California Zephyr
Encyclopedia
The California Zephyr is a 2438 mi (3,924 km) long passenger train route operated by Amtrak
in the midwestern and western United States
.
It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California
, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois
, Iowa
, Nebraska
, Colorado
, Utah
, Nevada
, and California
. This route is one of the longest and most scenic routes run by Amtrak, with views of both the upper Colorado River
valley in the Rocky Mountains
, and the Sierra Nevada.
Prior to the formation of Amtrak, the California Zephyr (the CZ, or "Silver Lady") was a passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
(CB&Q), Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
(D&RGW) and Western Pacific Railroad
(WP). The CB&Q, D&RGW and WP christened "The most talked about train in America" on March 19,1949 with the first departure to happen the following day. It was purposefully scheduled so that the train passed through the most spectacular scenery in the daylight.
The original CZ ceased operations in 1970. However, the D&RGW continued to operate its own passenger train service, named the Rio Grande Zephyr
, between Salt Lake City and Denver using the original equipment
until 1983.
Since 1983, the California Zephyr name has been applied to a Chicago-San Francisco Amtrak service, which operates daily and is a hybrid route between the route of the original CZ and the route of its former rival, the City of San Francisco
.
Another former rival was the San Francisco Chief
.
A small blurb in the July 2010 Trains magazine stated that this train is listed not only for route improvement, but also to host a second route, the discontinued Desert Wind
route. The following is what is listed for the Zephyr route:
During fiscal year 2010, the California Zephyr carried a total of 377,876 passengers, an increase of 9.4% over FY 2009's total of 345,558 passengers. The train had a total revenue of $43,754,763 during FY 2010, a 13.1% increase from FY 2009's total of $38,679,674.
from Chicago to Denver, Colorado
, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah
, and the Western Pacific Railroad
from Salt Lake City to Oakland, California. Cars owned by different railroads ran together; cars cycled in and out of the consists for service, repairs, and varying passenger loads with the seasons.
The first train was christened in San Francisco by Eleanor Parker
while California
Lieutenant Governor Goodwin Knight
, Mayor of San Francisco Elmer Robinson
, and WP President Harry A. Mitchell looked on. For the inaugural run in 1949, every female passenger on the train was given a corsage of "silver" and orange orchids that were specially flown in from Hilo, Hawaii. The women who worked as car hostesses on this train were known as "Zephyrettes."
The train traversed the route's 2525 mi (4,064 km) in 2½ days.
The forward section of the first Vista-Dome car was partitioned off and reserved for women and children only. There was a door in the corridor under the dome just behind the women's restroom that provided access to the reserved section. Early on however, this reserved section was opened up to all passengers and the door and partitions were removed. Like the train's operation, ownership of the cars was split between the three railroads almost evenly across all car types. Each car was owned by a single railroad, but the ownership of the cars on any specific day's run of the train depended more on what equipment was available at the terminals than whose railroad the train was operating over at the time.
Generally positioned as the second Vista Dome coach was the car referred to as the "Conductor's Car". This car was like the other Vista Dome coaches, except in the B end, was a small booth with a bench seat and desk for the Conductor's use.
In 1952 an additional Pullman sleeper (6 double bedrooms - 5 compartments) was added to regular service on this train. With the new cars delivered that year, cars arriving in Chicago on the California Zephyr were made available for use on the Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr
for an overnight round trip to Lincoln, Nebraska
. When the cars returned from Lincoln the next day, they were placed back in the westbound California Zephyr's consist for the next train out of Chicago that afternoon.
revived the California Zephyr and invited one of the original "Zephyrettes" to host the first trip.
A pair of the Western Pacific's Budd Rail Diesel Car
s (RDCs), operating as replacements for the discontinued Royal Gorge (trains No. 1 and 2) http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/wprdc2.jpg between September 17, 1950 and October 2, 1960 also picked up the nickname "Zephyrette."
repeatedly petitioned the ICC
to drop its section of the train west of Salt Lake City without success. On February 13, 1970, the ICC released an order stating that "operation of the train [on the Western Pacific] was no longer required". The final train departed Oakland, California on March 20, 1970, terminating at Chicago, Illinois on March 22, 1970. The California Zephyr had operated for 21 years and 2 days. East of Salt Lake City, the train was reduced from a daily to a tri-weekly schedule, operating as California Service on the Burlington and as the Rio Grande Zephyr
on the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande portion of the train was extended beyond Salt Lake to Ogden, Utah
, allowing Nevada and California passengers to connect to the Southern Pacific Railroad
's City of San Francisco
. This arrangement existed until the creation of Amtrak on May 1, 1971.
With the establishment of Amtrak in 1971, the new system began operating its San Francisco Zephyr
over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy route to Denver, and Union Pacific's Overland Route
through Wyoming instead of Colorado, then over the Southern Pacific tracks west of Ogden, Utah. The Rio Grande Zephyr continued to operate as an alternate service between Denver and Ogden. In 1983 the Rio Grande reversed its decision and joined Amtrak.
In July 1983, Amtrak ceased operation of the San Francisco Zephyr and launched operation of a new California Zephyr over the CB&Q and Rio Grande legs of the original train route. Since that time the train has used a hybrid routing west of Salt Lake City between the route of the original California Zephyr and the former City of San Francisco. The train operates on the former Western Pacific's Central Corridor
until central Nevada, changing to the Overland Route
by the time the train reaches Winnemucca
. As the two lines operate in a directional running setup across central Nevada, the exact spot the train switches lines is different depending on the direction of travel.
.
Heading westward from Chicago, there are many small towns along the right-of-way as the train crosses the great plains
towards Denver. The rail bridge across the Mississippi River
affords a view of Burlington, Iowa
and marks the state line between Illinois and Iowa.
