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Before 1925, the B&O offered a thru Washington - Detroit sleeper running
on a Washington-Chicago train to Deshler, then added to a
Cincinnati-Detroit train (and reverse).
In June of 1925, the B&O started a thru overnight Washington-Detroit train
cleverly named the Washington-Detroit Limited (although it actually
originated in Baltimore) with coaches, diner, lounge and sleepers. In
1930, it was renamed The Ambassador. The train typically used the
cutoff thru North Baltimore, skipping Deshler. Up thru 1946, it operated
into Fort Street Station, then moved to the Michigan Central Station.
Beginning in 1954, the Ambassador normally operated combined with
the Washington-Chicago all-coach Columbian as far west as Willard,
although the two trains were considered two separate entities.
Generally, Friday nights westbound, and Sunday nights eastbound (and
holiday and summer peaks) the two trains ran separately.
In 1961, as railroad passenger traffic was declining, the Ambassador
became just a section of the combined Capitol Limited-Columbian. It
had one coach, a sleeper and sleeper lounge. The train operated separately
from Willard to Detroit with a dining car added.
In 1964, the Ambassador name disappeared to be renamed
Capitol-Detroit. Now that the C&O had acquired control of the B&O, the
train was rerouted over the C&O from Toledo to Fort Street Station.
Also, from Toledo to Detroit the train was combined with the Night
Express from Cincinnati. Detroit to Toledo was combined with the C&O
Sportsman (which continued on to Columbus and east to Newport News
and Washington).
The Capitol-Detroit was discontinued in favor of a bus service from
Fostoria in 1969.
© Dale J. Berry, all
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