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CHICAGO'S PASSENGER TRAINS
THE GREAT DECLINE
UNION STATION
Timelines show the decline of intercity passenger trains serving Chicago between 1956 and 1971, immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.Train numbers, train names, and origin and destination cities are generally as of 1956. Many trains had their routes shortened, or lost their names, and a few trains were renumbered between then and 1971.
Timelines indicates duration of trains, until indicated years of discontinuance, or continuation by Amtrak. Certain trains were consolidated with other trains, in the years indicated.
BURLINGTON ROUTE
Departures
No. Name 1956 Dest. Timeline 21 Morning Zephyr Minneapolis ---------------------------1971 11 Nebraska Zephyr Lincoln ---------------------------1971 19 Coloradoan Denver late 1950's 25 North Coast Limited Seattle --------------1968 combine-1971 35 Kansas City Zephyr Kansas City --------1962 combine-1968 31 Empire Builder Seattle ------1961 combine---------1971 17 California Zephyr San Francisco -------------------------1970 23 Afternoon Zephyr Minneapolis ---------------------------1971 1 Denver Zephyr Denver ---------------------------AMTRAK 15 Fast Mail Omaha --------early 1960's 45 Minneapolis late 1950's 55 Amer. Royal Zephyr Kansas City ---------------------------1971 3 Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr Lincoln ------1961 combine-------1970 47 Black Hawk Minneapolis -------------------------1970 7 Denver ----------------late 1960'sArrivals
No. Name 1956 Orig. Timeline 56 Amer. Royal Zephyr Kansas City ---------------------------1971 30 Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr Lincoln ------1961 combine-------1970 48 Black Hawk Minneapolis -------------------------1970 14 Denver ----------------late 1960's 10 Denver Zephyr Denver ---------------------------AMTRAK 52 Minneapolis late 1950's 2 Burlington --------early 1960's 18 California Zephyr San Francisco -------------------------1970 26 North Coast Limited Seattle --------------1968 combine-1971 32 Empire Builder Seattle ------1961 combine---------1971 22 Morning Zephyr Minneapolis ---------------------------1971 6 Coloradoan Denver late 1950's 36 Kansas City Zephyr Kansas City --------1962 combine-1968 12 Nebraska Zephyr Lincoln ---------------------------1971 24 Afternoon Zephyr Minneapolis ---------------------------1971In 1961, train 31 combined into train 23, and train 32 combined into train 26. And in 1968, train 25 combined into train 23, and train 26 combined into train 22.
In 1961, Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr combined with American Royal Zephyr between Chicago and Galesburg. And in 1962, Kansas City Zephyr combined with Nebraska Zephyr between Chicago and Galesburg.
ALTON RAILROAD/GULF MOBILE & OHIO
Departures
No. Name 1956 Dest. Timeline 19 Ann Rutledge St. Louis 1958 1 Alton Limited St. Louis ---------------------------AMTRAK 17 Joliet -------------------------COMMUTER 3 Abraham Lincoln St. Louis ---------------------------AMTRAK 5 Mail St. Louis --------early 1960's 7 Midnight Special St. Louis ---------------------------1971Arrivals
No. Name 1956 Orig. Timeline 6 Prairie State Exp. St. Louis --------early 1960's 16 Joliet -------------------------COMMUTER 8 Midnight Special St. Louis ---------------------------1971 2 Abraham Lincoln St. Louis ---------------------------AMTRAK 4 Alton Limited St. Louis ---------------------------AMTRAK 18 Ann Rutledge St. Louis 1958Trains 16 and 17 were commuter trains.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
Departures
No. Name 1956 Dest. Timeline 52 Fort Pitt Pittsburgh --------early 1960's 90 South Wind Miami ---------------------------AMTRAK 70 Fort Hayes Cincinnati ---------------------------1971 22 Manhattan Limited New York ---------------------------1971 72 Union Cincinnati late 1950's 58 Liberty Limited Washington 1958 combine---------1968 48 General New York ---------------------1968 28 Broadway Limited New York ---------------------------AMTRAK 454 Valparaiso -------------------------COMMUTER 456 Valparaiso -------------------------COMMUTER 50 Admiral New York ---------------------------1971 54 Pennsylvania Limited New York ---------------------------1971 84 Ohioan Columbus late 1950's 74 Southland Cincinnati ----------------late 1960'sArrivals
No. Name 1956 Orig. Timeline 453 Valparaiso -------------------------COMMUTER 23 Manhattan Limited New York ---------------------------1971 85 Ohioan Columbus late 1950's 455 Valparaiso -------------------------COMMUTER 75 Southland Cincinnati ----------------late 1960's 49 General New York ---------------------1968 29 Broadway Limited New York ---------------------------AMTRAK 59 Liberty Limited Washington 1958 combine---------1968 51 Admiral New York late 1950's 71 Fort Hayes Cincinnati ---------------------------1971 55 Pennsylvania Limited New York ---------------------------1971 93 South Wind Miami ---------------------------AMTRAK 53 Fort Pitt Pittsburgh ---------------------------1971 73 Union Cincinnati late 1950'sIn 1958, Liberty Limited combined with General between Chicago and Harrisburg.
Trains 453 through 460 to and from Valparaiso were commuter trains.
After 1968 Penn Central merger, remaining New York Central trains transferred from La Salle St. Station to Union Station.
MILWAUKEE ROAD
Departures
No. Name 1956 Dest. Timeline 27 Milwaukee ---------------------------AMTRAK 117 Varsity Madison ---------------------------1971 5 Morning Hiawatha Minneapolis ---------------------------AMTRAK 3 Afternoon Hiawatha Minneapolis -------------------------1970 15 Olympian Hiawatha Tacoma ------1961 23 Traveler Mke-Madison ---------------------------AMTRAK 111 City of Denver Denver --1959 combine-------------1971 105 City of Portland Portland --------------1969 combine-1971 7 Milwaukee late 1950's 19 Arrow Omaha -------------------------1970 101 City of S. Francisco San Francisco ----1960 combine-----------1971 103 City of Los Angeles Los Angeles ---------------------------1971 9 Copper Country Ltd. Calumet ---------------------------AMTRAK 11 Sioux Sioux Falls ---------------------------1971 1 Pioneer Limited Minneapolis -------------------------1970 55 Minneapolis -------------------------1970Arrivals
No. Name 1956 Orig. Timeline 56 Fast Mail Minneapolis ---------------------------1971 4 Pioneer Limited Minneapolis -------------------------1970 112 City of Denver Denver --1959 combine-------------1971 20 Arrow Omaha -------------------------1970 24 Traveler Milwaukee ---------------------------AMTRAK 22 Sioux Sioux Falls ---------------------------1971 104 City of Los Angeles Los Angeles ---------------------------1971 12 Milwaukee ---------------------------AMTRAK 102 City of S. Francisco San Francisco ----1960 combine-----------1971 106 City of Portland Portland --------------1969 combine-1971 16 Olympian Hiawatha Tacoma ------1961 6 Morning Hiawatha Minneapolis ---------------------------AMTRAK 46 Milwaukee ---------------------------AMTRAK 2 Afternoon Hiawatha Minneapolis -------------------------1970 118 Varsity Madison ---------------------------1971 14 Chippewa Channing late 1950's 58 Minneapolis -------------------------1970In 1959, City of Denver combined with City of Portland. In 1960, City of San Francisco combined with City of Los Angeles between Chicago and Ogden. And in 1969, all these trains combined.
Information is from various issues of "The Official Guide of the Railways", and from actual railroad timetables in effect in 1971.