At Denver the California Zephyr departs BNSF Railway
owned track. From Denver west, the train operates along the Union Pacific Railroad
's Central Corridor
. The scenery changes dramatically departing Denver as the train climbs the Rocky Mountains
. After crossing the Continental Divide
via the Moffat Tunnel
, the tracks follow the Colorado River
for several hours. Passengers can see the transition from a narrow, whitewater river (popular with rafters, who habitually moon
the train as it passes) to a much wider stream past Glenwood Canyon
and Grand Junction
. The train finally departs the now much larger Colorado River after exiting Ruby Canyon
which is also where the train enters Utah
.
In Utah, the train follows the southern rim of the Book Cliffs
to their end near Helper
. The train then crosses the Wasatch Mountains, cresting at Soldier Summit
. After passing the Wasatch the train arrives at the Wasatch Front
where most of the population of Utah is located.
Once the train reaches Salt Lake City
the train loosely follows Interstate 80
until the terminus of the train in California. Both the freeway and railroad pass along the south shore of the Great Salt Lake
and across the Bonneville Salt Flats towards Nevada.
The Humboldt River
provides the path across most of Nevada. However, before the train reaches the Humbolt river, it crosses through 2 mountain ranges, tunneling under the Pequop Mountains
. The tracks cross the center of the Forty Mile Desert, on the other side of this desert valley is the Truckee River
which provides the train's path to Reno
and up the Sierra Nevada in California.
In California, the train crests the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass
and descends following a high ridge between the American
and Yuba River
s. Eventually, the California Zephyr reaches the lowland areas of the California Central Valley
. The trip terminates in Emeryville, a suburb of Oakland
. From Emeryville the free Emery Go Round
shuttle connects passengers to the Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART) system, or a Thruway Motorcoach provides connecting service to downtown San Francisco (with sweeping city views along the way).
The original California Zephyr used the Feather River Route
as its path through the Sierra Nevada. The rails are still in use for freight; however, anyone wishing to see this portion of the original route must now use State Route 70
which runs parallel to the old Western Pacific track.
The high quality Budd built cars of the "California Zephyr" have proven to be popular with private car owners. Today, several former CZ cars operate in private charter service on Amtrak, including dome-observation car "Silver Solarium", dome-coach "Silver Lariat", sleepers "Silver Rapids" and "Silver Quail" and a dome-lounge now known as the "Sierra Hotel".
Six museums currently hold equipment once used on the CZ. The Illinois Railway Museum
owns several Burlington locomotives that were used to pull the train on occasion. The Colorado Railroad Museum
has two Rio Grande locomotives that also saw CZ and later Rio Grande Zephyr
service.
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum
in Florida
owns two former Western Pacific Railroad
CZ cars: baggage car "Silver Stag" and dome-observation car "Silver Crescent".
The Avon Park Depot Museum in Florida
owns one former Western Pacific Railroad
CZ car: Silver Palm originally a sleeper car, it is now a buffet dining car that the museum uses for dinner parties. The car was converted to its buffet car state by Auto-Train when they bought the car. More information about the Silver Palm can be found at http://www.hsaponline.org/diningcar.htm
The Austin Steam Train Association, which operates the Austin & Texas Central Railroad in the Hill Country between Cedar Park and Burnet, has completed its restoration of the CZ Silver Pine car. Originally a 16-section sleeper manufactured in 1948 by the Budd Company, the coach car re-entered revenue service in 2011 - for the first time since it's Denver & Rio Grande Western days.
The largest collection of preserved equipment can be found in Portola, California
at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
. One locomotive and four cars are currently preserved there as part of the museum's Zephyr Project
restoration program. Western Pacific 805-A
is the last intact locomotive built specifically for the CZ. The cars are dome-lounge "Silver Hostel", dome-coaches "Silver Lodge" and "Silver Rifle" (on long term loan from the Golden Gate Railroad Museum
) and the "Silver Plate", which is the last intact dining car left from the train's fleet.
theme park in Anaheim, California
. The train served as the location of Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream counter service cafes at the Sunshine Plaza main entrance area of the park. As of August 2011, it has now being removed, and the replica will become a part of the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
in Portola, California
.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
in the midwestern and western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. This route is one of the longest and most scenic routes run by Amtrak, with views of both the upper Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
valley in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, and the Sierra Nevada.
Prior to the formation of Amtrak, the California Zephyr (the CZ, or "Silver Lady") was a passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
(CB&Q), Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
(D&RGW) and Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
(WP). The CB&Q, D&RGW and WP christened "The most talked about train in America" on March 19,1949 with the first departure to happen the following day. It was purposefully scheduled so that the train passed through the most spectacular scenery in the daylight.
The original CZ ceased operations in 1970. However, the D&RGW continued to operate its own passenger train service, named the Rio Grande Zephyr
Rio Grande Zephyr
The Rio Grande Zephyr was a passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad between Denver, Colorado and Ogden, Utah in the Western United States. It operated from 1970 until 1983...
, between Salt Lake City and Denver using the original equipment
Streamliner cars (rail)
The streamliners are a class of streamlined railway cars built in the forties and fifties of the twentieth century for long distance passenger railservices in North America.-Predecessors:...
until 1983.
Since 1983, the California Zephyr name has been applied to a Chicago-San Francisco Amtrak service, which operates daily and is a hybrid route between the route of the original CZ and the route of its former rival, the City of San Francisco
City of San Francisco
The City of San Francisco was a streamlined passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Union Pacific Railroad...
.
Another former rival was the San Francisco Chief
San Francisco Chief
The San Francisco Chief was a named passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway as Nos. 1 & 2 from June 6, 1954 to May 1, 1971. It covered the Santa Fe line from near San Francisco, California to Barstow, California, then east to Chicago, Illinois via the Belen cutoff....
.
