The song the, "Wabash Cannonball" was believed to be a hoboes "folk song" that originated somewhere around the time period of the 1880's. It is believed that the song was not about any train in particular, as the railroading term, "to Cannonball" means to "move very quickly" or go "very fast". However, the Wabash Railroad during the 1860's-1880's, on different parts of it's lines from time to time, did have an occasional short lived passenger/freight trains ending with the nickname "Cannonball" which may have something to do with the songs origins amongst the 'boes. Indeed, the song became so popular, that the Wabash Railroad in the late 40's, decided to capitalize on the popularity of the song and renamed their "crack" Detroit to St. Louis "Specials" to the "Cannonball". Thus, the famous "Wabash Cannonball" train came after the song. Just one of the many "oddities" associated with the history of the Wabash Railroad. Also, the Wabash depot in Maumee, Ohio was "razed" in the mid 1980's. The depot that was moved to the Maumee Valley Historical Society's Wolcott House Complex was the Nickle Plate Railroad's little Maumee depot, not the Wabash's Maumee depot.

Wabash Railroad Historical Society member Terry S.