In the early fifties were there any Chicago trains leaving from N.Y. Penn Station or Grand Central in the morning? Erie and B&O had morning trains but not from the city proper, you had to take a bus to New Jersey.
I can't answer the Penn Station part, but from Grand Central, according to the New York Central form 1001 TT for April 1952, three trains left GCT in the morning, the Advanced Empire State Express (55) at 7:10, the Empire State Express (51) at 8:00, and the North Shore Limited (39) at 11:00, all daily. The problem is, none ran through to Chicago. The Advanced Empire terminated at Buffalo, the Empire ditto, but had sections the continued to Detroit and Cleveland. The North Shore would get you there, but became more of a local after Detroit. I'm sure you could change trains in any of those stations. Hope this helps. :tb-biggrin:
