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[Anonymous]

It's 1958, and I'm planning a trip from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Below are three good options.
Which one should I take? Any recommendations?

Santa Fe: The Chief
Rock Island: The Golden State
Union Pacific: The City of LA

Chicago departure times:
Sante Fe: 9:10 am (Sunday)
Rock Island: 1 pm (Sunday)
Union Pacific: 6:45 pm (Sunday)

Los Angeles arrival times:
Santa Fe: 11:15 pm (Monday)
Rock Island: 8:30 am (Tuesday)
Union Pacific: 9:30 am (Tuesday)

Total miles:
Sante Fe: 2223
Rock Island: 2324
Union Pacific: 2299

Total travel time (hours):
Santa Fe: 38.25
Rock Island: 43.5
Union Pacific: 39

Average speed (mph):
Santa Fe: 58
Rock Island: 53
Union Pacific: 59

-----
sources (public timetables):
SF 1958
RI 1960
UP 1958

[route_rock]

Golden State all the way!!!! Cause I am predjudiced for one to Rock Island and two I think it was a good train too. Get off in the morning in LA would be better than 11:15 at night in my view. Plus just to say I rode over the Golden State Route! Nuff for me.

[Kevin C. Smith]

Well, let me see...(working with a 12/56 Guide)

Coming from my neck of the woods (NE Wisconsin), I'd have to overnight in Chicago to catch the Santa Fe in the morning, unless I want to leave Green Bay at 2:10am on the "Ashland Limited" and arrive at 7:15am. If I leave at 7:00am, I'll have 3 hours to Parmalee myself across the La Salle Street for the Rock Island. Curiously, if I wait until 10:30am, I have a Sunday only "Peninsula 400" that will take me right to my station (North Western) but, at 2:25pm, I still have over 4 hours before departure! Nothing to do but watch the C&NW spend the evening rush hour repopulating the northwestern suburbs-I think I'd manage. Still, not being a morning person, I'd opt for the C&NW-UP route, just to sleep as late as possible before departing.

As far as arrival, Santa Fe has the best-right to my hotel and up whenever for a full day in the City of Angels. If I'm going to wait until Monday, then it's UP-at least I get another hour before the porter wakes me.

So, which way do I go? Probably RI-SP. Somehow, I think I know it'll be the first to go, so I better get it. Besides, at 2300+ miles, I'm getting my money's worth!

Now, to get back home...

[passengerfan]

I think I would have preferred the SUPER CHIEF that you did not mention departed Chicago 7:00 PM Sunday arrived LA 8:30 AM Tuesday.

[ndbprr]

You left off the one off I would take. A CB&Q/D&RG/WP route. Wasn't the Zephyr running at that time? That would have been my choice followed by the Super Chief.