Serving Norfolk, Roanoke, Bluefield, Catlettsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago, and intermediate points
Amtrak train numbers: 54 and 55
Predecessor railroad train numbers: Norfolk and Western 3 and 4 (Pocahontas)
The Norfolk and Western Railway's flagship overnight train on the main line between Norfolk and Cincinnati was the Pocahontas, named for the coal fields in Virginia that produced the coal that was both hauled by the Norfolk and Western and powered its steam locomotives.
In 1975, Amtrak introduced a train over the line, named the Mountaineer. It ran all the way to Chicago, being combined with or separated from the James Whitcomb Riley at Cincinnati.
In 1977, the portion of the route between Norfolk and Petersburg was dropped and the train became the Hilltopper, now only going as far as Catlettsburg to connect with the James Whitcomb Riley's successor, the Cardinal. The service was discontinued entirely in 1979 due to budget cuts.
Condensed historical timetables:
READ DOWN READ UP
(1956) (1975) (1975) (1956)
1:30P 1:05P Dp Norfolk Ar 6:10P 5:05P
7:15P 7:10P Roanoke 12:10P 11:35A
10:10P 10:00P Bluefield 9:00A 8:40A
2:58A 3:35A Catlettsburg 3:13A 3:21A
7:05A 7:40A Cincinnati 11:32P 11:20P
----- 2:42P Ar Chicago Dp 2:35P -----
The Amtrak Train Names Project