May 11, 1959 Last Run of the Black Diamond

The Lehigh Valley Railroad and its predecessor served this area with train service since 1873. Now, with the ease of automobiles, fewer and fewer people were traveling the trains. With declining riders, the Lehigh Valley petitioned, and was granted, the request to discontinue the daily run of the Black Diamond, its express train from New York to Buffalo.

An article in the May 9, 1959 Geneva Times sums up much of the feeling and reasons. “For generations, the Lehigh Valley railroad’s ‘Black Diamond’ has been the most popular passenger train…Railroad buffs will feel genuine pangs of remorse when this famed train pulls out for the last time on Monday.”

The article noted that in the first 17 days of 1959 only 1,700 passengers were carried by the Lehigh railroads, and that number included the commuters going into New York City from New Jersey. The article concluded, “It’s rather sad to see the approach of an end to an era in public transportation.”

Last run of the Black Diamond, Route 96 at Munson Road.
Interlaken Historical Society photo #506

Pen and ink sketch by Anne Knight, 1896 Black Diamond
Landmark Note Card series

On May 18, 1896 the Black Diamond made its first run between Jersey City and Buffalo. The engines and cars had changed over the years, from steam to diesel, and mahogany to utilitarian within the cars.

Pen and Ink Sketch ny Anne Knight 1946 Black Diamond
Landmark Note Card Series

One lighthearted item was also noted in the Geneva paper, entitled “A Lonesome Dog.”

There’s a big black dog at a farm somewhere near Interlaken that must wonder where the “Diamond” is—twice a day. Whichever way the fast red train went, the black dog was always out there to race along an open field, far from the tracks, but putting on a wonderful show of speed.

Veteran club car waiter Vincent Pitter, 67, watched the dog sprint. He chuckled, and gave the animal a final salute: “Too bad, old timer. We won’t be coming along here to race you anymore. But you sure can RUN.”

On May 11, 1999, the Interlaken Post Office held a commemorative cancellation honoring the 40th anniversary of the last run of the Black Diamond

Detail of the Black Diamond final run postal cancellation May 11, 1999,
Railroad memorabilia collection, Interlaken Historical Society Collection

Dewitt’s Diary Thursday, May 11, 1950

Clear, temperature 40 again today.

Ed Hayward is plowing some hay under for me on field north of barn on upper side. Leland working on ground for potatoes and sweet corn. Cold today.

Bought a new Case manure spreader today, $350.00, some price. The old one dad bought in winter of 1901-1902 is pretty well worn out.

Cloudy and temperature 50 tonight.

Dewitt’s Diary Monday, May 11, 1959

Temperature 60, hot and muggy today. Another very light shower this afternoon late. We worked on ground for corn all day. Cut 7 pounds of asparagus from garden this morning.

We need rain very bad now. Temperature 80 this afternoon. Trees are in leaf about 2/3 now.

Drove down to Lem’s and fished from dock an hour this evening. No Fish. Trout fishing has been almost nothing so far this Spring. Water too cold. Temperature 40 this evening taken on shore in 3 inches of water.