North American Passenger Trains

[ZephyrOverland]

The information contained in these submissions for this topic have been pretty accurate. Yes, there are errors here and there, but one of the beauties of these group forums is to share and enhance information so that accurate information eventually comes to light.

[Anonymous]

eastcoulee: Take the "information" in these responses with a grain of salt. There are quite a few mistakes. For example, one responder (randybc2003) wrote that the Lark and the Owl operated between Oakland and Los Angeles on complementary daylight and overnight schedules.

In fact, the Owl operated overnight between LA and Oakland through the San Joaquin valley through Fresno. The daytime train was the San Joaquin Daylight. The Lark was an overnight train between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the coast line through San Luis Obispo. Other trains on the coast line were the overnight Padre between Los Angeles and Oakland through the 1920s; the Oakland Lark overnight between Los Angeles and Oakland (it was combined with the Lark between Los Angeles and San Jose); the Coast Daylight between Los Angeles and San Francisco (for a while 2 trains, the Morning Daylight and the Noon Daylight); the Starlight (Noon Daylight train switched to an overnight schedule when expected traffic didn't materialize); the Coaster (which I think was yet another overnight train, but I'm not sure by any means); and the Sunset LImited which in the 1920s was a New Orleans to Los Angeles to San Fransciso train that also operated overnight between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

[ZephyrOverland]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Question: Other than MILW #57 (Chicago-Minneapolis) and ATSF #7-8 (Chicago-Los Angeles), how many trains actually carried the name "Fast Mail"?

From my research of passenger train names, there have been a number of Fast Mails that have graced American rails. In the list that follows, those marked with an asterisk (*) existed in the 19th Century. The majority of these trains were operated from the 19th century up to the World War I years, a time when handling the mails provided some status to the operating railroad, as well as enhance their bottom line. Over time though, the name came to be used on a no-frills type of train that operated on a leisurely schedule. There were rare exceptions, such as a New York Central Fast Mail that carried only a sleeper along with the mails.

Atlantic Coast Line
Washington-Jacksonville*

Alton
Chicago-St. Louis

Amtrak
Boston-Washington/Springfield
Washington-New York

Atlanta & West Point/ Western RR of Alabama/ Louisville & Nashville
Atlanta-West Point-Montgomery-New Orleans

Baltimore & Ohio
Cincinnati-St. Louis

Baltimore & Ohio/ Baltimore & Ohio-South Western
Baltimore-Parkersburg-Cinncinnati

Baltimore & Ohio-South Western/ Baltimore & Ohio/ Reading/ Central RR of New Jersey
St. Louis-Parkersburg-Wayne Junction-Bound Brook-New York

Chicago, Burlington & Qunicy
Chicago-Lincoln

Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton/ Monon
Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Chicago

Chicago & Northwestern
Chicago-Omaha
Chicago-Minneapolis
Eau Claire-Duluth
Minneapolis-Barnesville*

Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis
Peoria-St. Louis*

Cumberland Valley
Winchester-Hagerstown-Harrisburg

Lackawanna/ Central RR of New Jersey/ Reading
Binghamton-Scranton-Bethlehem-Philadelphia

Frisco
Kansas City-Carthage
Kansas City-Monett

Great Northern
Wenatchee-Seattle
St. Paul-Seattle
St. Paul-Spokane

Illinois Central
Chicago-New Orleans
Chicago-Sioux City
St. Louis-Carbondale
Chicago-Matoon-Hopkinsville
Memphis-Louisville
Chicago-Matoon-Nashville
Chicago-New Orleans (via Jackson)
Chicago-Fort Dodge/Sioux City

Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis/ Richmond and Danville
Kansas City-Birmingham-Atlanta*

Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs
Kansas City-Omaha*

Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Buffalo-Pittsburgh
Chicago/St. Louis-New York
Buffalo-Cleveland*
Buffalo-Chicago*

Lake Shore & Michigan Southern/ New York Central & Hudson River
Chicago-Buffalo-New York

Michigan Central
Buffalo-Detroit-Chicago
Chicago-Detroit

Milwaukee Road
Omaha-Chicago
Milwaukee-Minneapolis
Minneapolis-Chicago

Monon
Chicago-Louisville*
Chicago-Indianapolis*

Missouri Pacific
St. Louis-Kansas City

Minneapolis & St. Louis/ Illinois Central/Wabash
St. Paul-Albert Lea-Albia-Kansas City

New York Central
Albany-Lake Placid
Buffalo-Syracuse
New York-Chicago
Chicago-Cleveland
Albany-Buffalo
Albany-Chicago
New York-Buffalo-Detroit
New York-Detroit
Chicago-Detroit
Boston-Buffalo
Toledo-Chicago
Pittsburgh-Cleveland/Chicago
Pittsburgh-Detroit
Buffalo-Chicago

New York Central/ Boston & Albany
Buffalo-Albany-Boston

New York Central/Erie/ Pittsburgh & Lake Erie
Chicago-Cleveland-Youngstown-Pittsburgh

New York Central & Hudson River
New York-Buffalo
Buffalo-Albany

Piedmont Air Line
Washington-Atlanta-New Orleans

Pennsylvania
New York-St. Louis
Harrisburg-Pittsburgh
New York-Chicago

Pennsylvania-Lines West
St. Louis-Indianapolis

Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
Washington-Richmond *

Rock Island
Memphis-Amarillo
Chicago-Des Moines
Chicago-Omaha

Santa Fe
Kansas City-Purcell
Chicago-Kansas City
Chicago-Los Angeles

Santa Fe/ Toledo, Peoria and Western/ Jacksonville-South Eastern
Chicago-Eureka-Peoria-Jacksonville (IL)-St. Louis*

Southern Pacific
Sparks-Oakland
Reno-San Francisco

Union Pacific/ Chicago & Northwestern
Portland/Ogden/Denver-Council Bluffs-Chicago

Union Pacific
Council Bluffs-Ogden
Denver-Omaha
Portland-Omaha
Portland-Yellowstone National Park
Baker-Portland
Huntington-Portland
Omaha-Ogden
Council Bluffs-Green River
North Platte-Omaha-Council Bluffs
Green River-Portland

Wabash
St. Louis-Toledo

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Question: Other than MILW #57 (Chicago-Minneapolis) and ATSF #7-8 (Chicago-Los Angeles), how many trains actually carried the name "Fast Mail"?

[trolleyboy]

The CNR had the Continental later the Super Continental, and the Maple Leaf. Rob

[Anonymous]

I loved trains from ACL and Seaboard and PRR. I would like some pictures of the ACL Champion. If any one has any can you please email them to me at
[e-mail]

[passengerfan]

Arizona Limited All Pullman operated winter of 1940 and final season was winter of 1941 Between Chicago and Phoenix with set out sleeper in Tucson. Operated every other day. Sleepers were all lightweights from Pullman and the Baggage Crew Dorm and Diner were provided by Rock Island. Jointly operated by SP/RI behind a single DL109 assigned to each of the two consists on Rock Island between Chicago and Tucumcari and behind steam on SP first season was Mountains. Second Season Rock Island assigned single EMD E6A to each consist between Chicago and Tucumcari and SP assigned Mountains or Northerns no specific road numbers. The Rock Island units were specially assigned for the seasons. I talked to SP in Phoenix thirty years after train was terminated and it was if they were talking about a train still operating.

