The Columbian was a named passenger train operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was the all-coach supplemental train of the all-Pullman Capitol Limited. The train's initial route was between Jersey City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., but in 1941 the Columbian route was lengthened to Jersey Illinois.

The Columbian between Jersey City and Washington was the first air-conditioned passenger train in North America. Air-conditioned equipment began operating on the train on May 24, 1931.

In 1949, a brand new lightweight Columbian train set for travel between Baltimore, Maryland, via Washington to Chicago was built. The consists were ordered from Pullman-Standard for April, 1949 delivery and these two train sets have the distinction of being the only all-new consists built for the B&O in the postwar period. These two eight–car streamlined trains were the only trains in the eastern U.S. to be equipped with dome cars. Although the pair were intended as a daytime operation between Chicago and Baltimore by way of Washington the two new trains entered overnight service May 5, 1949.

On April 26, 1958, the B&O discontinued all passenger service between Jersey City and Baltimore, Maryland, and thereafter the eastern terminus of the Columbian was Baltimore. By the early 1960s, the Columbian was combined with the B&O's formerly all-Pullman Capitol Limited between Washington and Chicago. When Amtrak took over train service on May 1, 1971, the B&O's combined Capitol Limited – Columbian was discontinued, along with all other B&O long-distance passenger trains.

Equipment used

• 87A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
• 87X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
• 1350 HARPERS FERRY Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory Buffet 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
• 5500 CONNELLSVILLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5502 GARY 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5550 HIGH DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
• 1090 AKRON 38 seat Dining Car
• 5504 MARTINSBURG 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5506 NEW CASTLE 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 3315 CHICAGO 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

Second consist:

• 88A EMD F3A 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
• 88X EMD F3B 1,500 hp Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
• 1351 SILVER SPRING Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory 24 seat Coffee Shop Combination Car
• 5501 CUMBERLAND 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5503 LA PAZ 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5551 SKY DOME 42 Revenue seat Strata Dome Coach with 24 non-Revenue seats in Dome
• 1091 PITTSBURGH 38 seat Dining Car
• 5505 McKEESPORT 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 5507 YOUNGSTOWN 56 Revenue seat Coach
• 3316 WASHINGTON 27 seat Tavern Lounge Bar 26 seat Lounge Observation

References