The Mountaineer was a passenger train operated by Amtrak between Norfolk, Virginia, and Chicago, Illinois, via Cincinnati, Ohio.

However, in Amtrak's first four years, the N&W hosted no passenger service over its route, the centerpiece of which was its main line between Norfolk and Cincinnati which passed through the state of West Virginia.

The main driving force behind the establishment of the Mountaineer was then-United States Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia who wanted additional rail service for his constituents and pressured the Department of Transportation to add the route.

[2]: 71 [4] The first trains ran on March 24, 1975, marking the return of rail passenger service to the Norfolk & Western.

[7] The schedule changes never took place, but Amtrak was forced to re-equip the Mountaineer after a harsh winter damaged many of its old steam-heated coaches and locomotives.

The remaining stops all used existing Norfolk & Western stations, with varying degrees of refurbishment and renovation.

Starting in January 1977 Amtrak ran a consist of three new Amfleet cars, typically two coaches and a cafe.