A small blurb in the July 2010 Trains magazine stated that this train is listed not only for route improvement, but also to host a second route, the discontinued Desert Wind
Desert Wind
Desert Wind was a passenger train route operated by Amtrak from 1979 to 1997. When it first entered service, it ran from Los Angeles, California to Ogden, Utah passing through Salt Lake City and Las Vegas...
route. The following is what is listed for the Zephyr route:
- Possible Desert WindDesert WindDesert Wind was a passenger train route operated by Amtrak from 1979 to 1997. When it first entered service, it ran from Los Angeles, California to Ogden, Utah passing through Salt Lake City and Las Vegas...
extension, Salt Lake City-Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
via Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... - Possible equipment upgrades similar to that of the Empire BuilderEmpire BuilderThe Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
, possibly regardless if the first change is successful or not.
During fiscal year 2010, the California Zephyr carried a total of 377,876 passengers, an increase of 9.4% over FY 2009's total of 345,558 passengers. The train had a total revenue of $43,754,763 during FY 2010, a 13.1% increase from FY 2009's total of $38,679,674.
The original California Zephyr
The original California Zephyr ran over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy RailroadChicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
from Chicago to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...
between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and the Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
from Salt Lake City to Oakland, California. Cars owned by different railroads ran together; cars cycled in and out of the consists for service, repairs, and varying passenger loads with the seasons.
The first train was christened in San Francisco by Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Jean Parker is an American screen actress. Her versatility led to her being dubbed Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.- Early life :...
while California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Lieutenant Governor Goodwin Knight
Goodwin Knight
Goodwin Jess Knight , known as "Goodie Knight", was a U.S. politician who was the 31st Governor of California from 1953 until 1959.-Early life:...
, Mayor of San Francisco Elmer Robinson
Elmer Robinson
Elmer Edwin Robinson was the 33rd mayor of San Francisco, California. A Republican, he served as San Francisco's mayor from January 1948 until January 1956....
, and WP President Harry A. Mitchell looked on. For the inaugural run in 1949, every female passenger on the train was given a corsage of "silver" and orange orchids that were specially flown in from Hilo, Hawaii. The women who worked as car hostesses on this train were known as "Zephyrettes."
The train traversed the route's 2525 mi (4,064 km) in 2½ days.
Equipment used
The passenger cars used when the train was inaugurated in 1949 were as follows:- BaggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
- Vista-DomeDome carA dome car is a type of railway passenger car that has a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. It also can include features of a coach, lounge car, dining car or observation...
chair car (Women & Children's car) - Vista-Dome chair car (Conductor's Car)
- Vista-Dome chair car
- Vista-Dome dormitory-buffet-lounge carLounge carA lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
- SleeperSleeping carThe sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
(10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms) - Sleeper (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
- DinerDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
(48 seats) - Sleeper (16 sections)
- Sleeper (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms) — this was a run-through car to New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- Vista-Dome dormitory-buffet-lounge-observationObservation carAn observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
(1 drawing room, 3 double bedrooms)
The forward section of the first Vista-Dome car was partitioned off and reserved for women and children only. There was a door in the corridor under the dome just behind the women's restroom that provided access to the reserved section. Early on however, this reserved section was opened up to all passengers and the door and partitions were removed. Like the train's operation, ownership of the cars was split between the three railroads almost evenly across all car types. Each car was owned by a single railroad, but the ownership of the cars on any specific day's run of the train depended more on what equipment was available at the terminals than whose railroad the train was operating over at the time.
Generally positioned as the second Vista Dome coach was the car referred to as the "Conductor's Car". This car was like the other Vista Dome coaches, except in the B end, was a small booth with a bench seat and desk for the Conductor's use.
In 1952 an additional Pullman sleeper (6 double bedrooms - 5 compartments) was added to regular service on this train. With the new cars delivered that year, cars arriving in Chicago on the California Zephyr were made available for use on the Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr
Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr
The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as "Burlington Route" train No. 5 eastbound and train No. 30 westbound....
for an overnight round trip to Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. When the cars returned from Lincoln the next day, they were placed back in the westbound California Zephyr's consist for the next train out of Chicago that afternoon.
"Zephyrettes"
The California Zephyr was marketed (especially to families) as "...a vacation unto itself." Train hostesses, while not new to the industry in the late 1940s, were nevertheless elevated to a new level on the CZ in the form of the "Zephyrette." The "Zephyrettes" functioned as social directors, tour guides, babysitters, nurses—in short, they filled just about any role required to ensure that the passengers had a memorable trip. A pool of approximately twelve women was assigned at any given time to the CZ in this capacity. In 1983 AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
revived the California Zephyr and invited one of the original "Zephyrettes" to host the first trip.
A pair of the Western Pacific's Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s (RDCs), operating as replacements for the discontinued Royal Gorge (trains No. 1 and 2) http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/wprdc2.jpg between September 17, 1950 and October 2, 1960 also picked up the nickname "Zephyrette."
Amtrak era
As ridership fell during the 1960s, the Western PacificWestern Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
repeatedly petitioned the ICC
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
to drop its section of the train west of Salt Lake City without success. On February 13, 1970, the ICC released an order stating that "operation of the train [on the Western Pacific] was no longer required". The final train departed Oakland, California on March 20, 1970, terminating at Chicago, Illinois on March 22, 1970. The California Zephyr had operated for 21 years and 2 days. East of Salt Lake City, the train was reduced from a daily to a tri-weekly schedule, operating as California Service on the Burlington and as the Rio Grande Zephyr
Rio Grande Zephyr
The Rio Grande Zephyr was a passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad between Denver, Colorado and Ogden, Utah in the Western United States. It operated from 1970 until 1983...
on the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande portion of the train was extended beyond Salt Lake to Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, allowing Nevada and California passengers to connect to the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
's City of San Francisco
City of San Francisco
The City of San Francisco was a streamlined passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Union Pacific Railroad...
. This arrangement existed until the creation of Amtrak on May 1, 1971.
