The earliest iteration of the train was as a named night train, the Cape Codder beginning in 1927, running as a weekend train. It was all-Pullman, meaning that it carried only sleeping cars, no coaches. It ran from New York City's Grand Central Terminal, to Provincetown, the furthest extent of Cape Cod. Additional branches departed from the train, going toWoods Hole and Hyannis. Sleeping car equipment originating in Washington, D.C. would connect at New Haven, Connecticut. At Woods Hole ferries were available for transport to Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard. In 1937 the NH inaugurated the Day Cape Codder which would travel daily from New York City to the Woods Hole and the Hyannis branches. The New Haven's Night Cape Codder provided the night train service to the same branches on Cape Cod. Similar to the earlier incarnation, the Night Cape Codder also ran in an express fashion, bypassing Stamford and only stopping at New Haven before stopping again in Wareham. The NH at this time ran additional daytime trains operating only on Fridays, Cape Cod bound, and Sundays, westbound, the Islander and Neptune. The Islander only served the Woods Hole branch. All of the daytime trains offered dining car and grill car service. By 1938, the NH terminated its passenger service to Provincetown. During World War II the New Haven suspended the Night Cape Codder, and from 1943 to 1945 it also suspended the Islander and Neptune trains. The Day Cape Codder was suspended during 1945 when railroad equipment was needed for transporting returning soldiers. The Day Cape Codder and Neptune returned in 1946 and the nighttime train returned for the summer 1948 season. The Neptune and the Night Cape Codder only operated on Fridays eastbound and Sundays westbound. The Night Cape Codder for most of its years had the open sections and private bedrooms. By summer, 1955 the train included modern roomettes as well. In 1958 the New Haven Railroad drew down its southeastern Massachusetts operations. This would include its Cape Cod operations too. However, for the 1960 to 1964 summer seasons, the Day Cape Codder and the Neptune would return. New York - Cape Cod service, provided by Amtrak would return briefly in the 1980s and 1990s as the namesake train.
