City of Denver
Encyclopedia
The City of Denver was a passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western
(CNW) and Union Pacific
(UP) railroads. The train operated on both railroads' rights of way between Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado
. In 1955 the Milwaukee Road assumed the service, replacing the Chicago and Northwestern between Chicago and Omaha.
This train service was the fastest long-distance passenger train in the world when it debuted in 1936, traversing the 1048 miles (1,686.6 km) in as little as 16 hours (an average of about 65 miles per hour (29.1 m/s)).
The City of Denver was involved in Colorado's worst traffic accident when, on December 14, 1961, it struck a school bus in Auburn, a few miles east of LaSalle, killing 20 children.
/lounge
car that is still owned and operated by the Union Pacific in employee and other special trains. This car was built by St. Louis Car Company
in 1949 as UP's car #5011.
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
(CNW) and Union Pacific
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....
(UP) railroads. The train operated on both railroads' rights of way between Chicago, Illinois, and 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...
. In 1955 the Milwaukee Road assumed the service, replacing the Chicago and Northwestern between Chicago and Omaha.
This train service was the fastest long-distance passenger train in the world when it debuted in 1936, traversing the 1048 miles (1,686.6 km) in as little as 16 hours (an average of about 65 miles per hour (29.1 m/s)).
The City of Denver was involved in Colorado's worst traffic accident when, on December 14, 1961, it struck a school bus in Auburn, a few miles east of LaSalle, killing 20 children.
Timeline
- June 18, 1936: The CNW and UP launch the streamlined City of Denver train service between Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, ColoradoDenver, ColoradoThe 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...
. - October 30, 1955: The Milwaukee Road takes over operation of the City of Denver from the Chicago and North Western RailwayChicago and North Western RailwayThe Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
.
- May 1, 1971: AmtrakAmtrakThe 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...
takes over most intercity rail service including Union Pacific and the Milwaukee Road, the City of Denver is discontinued as of this date.
Other railroad uses of the name City of Denver
The name has also been applied to a cafeDining car
A 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....
/lounge
Lounge car
A 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...
car that is still owned and operated by the Union Pacific in employee and other special trains. This car was built by St. Louis Car Company
St. Louis Car Company
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
in 1949 as UP's car #5011.
See also
- Passenger train service on the Chicago and North Western Railway
- Passenger train service on the Union Pacific Railroad