[ZephyrOverland]

For the gentleman to asked about N&W passenger trains. I have come up with the following:

Cannonball - St. Louis-Detroit
Cavalier - Cincinnati-Norfolk
City of Decatur - Chicago-Decatur
City of St. Louis - Kansas City-St. Louis
Exposition Special - Norfolk-Columbus/Cincinnati
Jamestown Special - Norfolk-Columbus/Cincinnati
Norfolk and Richmond Vestibuled Limited - (Norfolk-Richmond?)
Ohio and Virginia Express - Columbus/Cincinnati-Norfolk
Pocahantas - Norfolk-Cincinnati
Powathan Arrow - Norfolk-Cincinnati
St. Louis and Chicago Special - Cincinnati/Columbus-Norfolk
Toledo and Chicago Special - Cincinnati/Columbus-Norfolk
Virginia and Ohio Express - Cincinnati/Columbus-Norfolk
Norfolk Flyer - Norfolk-Washington (with RFP and ACL)
Norfolk-New York Express - Norfolk-New York (with PRR, RFP and ACL)

[ZephyrOverland]

Another source for names of passenger trains was published by the Association of American Railroads. The publication, called "Named Passenger Trains" was published in 1946, 1948 and in 1950. I've seen this publication appear from time to time on Ebay.

[CP5415]

D&H

Laurentian
Montreal limited

CPR

The Canadian
The Dominion

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Here's some Waba***rains.
The Blue Bird (Chicago- St Louis )
The Banner Blue ( Chicago- St Louis)
City of Kansas City ( St Louis- Kansas City)
The Wabash Cannonball (St Louis- Detroit)
Mitch

[espeefoamer]

For Southern Pacific:
Coast Daylight ( L.A.-San Francisco)
San Joaquin Daylight ( L.A. Oakland)
Shasta Daylight (Oakland Portland)
Cascade (Oakland Portland)
Klamath (Oakland Portland)
Sunset (L.A. New Orleans)
Golden State (L.A. Chicago)
Argonaut
Imperial
Californian (L.A. Chicago)
City of San Francisco (Oakland Chicago)
Overland (Oakland Chicago)
For T&NO:
Sunbeam (Houston Dallas)
Hustler (Houston Dallas)
For NorthWestern Pacific:
Redwood (San Rafel-Eureka)

[BaltACD]

u6729csx - a couple of corrections

#11 & 12 - The Metropolitan Special
#21 & 22 - was also known as the Washingtonian

a couple of additions

#15 & 16 - The Blue Ridge Limited (Washington to Chicago)
#245 & 246 - Chicago (West Virginia) Night Express (Wheeling WV to Chicago via Columbus)

The B&O also operated a number of Number only trains on a variety of routes.

[Anonymous]

Lets throw in the B&O

#1 & 2 - The National Limited (New York to St.Louis)
#3 & 4 - The Diplomat (New York to St.Louis)
#5 & 6- The Capitol Limited (New York to Chicago)
#7 & 8- The Shenandoah (New York to Chicago)
#9 & 10- The Chicago (WB) & Washington (EB) Night Express (Washington to Chicago)
#11 & 12- The St.Louis Night Express (Washington to St.Louis)
#17 & 18- The Cleveland Night Express (Baltimore to Cleveland)
#19 & 20- The Ambassador (Washingto to Detroit)
#21 & 22- The Washington Express and later The Daylight Speedliner (Philadelphia to Pittsburgh)
#25 & 26- The Columbian (Washington to Chicago)
#27 & 28- The Royal Blue Limited (New York to Washington)
#53 & 54- The Cincinnatian (Detroit to Cincinnati)
#75 & 76- The Cincinnatian (Baltimore to Cincinnati) moved to Detroit run in late 1949.

[Anonymous]

How about the following;
PRR The Keystone Limited
NH Yankee Chipper
ACL Champion
SAL Silver Meteor

[eastcoulee]

Passengerfan, Thanks for the expanded info on trains. It fills in some of gaps on locations etc. I know about 'Instant death' but sometimes get buffet treatment-- "cold shoulder and ham" Cheers.

