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Route of SP's Golden State

  • What was the route of SP's Golden State between Los Angeles and Chicago?

    I know it ran on SP (?) tracks between El Paso and Tucumcari, and on Rock Island tracks east of Tucumcari, but its precise route and station stops between Chicago and LA in the early 1960's I have not yet found.

    It apparently had its last run on or before February 21, 1968.

    RJ Emery near Santa Fe, NM

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  • Old issues of the Official Guide are a good place to start.  On the Rock Island, the route was roughly Chicago-Quad Cities-Kansas City-Topeka-Tucumcari.  The route was all-SP west of Tucumcari.
    The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  •  CSSHEGEWISCH wrote:
    Old issues of the Official Guide are a good place to start.  On the Rock Island, the route was roughly Chicago-Quad Cities-Kansas City-Topeka-Tucumcari.  The route was all-SP west of Tucumcari.

    I do not have access to the Official Guides.  Are they online anywhere?  If so, I would appreciate a pointer.

    I would also like to find a published schedule (not condensed) online for the train.

    Subsequent to my post, I discovered a route map on
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_(passenger_train)

    Any help appreciated.  Thanks.

    RJ Emery near Santa Fe, NM

  •    Check out the Rock Island Technical Society. I know they have a list online where you can post your questions and a few of the guys on there have first hand experience running on the Rock so you might get some real detailed answers.

      I have a southern div timetable at my house somewhere I will see if I can find it and get the info scanned.

    Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train

  • Actually the train ran on RI tracks from Chi to Santa Rosa NM and on SP from there to LA but power and crews were changed at Tucumcari.   Tickets read Chi-Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa- LA.

    An interesting aspect of this train was (at least when I rode it in 1950) was the engine change at Tuc from RI E units to SP GS-4 (#4438 in my case) which was changed out at El Paso for 3 unit ABB        E-7s in Daylight paint.   Unfortunately the GS-4 was in basic black.