With the establishment of Amtrak in 1971, the new system began operating its San Francisco Zephyr
San Francisco Zephyr
The San Francisco Zephyr was the name adopted in June 1972 for the Amtrak passenger train between Chicago, Illinois and the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Previously Amtrak had called it the City of San Francisco on the tri-weekly run west of Denver and Denver Zephyr on the daily run between...
over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy route to Denver, and Union Pacific's Overland Route
Overland Route (Union Pacific Railroad)
The Overland Route was a train route operated jointly by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad / Southern Pacific Railroad, between Council Bluffs, Iowa / Omaha, Nebraska, and San Francisco, California over the grade of the First Transcontinental Railroad which had been...
through Wyoming instead of Colorado, then over the Southern Pacific tracks west of Ogden, Utah. The Rio Grande Zephyr continued to operate as an alternate service between Denver and Ogden. In 1983 the Rio Grande reversed its decision and joined Amtrak.
In July 1983, Amtrak ceased operation of the San Francisco Zephyr and launched operation of a new California Zephyr over the CB&Q and Rio Grande legs of the original train route. Since that time the train has used a hybrid routing west of Salt Lake City between the route of the original California Zephyr and the former City of San Francisco. The train operates on the former Western Pacific's Central Corridor
Central Corridor (Union Pacific Railroad)
The Central Corridor is a rail line operated by the Union Pacific Railroad from near Winnemucca, Nevada to Denver, Colorado in the western United States. The line is in use for freight, and provides the route of the California Zephyr. The BNSF Railway has trackage rights on the entire line. The...
until central Nevada, changing to the Overland Route
Overland Route (Union Pacific Railroad)
The Overland Route was a train route operated jointly by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad / Southern Pacific Railroad, between Council Bluffs, Iowa / Omaha, Nebraska, and San Francisco, California over the grade of the First Transcontinental Railroad which had been...
by the time the train reaches Winnemucca
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
. As the two lines operate in a directional running setup across central Nevada, the exact spot the train switches lines is different depending on the direction of travel.
Timeline
- March 12, 1949: Public exhibition of equipment that will be used on the California Zephyr begins in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaOakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. The exhibition travels through along the WP portion of the train's route to Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
before returning to San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
the following week for the inauguration. - March 19, 1949: The inauguration ceremony for the California Zephyr is held in front of the Pier 3 Ferry building in San Francisco. This is the only time the train is moved into San Francisco, proper; the ceremony is attended by Pacific Opera Company soprano Evelyn Corvello (who sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the ceremony), San Francisco Mayor Elmer RobinsonElmer RobinsonElmer Edwin Robinson was the 33rd mayor of San Francisco, California. A Republican, he served as San Francisco's mayor from January 1948 until January 1956....
, Western Pacific President Harry A. Mitchell, California Lieutenant Governor Goodwin KnightGoodwin KnightGoodwin Jess Knight , known as "Goodie Knight", was a U.S. politician who was the 31st Governor of California from 1953 until 1959.-Early life:...
and Warner Brothers actress Eleanor ParkerEleanor ParkerEleanor Jean Parker is an American screen actress. Her versatility led to her being dubbed Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.- Early life :...
(who officially christened the train with a bottle of champagne). - March 20, 1949: The first eastbound California Zephyr leaves Oakland for Chicago.
- March 1, 1955: The eastbound California Zephyr, while traveling through Ruby CanyonRuby CanyonRuby Canyon is a roughly 25 mile long canyon on the Colorado River located on the Colorado-Utah border in the western United States, and is a popular destination for rafting...
, sees its first on-train birth as Peter Zars is born. - February 13, 1970: The Interstate Commerce CommissionInterstate Commerce CommissionThe Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
approves the discontinuation of the California Zephyr. - March 22, 1970: The last westbound California Zephyr through to the west coast leaves Chicago; the train terminates in Oakland. A remnant of the California Zephyr continues to operate Chicago to Ogden, Utah on the CB&Q and D&RGW on a tri-weekly schedule, with a cross platform transfer in Ogden to the City of San Francisco for passengers to Oakland.
- April 24, 1983: The final "Rio Grande Zephyr", a remnant of the California Zephyr, operates between Grand Junction, CO and Denver, CO. A brass band met the final train in Denver.
- 1983: The California Zephyr returns to service when the D&RGW agrees to join Amtrak.
- October 29, 2000: Service on Amtrak's California Zephyr is upgraded to daily.
- June 24, 2011: Train 5, the westbound California Zephyr, is hit by a semi truck about 70 miles east of Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. The resulting fire destroys at least two rail cars, and at least six people are confirmed dead, including the truck driver and an Amtrak conductor. Dozens more are injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though with the truck driver dead, it may take officials up to a year to determine. Witnesses report that the crossing gates were functioning properly and that the truck driver tried to stop prior to the collision.
Route description
Exiting Chicago's Union Station, the Willis Tower can be glimpsed in the distance as the train passes urban industrial zones and bricked residential streets. The Chicago suburbs are expansive but traversed within the first hour of the train's journey, stopping once in Naperville, IllinoisNaperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
.
Heading westward from Chicago, there are many small towns along the right-of-way as the train crosses the great plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
towards Denver. The rail bridge across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
affords a view of Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
and marks the state line between Illinois and Iowa.
At Denver the California Zephyr departs BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
owned track. From Denver west, the train operates along the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
's Central Corridor
Central Corridor (Union Pacific Railroad)
The Central Corridor is a rail line operated by the Union Pacific Railroad from near Winnemucca, Nevada to Denver, Colorado in the western United States. The line is in use for freight, and provides the route of the California Zephyr. The BNSF Railway has trackage rights on the entire line. The...
. The scenery changes dramatically departing Denver as the train climbs the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. After crossing the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
via the Moffat Tunnel
Moffat Tunnel
The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first railroad traffic passed through in February 1928....