[passengerfan]

NORTH COAST LIMITED Chicago - Seattle/Portland disc.1971 (Amtrak reinstated it as NORTH COAST HIWATHA but did not operate over original route only between Fargo and Spokane.
SHASTA DAYLIGHT Oakland - Portland Discontinued 1968
CASCADE Oakland - Portland with through cars to Seattle.Today operated as COAST STARLIGHT through Los Angeles - Seattle
SUNSET Los Angeles - New Orleans today operates Jacksonville - Los Angeles only coast to coast through train in United States.
SAN JOAQUIN DAYLIGHT Oakland - Los Angeles via San Joaquin Valley disc. 1971
OWL overnight Oakland - Los Angeles via San Joaquin Valley disc. 1968
LARK overnight Oakland/San Francisco - Los Angeles disc. 1968
COAST DAYLIGHT Los Angeles - Oakland/San Francisco Oakland - Los Angeles operated as part of Amtrak COAST STARLIGHT
INTERNATIONALS GN three times daily round trip streamliners Seattle - Vancouver down to one round trip daily by 1971 disc. by Amtrak later reinstated today is operated once a day by Amtrak TALGO.
CANADIAN CPR operated today by VIA Rail Canada over route of rival CN SUPER CONTINENTAL between Vancouver and Toronto.
EMPIRE BUILDER Seattle - Chicago 1929 - 2004 celebrating 75th anniversary June 11, 2004 first Amtrak Superliner equipped train Under GN operation the train operated with 3-24 seat Budd short Dome Coaches and one 75 seat full length dome. EMPIRE BUILDER offered most seats under glass until Auto-Train and now the ARR cruise ship domes operated on summer trains Anchorage to Fairbanks.
SUPER CHIEF (Pullman)AT&SF and EL CAPITAN (Coach)operated by Amtrak today as SOUTHWEST CHIEF Los Angeles - Chicago
CHIEF Los Angeles - Chicago went to happy hunting ground 1968
SAN FRANCISCO CHIEF Chicago - San Francisco disc. 1971
TEXAS CHIEF Chicago - Houston disc by Amtrak in 1979
GRAND CANYON Chicago - Los Angeles disc. 1971
CHICAGOAN - KANSAS CITYAN Chicago - Oklahoma City disc 1968
SAN DIEGANS Los Angeles - San Diego still in servuice today using California cars known as SURFLINERS one of Amtraks more successful routes.
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR today operates over original route Chicago - Winnemucca Nevada only west of their operates over former SP now UP to Reno and on to Berkeley.
GOLDEN STATE LIMITED Chicago - Los Angeles via El Paso disc. 1968.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROCKET Chicago - Denver/Colorado Springs disc 1967
DENVER ZEPHYR Chicago - Denver disc. 1973 by Amtrak
TULSAN -AT&SF Kansas City -Tulsa disc. 1971
BUTTE SPECIAL UP Salt Lake City - Butte disc. 1971
if I had more time would probably think of many more but must get back to wifes dinner party or face instant death.

[Anonymous]

Some of today's AMTRAK TRAINS.
THREE RIVERS
LAKESHORELINE
CARDINAL
HOSIER STATE
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
THERE ARE SO MANY TRAINS ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME THEM ALL.

[bowlerp]

Delaware Lackawana, The Phoebe Snow - Buffalo-New York
Erie Lackawanna, Phoebe Snow, NY-Chicago
The Owl, Buffalo-NYC
The Twilight, Buff-NYC

The Missouri Pacific Railroad
Colorado Eagle St. Louis - Denver
[many other MP Eagles that I don't know offhand]

[bowlerp]

Erie Railroad - The Erie Limited, New Jersey (NYC) to Chicago
The Atlantic Express, Hoboken to Chicago
The Lake Cities, Hoboken to Chicago
The Steel King, Pittsburgh to Cleveland

NY Central Mercury - Cleveland to Detroit

Northern Pacific: The North Coast Limited, Chicago to Seattle WA

Milwaukee Road, The Olympian Hiawatha, Chicago to Portland

Southern Pacific, The Argonaut, LA to New Orleans

I suggest you browse a copy of Lucius Beebe's "The Trains We Rode". Beebe owned his own passenger car and rode most of the trains cited in his book. It contains photos of most every named train that existed between 1900 and 1950.

[coalminer3]

Awhile back, some folks (in addition to me) mentioned some PRR trains.

