Canadian National Railway
Reading Railroad
Route
StartNew York City and Philadelphia
EndToronto
Distance travelled548 miles (882 km) (New York City-Toronto)
Average journey time13 hours, 50 minutes, northbound
13 hours, 25 minutes, southbound (1953)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)Northbound: 7
Southbound: 8
On-board services
Seating arrangementsCoach
Sleeping arrangementsOpen-sections, double bedrooms and drawing room
Catering facilitiesDining car (New York-Lehighton, PA)
Observation facilitiesCafe-lounge (New York-Lehighton); cafe-parlor car (Niagara Falls, ON-Toronto)
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
The Maple Leaf coming into Allentown Station on its final run, February 4, 1961

The route was double tracked from New York City to Niagara Falls; and in the Finger Lakes Region it bypassed several local stations. In contrast to the LV's Black Diamond and Star, it bypassed Ithaca on the northbound trip. However, in the final years of the Maple Leaf, after the discontinuance of those trains, it did stop in Ithaca. The train had an alternate section operated with the Reading Railroad, which originated at Reading Terminal in Philadelphia and linked with the main part of the Maple Leaf train in Bethlehem.[3]

The train had its final departure on February 3, 1961.[4][5]

References
  1. Lehigh Valley Railroad September 27, 1953 timetable, Tables 1,2
  2. 'Last of the Railroad,' 'Geneva Times,' February 3, 1961
  3. Lehigh Valley Railroad September 27, 1953 timetable, Tables 1,2
  4. 'Direct Link To N.Y. CN Link To Be Cut,' 'St. Catherines Standard,' February 2, 1961
  5. 'Last of the Railroad - Era Passes Tonight as Lehigh Ends Service,' 'Geneva Times,' February 3, 1961 https://web.archive.org/web/20081013081023/http://www.enter.net/~lvrr/7a8.htm
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