, the tracks follow the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
for several hours. Passengers can see the transition from a narrow, whitewater river (popular with rafters, who habitually moon
Mooning
Mooning is the act of displaying one's bare buttocks by removing clothing, e.g., by lowering the backside of one's trousers and underpants, usually bending over, whether also exposing the genitals or not...
the train as it passes) to a much wider stream past Glenwood Canyon
Glenwood Canyon
Glenwood Canyon is a rugged scenic canyon on the Colorado River in western Colorado in the United States. Its canyon walls climb as high as above the Colorado River. It is the largest such canyon on the Upper Colorado...
and Grand Junction
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
. The train finally departs the now much larger Colorado River after exiting Ruby Canyon
Ruby Canyon
Ruby Canyon is a roughly 25 mile long canyon on the Colorado River located on the Colorado-Utah border in the western United States, and is a popular destination for rafting...
which is also where the train enters Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
In Utah, the train follows the southern rim of the Book Cliffs
Book Cliffs
The Book Cliffs are a series of mountains and cliffs in western Colorado and eastern Utah, in the western United States. They are so named because many of them have the triangular appearance of a book that has been opened up, then turned on its sides and set to rest on the open sides of the book,...
to their end near Helper
Helper, Utah
Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and northwest of the city of Price. It is also known as the "Hub of Carbon County". The population was 2,025 at the 2000 census....
. The train then crosses the Wasatch Mountains, cresting at Soldier Summit
Soldier Summit, Utah
Soldier Summit is the name of both a mountain pass in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and a ghost town located at the pass. Soldier Summit has been an important transportation route between the Wasatch Front and Price, Utah since the area was settled by the Mormon pioneers. It is on the route of both...
. After passing the Wasatch the train arrives at the Wasatch Front
Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Front is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of cities and towns stretched along the Wasatch Range from approximately Santaquin in the south to Brigham City in the north...
where most of the population of Utah is located.
Once the train reaches Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
the train loosely follows Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
until the terminus of the train in California. Both the freeway and railroad pass along the south shore of the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
and across the Bonneville Salt Flats towards Nevada.
The Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
provides the path across most of Nevada. However, before the train reaches the Humbolt river, it crosses through 2 mountain ranges, tunneling under the Pequop Mountains
Pequop Mountains
The Pequop Mountains are located in eastern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. The range runs generally north-south for approximately 51 miles...
. The tracks cross the center of the Forty Mile Desert, on the other side of this desert valley is the Truckee River
Truckee River
The Truckee River is a stream in the U.S. states of California and Nevada. The river is about long. Its endorheic drainage basin is about , of which about are in Nevada. The Truckee is the sole outlet of Lake Tahoe and drains part of the high Sierra Nevada, emptying into Pyramid Lake in the Great...
which provides the train's path to Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and up the Sierra Nevada in California.
In California, the train crests the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
and descends following a high ridge between the American
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
and Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
s. Eventually, the California Zephyr reaches the lowland areas of the California Central Valley
California Central Valley
California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California's most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is...
. The trip terminates in Emeryville, a suburb of Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. From Emeryville the free Emery Go Round
Emery Go Round
Emery Go-Round is a zero-fare bus service in Emeryville, California, near Oakland, California. It has three lines that run five days a week, with more limited service on weekends, and no or reduced service on holidays...
shuttle connects passengers to the Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
(BART) system, or a Thruway Motorcoach provides connecting service to downtown San Francisco (with sweeping city views along the way).
The original California Zephyr used the Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
as its path through the Sierra Nevada. The rails are still in use for freight; however, anyone wishing to see this portion of the original route must now use State Route 70
California State Route 70
State Route 70 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. Connecting Sacramento with U.S. Route 395 near Beckwourth Pass via the Feather River Canyon, it was formerly known as U.S. Route 40 Alternate, crossing the Sierra Nevada at a lower elevation than Donner Pass on U.S. Route 40...
which runs parallel to the old Western Pacific track.
Station stops
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... |
Chicago Union Station Union Station (Chicago) Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Blue Water, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg (Amtrak) The Carl Sandburg is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. This train began operation on October 30, 2006 and is an addition to the existing Illinois Service rail network created in 1971 and partially funded by the Illinois Department of... , City of New Orleans City of New Orleans The City of New Orleans is a nightly passenger train operated by Amtrak which travels between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana. Before Amtrak's formation in 1971, the train was operated by the Illinois Central Railroad along the same route . The train currently operates on a 19½ hour... , Empire Builder Empire Builder The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before... , Hiawatha Service, Hoosier State, Illini Illini (Amtrak) The Illini is a 310-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation and by local governments along the route... , Illinois Zephyr Illinois Zephyr The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... , Lincoln Service, Pere Marquette, Saluki Saluki (Amtrak) The Saluki is a 310-mile passenger train line operated by Amtrak running between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Southwest Chief Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California... , Texas Eagle Texas Eagle The Texas Eagle is a 1306-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the central and western United States. Trains run daily between Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, and continue to Los Angeles, California, 2728 miles total, three days a week... , Wolverine, Thruway Motorcoach CTA Buses: 1, 7, 14, 19, 20, X20, X28, 56, 60, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 151, 156, 157, 192 Megabus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... : North Central Service North Central Service The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo... , Milwaukee District/North Line Milwaukee District/North Line The Milwaukee District/North is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , Milwaukee District/West Line Milwaukee District/West Line The Milwaukee District/West is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs... , BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... , Heritage Corridor Heritage Corridor The Heritage Corridor Line is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Heritage Corridor line are printed in dark "Alton... , SouthWest Service SouthWest Service The SouthWest Service is an American commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, running southwest from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois, to Manhattan, Illinois... |
| Naperville Naperville, Illinois Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,... |
