1932 - USA Train Journey :

 

Harmon to Erie

FIRST  CHAPTER
FIRST CHAPTER
1932 : The routes that Meher Baba took were marked on the map by Anthony Zois.
1932 : The routes that Meher Baba took were marked on the map by Anthony Zois.
The full rail journey Meher Baba took between Harmon, NY & Los Angeles, CA.
The full rail journey Meher Baba took between Harmon, NY & Los Angeles, CA.

 

The train journey from Harmon, NY. to Los Angeles, California by Meher Baba and his companions was 3,489 miles or 5,615 Kms long, that took 4 days to traverse.


See USA map below for details.

 

 1930s -"The Century" train with the 8 sections attached near Albany. Image courtesy of Larry Karresch.
1930s -"The Century" train with the 8 sections attached near Albany. Image courtesy of Larry Karresch.

 

NOTE : The route marked on the maps are as accurate as per the information it's based on. There might have been slight deviations in some parts due to the day of the week or faults in the rail-line on the day.

Rail poster for the train
Rail poster for the train

 

On this page, the portion of the rail journey that Meher Baba took covers only the area between Harmon, NY.  & Erie, PA. on the first day. The rest of the train journey is found on the following pages. See the index on the L/H side, unless you are using a mobile device.

 

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN HARMON,NY. TO CHICAGO,IL. IS 897 MILES / 1,444 KMS.

 

  1932 : Meher Baba's journey across the United States, map showing the 13 mainland States he travelled through. After visiting California, he sailed to Hawaii. A total of 14 US States. The route was applied to this map by Anthony Zois.
1932 : Meher Baba's journey across the United States, map showing the 13 mainland States he travelled through. After visiting California, he sailed to Hawaii. A total of 14 US States. The route was applied to this map by Anthony Zois.

 

This page highlights the start of his epic rail journey across the United States that Meher Baba and his companions made between Harmon, New York State and Chicago, Illinois. There were eleven rail stops between these two destinations. All major rail stops are featured separately. The journey took almost 20 hours since leaving Harmon at midnight 25th May ( EST ) and arriving in Chicago ( CST ) at 7:20pm 26th May.

The sequence of the maps follow the path of the route taken in the same order, state by state.

 

 

 

 

NEW  YORK  STATE  RAIL  ROUTE

 

NEW YORK STATE : This map shows the journey Meher Baba took across the state of New York. This map apart from the rivers and county lines only shows rail-lines not roads.
NEW YORK STATE : This map shows the journey Meher Baba took across the state of New York. This map apart from the rivers and county lines only shows rail-lines not roads.
New York's Central Station board showing the train route that Meher Baba took in 1932.
New York's Central Station board showing the train route that Meher Baba took in 1932.

 

There is no indication how long the train stopped at each train station or where the locomotives were changed over.

The only mention of leaving the train in his journey to Chicago was only when he arrived In Chicago.

 

 

 

Harmon-Croton Railway Station ( 20s-30s )

 

 

Departed at Midnight 25th May 1932

 

 

The Harmon Railway Station was located 40 miles ( 64 Kms ) North of New York City. The train-line was electrified to Harmon. To journey further the  train's locomotives were changed to steam powered locos. Hence Harmon was a train hub in New York State.

The first part of Meher Baba's epic train journey across the United States was to Chicago on the Iroquois train  ( 20th Century Limited ),more commonly known as the NY Central Line  which was via Buffalo NY., and Cleveland, Ohio and was a total 897 miles ( 1,443 kms ) and took almost 20 hours.

 

Harmon-Croton illustrated map. Meherashram is located on the top R/H corner of the above map, right side of the river.. Colourization by Anthony Zois
Harmon-Croton illustrated map. Meherashram is located on the top R/H corner of the above map, right side of the river.. Colourization by Anthony Zois

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN HARMON TO ALBANY, NY.  IS 78 MILES / 125 KMS.

 

Rail map showing details of Meher Baba's route between New York & Cleveland.
Rail map showing details of Meher Baba's route between New York & Cleveland.

 

1932

 

ON MAY 25th, Meher Baba left Harmon by train with Jean and Malcolm Schloss, Meredith and Margaret Starr, Kaka, Chanji, Adi Jr. and Beheram. Quentin Tod had scheduled it so that he was on board the train already. Baba reached Chicago, Illinois, on May 26th at 7:20 P.M., by route of Cleveland, Ohio. In Chicago, they had to change trains, necessitating an hour's wait, during which time reporters surrounded Baba. Baba gave them a short message and was photographed. In New York, there had been at times as many as forty-eight reporters accompanied by camera men near Baba during press conferences.

Baba and the mandali quickly drove around Chicago in taxis along Lake Shore Drive and through the city before re-boarding the train and continuing their journey. At the photo session, Meredith and Malcolm both tried to be near Baba, which resulted in a quarrel. Baba then asked Tod to stand next to him, which pierced Meredith's inflated ego even more.

 

Lord Meher Volume 5, Page 1638

 

 

 

 

 

ALBANY, NY.

Present day
Present day

 

Albany is the capitol of New York State.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_New_York

 

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN ALBANY TO SCHENECTADY, NY.  IS 20 MILES / 32 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Albany approx. 2 am 26th May 1932.
It is unknown if he left the train during this stop-over.

 

 

Albany in the 1930s

 

Albany Railway Station

SCHENECTADY, NY.

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN SCHENECTADY TO UTICA, NY.  IS 78 MILES / 126 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Schenectady approx. 2:30 am 26th May 1932.
It is unknown if he left the train during this stop-over.

 

Note : Darwin & Jeanne Shaw and family lived in this town. They first met Meher Baba two years later in 1934.

 

 

Railway Station

UTICA, NY.

 

Present day
Present day
1909
1909

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN UTICA TO SYRACUSE, NY.  IS 53 MILES / 85 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Utica approx. 3:30 am, 26th May 1932. It is unknown if he left the train during this brief stop.

 

 

Utica Railway Station

 

Utica in the Past

SYRACUSE, NY.

 

Present day
Present day

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN SYRACUSE TO ROCHESTER, NY.  IS 80 MILES / 129 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Syracuse approx. 5 am, 26th May 1932.

It is unknown if he left the train during this brief stop.

 

Old Train Station used up to 1935

Images of Syracuse from the past

Old train route through the town - stopped in the mid-30s

Old train tickets
Old train tickets

ROCHESTER, NY.

 

Present day
Present day
Rochester-Erie canal aqueduct - panorama 1906
Rochester-Erie canal aqueduct - panorama 1906

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN ROCHESTER TO BUFFALO, NY.  IS 69 MILES / 111 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Rochester approx. 6 am, 26th May 1932. It is unknown if he left the train during this brief stop.

 

 

Old NY Central Railway Station

 

Present Day Rochester

Rochester : Downtown - Late 1930s
Rochester : Downtown - Late 1930s

BUFFALO, NY.

 

Present day
Present day

Arrived about 7 hours later at 7 am. More than likely a fresh locomotive would have been added.

 

1900s
1900s
Buffalo wharfs & Erie Canal
Buffalo wharfs & Erie Canal
Present day Buffalo
Present day Buffalo

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN BUFFALO TO DUNKIRK, NY.  IS 45 MILES / 72 KMS.

Meher Baba's train arrived in Buffalo approx. 7am, 26th May 1932

 .

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN BUFFALO, NY. & CLEVELAND, IN.  IS 182 MILES / 293 KMS.

 

1936 : 20th Century Limited dining carriage
1936 : 20th Century Limited dining carriage

 

Old Central Terminal Railway Station

 

Old Buffalo Railway Station
Old Buffalo Railway Station

 

AERIAL VIEW

 

INTERIOR VIEWS

 

Present Day - Closed

 

Buffalo in the Past

 

Present Day

 Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Buffalo, N.Y., ca.1908
Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street, Buffalo, N.Y., ca.1908

DUNKIRK, NY.

 

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN DUNKIRK, NY. TO ERIE, PA. IS  45 MILES / 72 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Dunkirk approx.  8am, 26th May 1932.

 

 

OLD  DUNKIRK RAILWAY STATION

Dunkirk Railway Station ; 1890-1900
Dunkirk Railway Station ; 1890-1900
Dunkirk  Railway shed
Dunkirk Railway shed
2017 : Dunkirk Railway Station & rail bridge. Photo taken by Donna Di Maio
2017 : Dunkirk Railway Station & rail bridge. Photo taken by Donna Di Maio

 

Dunkirk in the Past

THE RAIL JOURNEY TO CHICAGO CONTINUES ONTO PAGE 2 .

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING BUTTON TO SEE THAT PAGE OR SELECT FROM THE INDEX ON THE L/H SIDE.

 

 

 

 

 

ERIE, PA.

 

 Old Erie Union Station
Old Erie Union Station

TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN ERIE, PA. TO CLEVELAND, OH.  IS 96 MILES / 154 KMS.

 

Meher Baba's train arrived in Erie approx. 9am, 26th May 1932.