Nickel Plate Limited
| Industry | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 1929 |
| Headquarters | Not specified , United States |
| Products | Passenger train service (Nickel Plate Limited, City of Cleveland, City of Chicago) |
The Nickel Plate Limited, which was subsequently renamed the City of Cleveland for eastbound travel and the City of Chicago for westbound journeys, operated as an overnight passenger train under the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (commonly known as Nickel Plate). Its route connected Chicago and Buffalo, New York, passing through Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, it provided continuous service extending to Hoboken, New Jersey (serving New York City) via the cities of Binghamton, Scranton, and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad on the segment between Buffalo and Hoboken.
Launched in April 1929, the Nickel Plate Limited marked the railroad’s first named passenger train since 1906. This service upgraded the pre-existing Chicago-New York route by incorporating Pullman club cars and sleeping accommodations to rival competing offerings such as the New York Central Railroad's Forest City. For eastbound through cars between Buffalo and New York, the DL&W’s New York Mail provided handling, while westbound cars were managed by the Phoebe Snow (previously known as the Lackawanna Limited). By 1950, passengers could select from a comprehensive range of sleeper options including open sections, roomettes, and drawing rooms. Transfers to DLW trains were facilitated at Lackawanna Station in Buffalo.
In 1954, the railroad rebranded this premier service: it became known as City of Chicago on westbound trips and City of Cleveland eastbound. The through service extending to Hoboken was discontinued in 1959. Despite the eventual dissolution of the Nickel Plate Railroad itself, these trains continued operating until passenger services ended on September 10, 1965, following the 1964 merger with the Norfolk and Western Railway. These final runs represented the last passenger operations under the Nickel Plate name.
Major stops
Principal station stops were:
- Chicago (La Salle Street)
- Englewood
- Fort Wayne
- Lorain
- Cleveland (Union Terminal)
- Erie
- Buffalo (Lackawanna Terminal)