Naperville Naperville (Amtrak station) The Naperville Amtrak/Metra station is a train station in Naperville, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. Amtrak trains stopping at the Naperville station include the California Zephyr, Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg and Southwest Chief... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg (Amtrak) The Carl Sandburg is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. This train began operation on October 30, 2006 and is an addition to the existing Illinois Service rail network created in 1971 and partially funded by the Illinois Department of... , Illinois Zephyr Illinois Zephyr The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Southwest Chief Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California... Metra Metra Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by... : BNSF Railway Line BNSF Railway Line The BNSF Railway Line is a commuter rail line in the United States, provided by Metra and operated by the BNSF Railway in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs... Pace Pace (transit) Pace is the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was created in 1983 by the RTA Act, which established the formula that provides funding to CTA, Metra and Pace. In 2010, Pace had 35.077 million riders. Pace's headquarters are in... : 530, 676, 677, 678, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 714, 781 |
|
| Princeton Princeton, Illinois Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,501 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bureau County.Princeton is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... |
Princeton Princeton (Amtrak station) Princeton Amtrak station is a train station located at 107 Bicentennial Drive in Princeton, Illinois. The station was built in 1911 by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and is listed as "Princeton City" on the Amtrak website and the List of Amtrak stations.-External links:**... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg (Amtrak) The Carl Sandburg is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. This train began operation on October 30, 2006 and is an addition to the existing Illinois Service rail network created in 1971 and partially funded by the Illinois Department of... , Illinois Zephyr Illinois Zephyr The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Southwest Chief Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California... |
|
| Galesburg Galesburg, Illinois Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County.... |
Galesburg Galesburg (Amtrak station) The Galesburg Amtrak station is a train station in Galesburg, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station was originally built in 1984, after the razing of the large depot just south of the current site. It is located north of the large BNSF... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg (Amtrak) The Carl Sandburg is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. This train began operation on October 30, 2006 and is an addition to the existing Illinois Service rail network created in 1971 and partially funded by the Illinois Department of... , Illinois Zephyr Illinois Zephyr The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. The train is a part of the Illinois Service rail network and is partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation... , Southwest Chief Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California... Burlington Trailways Burlington Trailways Burlington Trailways is an inter-city bus company based in West Burlington, Iowa.Burlington Trailways was founded in 1929 as the Burlington Transportation Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad... Galesburg Bus Transit: Route 2. |
|
| Iowa Iowa Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New... |
Burlington Burlington, Iowa Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and... |
Burlington Burlington, Iowa (Amtrak station) The Burlington Amtrak station is a train station in Burlington, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station is located at 300 South Main Street. The station is open 24 hours a day, however there is no Amtrak personnel at the station at any time... |
Burlington Urban Service (BUS): All routes |
| Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant, Iowa Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :... |
Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant (Amtrak station) The Mount Pleasant Amtrak station is a train station in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.... |
none | |
| Ottumwa Ottumwa, Iowa Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River.... |
Ottumwa Ottumwa (Amtrak station) The Ottumwa Amtrak station is a train station in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station was originally built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and has been listed as Burlington Depot by the National Register of Historic... |
Ottumwa Transit Authority: East-West Route. Burlington Trailways Burlington Trailways Burlington Trailways is an inter-city bus company based in West Burlington, Iowa.Burlington Trailways was founded in 1929 as the Burlington Transportation Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad... . |
|
| Osceola Osceola, Iowa Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69... |
Osceola Osceola (Amtrak station) The Osceola Amtrak station is a train station in Osceola, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.Of the six Iowa stations served by Amtrak, Osceola was the busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 50 passengers daily. Among Amtrak... |
none | |
| Creston Creston, Iowa Creston is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,597 at the 2000 census. McKinley Lake lies within a large, multi-purpose municipal park within the city limits, and three additional recreational lakes are located within seven miles of Creston:... |
Creston Creston (Amtrak station) The Creston Station is an unstaffed Amtrak train station in Creston, Iowa. Amtrak shares the building with the BNSF Railway, which uses the building as a yard office... |
||
| Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... |
Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... |
Omaha Omaha (Amtrak station) The Omaha Amtrak station is a train station in Omaha, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is served daily by the California Zephyr.... |
Metro Area Transit Metro Area Transit Metro , previously known as Metro Area Transit is the local mass transportation provider in Omaha, Nebraska. Metro currently operates around 135 buses throughout the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, including the communities of Bellevue, Ralston, LaVista and Papillion in Nebraska, as well as... : Route 10 |
| Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379.... |
Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska (Amtrak station) The Lincoln Amtrak station is a train station in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is served daily by the California Zephyr.... |
StarTran StarTran StarTran is the public transit bus system in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. They operate 14 regular bus routes and a downtown circulator service on weekdays from 5:15 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. and Saturdays from 5:55 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. There is no service on Sundays... : Route 51 and 52 |
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| Hastings Hastings, Nebraska Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census... |
Hastings Hastings (Amtrak station) The Hastings Amtrak station is a train station in Hastings, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is served daily by the California Zephyr.... |
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| Holdrege Holdrege, Nebraska Holdrege is a city in Phelps County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,636 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Phelps County.-Transportation:... |
Holdrege Holdrege (Amtrak station) The Holdrege Amtrak station is a historic train station in Holdrege, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system... |
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| McCook McCook, Nebraska McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Red Willow County... |
McCook McCook (Amtrak station) The McCook Amtrak station is a train station in McCook, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.Of the five Nebraska stations served by Amtrak, McCook was the fourth busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 9 passengers... |
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| Colorado Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... |
Fort Morgan Fort Morgan, Colorado The City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.-History:... |
Fort Morgan Fort Morgan (Amtrak station) The Fort Morgan Amtrak station is a train station in Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.... |