Here's a 1942-era consist for the Pennsy's "American" eastward from St. Louis.

Train 66
St. Louis-New York Sleeping Cars: 8 sections/5 double bedrooms; roomettes;
St. Louis-Washington Sleeping Car: 8 sections/5 double bedrooms
Indianapolis-New York Sleeping Car: 12 sections/ drawing room
Pittsburgh-Harrisburg Sleeping Car: 12 sections/drawing room
St. Louis-New York Lounge Cars: 8 sections/buffet; 6 double bedrooms/buffet
Parlor Car (Lounge Café): Louisville-Indianapolis
Diner: St. Louis-New York
Diner-Lounge: Harrisburg-Washington
Coaches: St. Louis-New York
Chicago-Columbus
Harrisburg-Washington

And one for the Dayton and Piqua sides of the "Spirit of St. Louis." The Dayton side was train 30 and the Piqua side was train 908-30.

Train 30
St. Louis-New York Sleeping Cars: roomettes (2 cars); 12 duplex rooms/5 double bedrooms; 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms; 14 sections (2 cars)
St. Louis-Washington Sleeping Car: 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms
St. Louis-New York Lounge Car: drawing room/ 3 double bedrooms/buffet
Parlor Car: Louisville-Indianapolis
Diner: St. Louis-New York; Harrisburg-Washington
Compartment/2 drawing rooms/double bedroom/buffet lounge Observation Car: St. Louis-New York:
No coaches

Train 908-30
Columbus-New York Sleeping Car: 14 sections
Columbus-Washington Sleeping Cars: 8 sections/2 compartments/drawing room; 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms
Diners: Richmond-Columbus;
Columbus-New York;
Harrisburg-Washington
Columbus-New York Lounge Car: 3 double bedrooms/drawing room/buffet
No coaches

Lots of cars going lots of places and wartime traffic, too.

work safe

[Anonymous]

SP Daylight (Chicago-L.A.)
ATSF Super Chief

[eastcoulee]

Thanks for all the info on Passenger trains that I requested. Looks like I'll be making a list on the Named Freights too. Don't any of you be surprised to see a listing of these North American icons coming out of all places, Australia. Cheers to all.
Douglas

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Regarding N&W passenger trains:
"Pocahontas" and "Powhatan Arrow" both ran Norfolk-Cincinnati
"Pelican" (Washington-New Orleans) and "Birmingham Special" (Washington-Birmingham) were SR trains which ran over N&W Lynchburg-Bristol.

[Anonymous]

Yes, before the merger would be great! I am working on a N&W Passenger Train poster, and cannot find anything on the internet, such as train numbers, names or destinations, much less schedules or names of passenger cars and numbers. Thank you very much for your help.

Dan

[Anonymous]

Dan,
Their was the Pohanttahs Arrow That I know of do you want before the wabash merger or after?

DOGGY

[Anonymous]

Hello, Does anyone have information on the N&W's small fleet of passenger trains? Does anyone know the names and train numbers??

Thanks very much,
Daniel Edwards

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by WM734

Just a quick question...from about 1940 to 47 or so, what kind of equipment was used on the Chicago to MSP Afternoon Twin Cities Zephyrs?

Ed

Ed,
A lot of dome cars all dome expect dinner Parlor Car service was dumped arould the Q BN merger

DOGGY

[passengerfan]

Re question about Twin Zephyr consists before Vista-Dome Twin Zephyr entered service in December 1947. Up until November 1947 seven car articulated Train of the Gods and Train of the Goddesses held down assignment. They became the Nebraska Zephyrs in November 1947 and for the month between the new Vista Dome Twin Zephyrs take over and the articulated consists departed the CB&Q operated heavyweigfht head end cars with streamlined coaches from 1940, 48-seat dining cars from 1938 and heavyweight parlor lounge observations. The streamlined cars were Budd stainless steel. This was only temporary as the new service began December 19, 1947 with the seven car Vista Dome Twin Zephyrs. Hope this answers your question.