Meher Baba's Life & Travels
1932 - USA Train Journey :
Harmon to Erie
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
TOTAL RAIL DISTANCE BETWEEN HARMON TO ALBANY, NY. IS 78 MILES / 125 KMS.
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.
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.
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.
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
ROCHESTER, NY.
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
BUFFALO, NY.
Arrived about 7 hours later at 7 am. More than likely a fresh locomotive would have been added.
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.
Old Central Terminal Railway Station
AERIAL VIEW
INTERIOR VIEWS
Present Day - Closed
Buffalo in the Past
Present Day
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 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.
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.