The New York Central introduced the New England States on June 15, 1938, coinciding with the relaunch of the Twentieth Century Limited. The New England States was an all-Pullman train which ran from Chicago to Boston via Toledo and Albany. With the launch of the New England States the Twentieth Century Limited ceased carrying sleepers for Boston. In 1949 the New York Central purchased new streamlined equipment from the Budd Company for the train at the cost of $3.5 million. Once so-equipped the New England States became the first Chicago–Boston streamlined train. Following the Second World War the New England States gradually diminished along with the rest of the New York Central's passenger fleet. The train lost its all-sleeper status in the summer of 1949 with the addition of coaches; the New York Central withdrew its observation car in 1956. In 1954 a typical eastbound train carried Boston-Chicago and Buffalo-Chicago sleepers, while its westbound counterpart carried Chicago-Boston sleepers and a Pittsburgh-Boston sleeper which it picked up from the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Express in Buffalo. "Sleepercoaches", economy sleepers known elsewhere as Slumbercoaches, were added in 1959. The New York Central consolidated the eastbound New England States and the Pacemaker, a Chicago-New York train, on April 30, 1961. On November 5, 1967, the New York Central consolidated the New England States and Twentieth Century Limited west of Buffalo, a precursor to the latter's discontinuance one month later. In a major restructuring of passenger services the following day, December 3, the New England States lost its name and began running with a mixed consist of coaches and sleepers between Chicago and New York/Boston. The New York Central merged with its long-time rival the Pennsylvania Railroad on February 1, 1968, to become the Penn Central. On March 10, 1970, the Penn Central petitioned to end the former New England States, along with all other trains on its route. The passage of the Rail Passenger Service Act interrupted these proceedings, and the former New England States remained running until the start of Amtrak on May 1, 1971, when it was discontinued. Amtrak revived direct Chicago–Boston service in 1975 with the Lake Shore Limited, which continues to provide service over the route.
