CHICAGO'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

CENTRAL STATION

Intercity passenger trains serving Chicago in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

Trains are listed in order of time scheduled, with "am" and "pm" omitted except where necessary for clarity.

Origin and destination cities are as of 1942. Many trains had their routes shortened between then and 1971.

Train numbers continued from 1942 through 1971, unless assigned new numbers, preceding the 1956 times or 1971 times.

Train names were as of 1942. For certain trains in 1942 without names, the 1956 names are listed.


ILLINOIS CENTRAL

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 31                        Champaign       7:30
 53  City of Miami         Miami           8:20        9:00        8:40
 27  Sinnissippi           Freeport        8:40    15  8:20
  1  Creole (City of NO)   New Orleans     9:15        7:50        8:00
 19  Daylight              St. Louis      11:10       10:30
 55  Panama Limited        New Orleans     3:15     5  5:00        5:00
 51  Green Diamond         St. Louis       5:00    21  4:45        8:15 am
 57  Land O' Corn          Waterloo        5:15    13  5:15
 29  Illini                Carbondale      6:00
 11  Hawkeye               Sioux City      6:15       10:40        7:00
  3  Louisiane             New Orleans     7:35        8:15        9:00
  9  Seminole              Albany GA      11:00        5:10        7:00
 15  Iowan                 Sioux City     11:45
 17  (Night) Diamond       St. Louis      11:55       11:20
 25  Southern Express      New Orleans    12:50       12:35     7  3:00


Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 26  Northern Express      New Orleans     4:20    8   7:30 pm     6:30
 10  Seminole              Albany GA       7:15       10:40       11:30
 18  (Night) Diamond       St. Louis       7:30        7:00
  4  Louisiane             New Orleans     8:35        9:00        9:30 pm
 12  Hawkeye               Sioux City      8:45        7:40        7:15
 54  Panama Limited        New Orleans     9:30    6   8:45        9:30
 30  Illini                Carbondale     10:10            
 56  Land O' Corn          Waterloo       12:40   14  12:15
 50  Green Diamond         St. Louis       2:05   22   2:30        8:45 pm
 28  Sinnissippi           Freeport        4:00   16   9:15 pm
 32                        Champaign       4:20
 20  Daylight              St. Louis       5:55       10:15
 52  City of Miami         Miami           9:05        6:45        6:15
  2  Creole (City of NO)   New Orleans     9:25       11:40       12:25
 16  Iowan                 Sioux City      9:40


Trains between Chicago and Miami did not operate daily. From 1940 through 1956, the three main trains between these points operated every third day. In addition to the City of Miami, the South Wind used the Pennsylvania Railroad out of Union Station, and the Dixie Flagler used the Chicago & Eastern Illinois out of Dearborn Station. In 1957, the Dixie Flagler was discontinued, and the City of Miami and the South Wind went to alternate day operation. And in 1971, Amtrak discontinued the City of Miami, retaining the South Wind, later renamed the Floridian, for daily service.

Trains 1-2, the City of New Orleans, was introduced in 1947.


NEW YORK CENTRAL

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

360  Gr. Lakes Aerotrain   Detroit                     7:00
414  Indianapolis Mail     Indianapolis    7:50        7:15
 76  Mercury               Detroit         9:15  376   8:30
 44  New York Special      New York        9:40        9:40  to LaSalle
416  Cincinnati Special    Cincinnati     10:05  302   9:50
  8  Wolverine             New York       12:35  to LaSalle  to LaSalle
418  Queen City Special    Cincinnati      1:45  406   1:15
 30  Twilight Limited      Detroit       LaSalle       4:10  to LaSalle
  4  James Whitcomb Riley  Cincinnati      4:40        4:20  304   3:50
 58  Niagara               Albany          8:00  358   7:50  to LaSalle
438  Cinc. Night Express   Cincinnati      9:20       11:00
 40  North Shore Limited   New York       10:10
 42  Detroit Night Exp.    Detroit        10:50
444  Royal Palm            Cincinnati     11:45
 16  Motor City Special    Detroit        11:59  316  11:59  to LaSalle
 46  Mail                  Detroit         1:30


Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

443  Chi. Night Express    Cincinnati      5:10        5:30
 45  Number Forty-Five     Detroit         5:55
  7  Motor City Special    Detroit         7:20  315   6:45  to LaSalle
437  Royal Palm            Cincinnati      7:35
 39  North Shore Limited   New York        7:55        8:10  to LaSalle
 17  Wolverine             New York       11:45  to LaSalle  to LaSalle
  3  James Whitcomb Riley  Cincinnati     12:30        1:20  303   1:25
 33  New Engl. Wolverine   Detroit        12:55
415  Chicago Special       Cincinnati      2:25        2:50
 41  Michigan              Detroit         4:30  355   4:25  to LaSalle
 75  Mercury               Detroit         5:00  375  12:55 pm
419  White City Special    Cincinnati      5:35        5:40
405  Sycamore              Cincinnati      8:15        8:45
 23  Western Express       Detroit         8:20
 31  Twilight Limited      Detroit       LaSalle       9:00  to LaSalle
361  Gr. Lakes Aerotrain   Detroit                     9:50


Former Michigan Central trains (through Detroit and points east) all transferred to La Salle St. Station in 1957.


Information is from "The Official Guide of the Railways" dated June 1942, May 1956, and from actual railroad timetables in effect in 1971.