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| Denver | Denver Union Station | Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Thruway Motorcoach RTD Light Rail: C Line C Line (RTD) The C Line—also referred to as the Orange Line, because the line is colored orange on maps—is a light rail line which is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on... , E Line E Line (RTD) The E Line, sometimes known as the Purple Line, is part of the light rail system operated by the Regional Transportation District in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area in Colorado. The line was added to the system on November 17, 2006, with the completion of the Southeast Corridor project . It is... |
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| Fraser Fraser, Colorado Fraser is a Statutory Town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 910 at the 2000 census. The town is in Middle Park in the valley of the Fraser River along U.S. Highway 40... |
Fraser-Winter Park Fraser-Winter Park (Amtrak station) Fraser – Winter Park is a train station in Fraser, Colorado. It is served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train. The station house is unstaffed, except during the winter months... |
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| Granby Granby, Colorado The Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park... |
Granby Granby (Amtrak station) Granby is a train station in Granby, Colorado. It is served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train. Despite its antiquated appearance and structure , the station was built in 1987.... |
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| Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs, Colorado The City of Glenwood Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 8,564 in 2005... |
Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs (Amtrak station) Glenwood Springs is a train station in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It is served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train.The station also serves as a second Greyhound bus stop in Glenwood Springs... |
Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and... Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Roaring Fork Transportation Authority was established in 1983, and is operated by a Rural Transportation Authority. The RFTA provides bus service to Aspen, Snowmass Village, Pitkin County, Basalt, a portion of Eagle County, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and their newest member New Castle.-Fleet:RFTA... |
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| Grand Junction Grand Junction, Colorado The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As... |
Grand Junction Grand Junction (Amtrak station) Grand Junction is a train station in Grand Junction, Colorado. It is served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train. It was originally built by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.... |
Grand Valley Transit Grand Valley Transit Grand Valley Transit is the public transportation agency that serves the Grand Junction area. Fixed route service began in 2000, and by 2009, approximately 900,000 passengers were using bus service each year... : Route 11 |
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| Utah Utah Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the... |
Green River Green River, Utah Green River is a city in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 973 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Green River is located at , on the banks of the Green River, after which the city is named. The San Rafael Swell region is to the west of Green River, while Canyonlands National Park... |
Green River Green River (Amtrak station) Green River is a train station in Green River, Utah. It is served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train. Originally built by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, Amtrak did not use this depot until 1994... |
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| Helper Helper, Utah Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and northwest of the city of Price. It is also known as the "Hub of Carbon County". The population was 2,025 at the 2000 census.... |
Helper Helper (Amtrak station) The Helper Amtrak station is a train station in Helper, Utah, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is served daily by the California Zephyr... |
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| Provo Provo, Utah Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south... |
Provo Provo (Amtrak station) The Provo Amtrak station is a train station in Provo, Utah, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is served daily by the California Zephyr... |
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| Salt Lake City | Salt Lake Central Station Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub is a multi-modal transportation hub located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Amtrak, the national regional rail system, provides one train daily in each direction on the California Zephyr: west to Emeryville, California and east to Chicago, Illinois... |
Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and... FrontRunner FrontRunner FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008... : FrontRunner North UTA Buses: 2, 3, 11, 205, 209, 220, 227, 240, 500, 520, 522, 550 UTA TRAX UTA TRAX TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority .... : Blue Line Green Line |
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| Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
Elko Elko, Nevada Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River.... |
Elko Elko (Amtrak station) The Elko Station is an unstaffed Amtrak train station in Elko, Nevada. It is served daily by Amtrak's California Zephyr.Of the three Nevada stations served by Amtrak, Elko was the second busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 19 passengers daily.-External... |
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| Winnemucca Winnemucca, Nevada -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile... |
Winnemucca Winnemucca (Amtrak station) The Winnemucca Amtrak station is a train station in Winnemucca, Nevada, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.... |
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| Reno Reno, Nevada Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... |
Reno Reno (Amtrak station) The Reno Amtrak station is a train station in Reno, Nevada, United States, served by Amtrak's California Zephyr train and multiple-frequency daily Thruway Motorcoach service. The depot was built in 1926 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is the 3rd train depot built at this same location. The... |
RTC Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County is the public body responsible for the transportation needs throughout Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, Nevada. The RTC, created by the State of Nevada in 1979, is an amalgamation of the Regional Street and Highway Commission, the Regional... |
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| California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
Truckee Truckee, California Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:... |
Truckee Truckee (Amtrak station) The Truckee Amtrak station is a train station in Truckee, California, served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.It is currently served by one daily passenger train in each direction, the California Zephyr. The westbound train arrives in the morning from Chicago and Denver heading for... |
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| Colfax Colfax, California Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census... |
Colfax Colfax (Amtrak station) Amtrak's Colfax Station is in Colfax, California. It is unstaffed. The station was built in 1905 by Southern Pacific Railroad and was restored in the early 21st Century... |
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| Roseville Roseville, California -2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile... |
Roseville Roseville (Amtrak station) The Roseville Amtrak Station is at 201 Pacific Street in Roseville, California, United States. It can be reached from the Douglas Boulevard exit off Interstate 80. The station has an enclosed waiting area and restrooms... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... :Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... |
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| Sacramento Sacramento, California Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,... |
Sacramento Valley Rail Station | Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... , Coast Starlight Coast Starlight The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast... , San Joaquin, Thruway Motorcoach Sacramento RT Sacramento Regional Transit District The Sacramento Regional Transit District, commonly referred to as RT, is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Sacramento, California area. It was established on April 1, 1973, as a result of the acquisition of the Sacramento Transit Authority... : Gold Line Gold Line (Sacramento RT) The Gold Line is a light rail transit line in the Sacramento Regional Transit District light rail system. It runs primarily east-west in Sacramento, portions of unincorporated Sacramento County, Rancho Cordova and Folsom... |
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| Davis Davis, California Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Davis Davis (Amtrak station) The Davisville Railroad Depot was built by the California Pacific Railroad between August 24, 1868, and November 15, 1868, connecting Davis to Washington to the east, Vallejo to the southwest, and Marysville to the northeast via a wye at Davis to Woodland, where the line separated to go northwest... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... , Coast Starlight Coast Starlight The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast... |
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| Martinez Martinez, California Martinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings... |
Martinez Martinez (Amtrak station) Martinez Station is a union station in Martinez, California, the county seat of Contra Costa County. It is served by 44 Amtrak trains per day, including Capitol Corridor trains, San Joaquins, the California Zephyr and the Coast Starlight... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... , Coast Starlight Coast Starlight The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast... , San Joaquin Tri Delta Transit: 200 WestCAT WestCAT WestCAT is a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County . It is a service of the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority.... : 108, 116, 118, 119, 200, 30Z, 308, 980 |
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| Richmond Richmond, California Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been... |
Richmond | Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... , Coast Starlight Coast Starlight The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast... , San Joaquin BART:Richmond – Fremont line, Richmond – Millbrae line AC Transit AC Transit AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area... : 70, 71, 72M, 74, 76, 376 (local); 608, 684, 674, 667, 668, 675, 684 (school days only); 800 (All Nighter All Nighter The All Nighter is a night bus service network in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Portions of the service shadow the rapid transit and commuter rail services of BART and Caltrain, which are the major rail services between San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula, and San Jose... ) Golden Gate Transit Golden Gate Transit Golden Gate Transit is a public transportation system serving the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, United States. It mainly serves Marin and Sonoma Counties, and also provides limited service to San Francisco and Contra Costa County.Golden Gate Transit is one of three... : 42 Richmond Medical Center route BART-Kaiser Shuttle |
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| Emeryville Emeryville, California Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and... |
Emeryville Emeryville (Amtrak station) The Emeryville Amtrak station is an Amtrak station in Emeryville, California that replaced the older Amtrak 16th Street Station in Oakland. The original Beaux-Arts Oakland 16th Street Station was declared unsafe due to unreinforced masonry after sustaining damage in the Loma Prieta Earthquake of... |
AC Transit AC Transit AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area... : 31 (Stop accessible by crossing a pedestrian bridge across the tracks.) Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... : Capitol Corridor Capitol Corridor The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80... , Coast Starlight Coast Starlight The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast... , San Joaquin, Thruway Motorcoach Emery Go Round Emery Go Round Emery Go-Round is a zero-fare bus service in Emeryville, California, near Oakland, California. It has three lines that run five days a week, with more limited service on weekends, and no or reduced service on holidays... : Shellmound/Powell, Hollis |
Preservation and surviving equipment
Six museums currently hold equipment once used on the CZ. The Illinois Railway Museum
Illinois Railway Museum
The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union, Illinois, northwest of Chicago...
owns several Burlington locomotives that were used to pull the train on occasion. The Colorado Railroad Museum
Colorado Railroad Museum
The Colorado Railroad Museum is a non-profit railroad museum The museum is located on at a point where Clear Creek flows between North and South Table Mountains in Golden, Colorado....
has two Rio Grande locomotives that also saw CZ and later Rio Grande Zephyr
Rio Grande Zephyr
The Rio Grande Zephyr was a passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad between Denver, Colorado and Ogden, Utah in the Western United States. It operated from 1970 until 1983...
service.
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
- Description :It was founded in 1956. The museum was built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond . With over three miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal place to build a railroad museum....
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
owns two former Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
CZ cars: baggage car "Silver Stag" and dome-observation car "Silver Crescent".
The Avon Park Depot Museum in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
owns one former Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
CZ car: Silver Palm originally a sleeper car, it is now a buffet dining car that the museum uses for dinner parties. The car was converted to its buffet car state by Auto-Train when they bought the car. More information about the Silver Palm can be found at http://www.hsaponline.org/diningcar.htm
The Austin Steam Train Association, which operates the Austin & Texas Central Railroad in the Hill Country between Cedar Park and Burnet, has completed its restoration of the CZ Silver Pine car. Originally a 16-section sleeper manufactured in 1948 by the Budd Company, the coach car re-entered revenue service in 2011 - for the first time since it's Denver & Rio Grande Western days.
The largest collection of preserved equipment can be found in Portola, California
Portola, California
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census...
at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
. One locomotive and four cars are currently preserved there as part of the museum's Zephyr Project
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
restoration program. Western Pacific 805-A
Western Pacific 805-A
Western Pacific 805-A is a diesel-electric railroad locomotive built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. It was mainly used to pull passenger trains, specifically the California Zephyr , which was operated jointly by the Western Pacific, Denver and Rio Grande Western, and the...
is the last intact locomotive built specifically for the CZ. The cars are dome-lounge "Silver Hostel", dome-coaches "Silver Lodge" and "Silver Rifle" (on long term loan from the Golden Gate Railroad Museum
Golden Gate Railroad Museum
The Golden Gate Railroad Museum is a non-profit railroad museum in California that is dedicated to the preservation of steam and passenger railroad equipment, as well as the interpretation of local railroad history....
) and the "Silver Plate", which is the last intact dining car left from the train's fleet.
Replicas
A non-functional replica of the California Zephyr was located at Disney's California AdventureDisney's California Adventure
Disney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and...
theme park in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. The train served as the location of Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream counter service cafes at the Sunshine Plaza main entrance area of the park. As of August 2011, it has now being removed, and the replica will become a part of the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
in Portola, California
Portola, California
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census...
.
See also
- CB&Q Denver ZephyrDenver ZephyrThe Denver Zephyr was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado...
- Longest train journeysLongest train journeysThis article list longest passenger rail services currently operating and running directly between two cities. It is a collation list of train services and routes that are stopping and non-stop from a distance and time perspective.- Records :...
External links
- Amtrak - California Zephyr
- California Zephyr Virtual Museum
- California Zephyr Museum Online
- Western Pacific Railroad Museum
- California Zephyr restoration effort
- "Amtrak's California Zephyr: The Way West" by Dan Zukowski
- The California Zephyr, Legendary Passenger Train of the West
- Last Run of the D&RGW Portion of the California Zephyr