CHICAGO'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

DEARBORN 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.


SANTA FE

Departures



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

  3  California Limited    Los Angeles     1:35
 11  Kansas Cityan         Kansas City     9:30        9:45
 23  Grand Canyon Limited  Los Angeles    10:30       12:01        9:00
 19  Chief                 Los Angeles    12:01        9:00
 13                        Ancona          1:10       11:10 pm
  1  San Francisco Chief   San Francisco               4:00       10:00
 21  El Capitan            Los Angeles     5:45        5:45
 15  Texas Chief           Galveston                   6:00        5:00
 17  Super Chief           Los Angeles     7:15        7:00        6:30
  5  Ranger                Galveston       8:15
  1  Scout                 Los Angeles    10:25
  7  Fast Mail Express     Los Angeles    10:35    9  10:00


Arrivals



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

  8  Fast Mail Express     Los Angeles     5:50   10   7:30
 22  El Capitan            Los Angeles     7:15        7:15
  4  California Limited    Los Angeles     7:45
  2  Scout                 Los Angeles     8:45
  6  Ranger                Galveston       9:00
 16  Texas Chief           Galveston                   9:00       10:00
 14                        Ancona         12:10       12:10
  2  San Francisco Chief   San Francisco              12:20        8:00
 20  Chief                 Los Angeles     1:25        3:30
 18  Super Chief           Los Angeles     1:45       12:30        1:30
 24  Grand Canyon Limited  Los Angeles     7:30        3:00        9:00
 12  Chicagoan             Kansas City     9:30        8:00


Until 1947, the Super Chief (all sleepers) and El Capitan (all coaches) did not operate daily. In 1958, they became combined into one train.


CHICAGO & EASTERN ILLINOIS

Departures



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

 99  Dixie Flagler         Miami           8:20   11   9:00
  1                        Evansville      8:30        8:00    3   5:30 pm
 21  Zipper                St. Louis      11:50
 93  Dixie Limited         Atlanta         2:00        4:30
 97  Dixie Mail            Nashville       7:55   81   4:00
  9  Meadowlark            West Vienna                 6:15
 95  Dixie Flyer           Jacksonville   11:25       10:00
 23  Silent Knight         St. Louis      11:55
  9                        Evansville     12:20


Arrivals



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

 94  Dixie Flyer           Jacksonville    5:10        5:30
 24  Silent Knight         St. Louis       7:10
 96  Dixie Mail            Nashville       7:15   80   8:25
 10                        Evansville      7:35
 10  Meadowlark            West Vienna                11:45
 92  Dixie Limited         Atlanta         1:55   54   9:30 am
 22  Zipper                St. Louis       1:59
  8                        Evansville      7:30   92   8:20    4   9:15 am
 98  Dixie Flagler         Miami           9:05   12   6:45


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 Dixie Flagler, the City of Miami used the Illinois Central out of Central Station, and the South Wind used the Pennsylvania Railroad out of Union 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.


ERIE RAILROAD

Departures



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

 16  Midlander             New York        9:25    6   9:30 am
  2  Erie Limited          New York        5:50        5:10 pm
  8  Atlantic Express      New York        9:50        9:45 pm


Arrivals



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

  1  Erie Limited          New York        8:05        6:55 am
 15  Midlander             New York        5:20    5   3:40 pm
  7  Pacific Express       New York        1:00       12:10 am



GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY

Departures



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

 20  Maple Leaf            Toronto         9:40 am    10:00  158   9:00
 14  International Ltd.    Toronto         8:00 pm     8:10  156   9:00
  6  Inter-City Limited    Toronto        11:00 pm    11:00  164   3:45


Arrivals



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

  5  La Salle              Toronto         7:00 am     7:00  159   6:22
 15  International Ltd.    Toronto         8:00 am     7:25  155   8:30
 17  Inter-City Limited    Toronto         8:10 pm     8:20  165   9:45



MONON ROUTE

Departures



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

  5  Day Express           Louisville      7:30        1:00 pm
 31  Hoosier               Indianapolis    5:00   15   5:35 pm
  3  Night Express         Louisville      9:15
 35  Tippecanoe            Indianapolis   11:30   11   8:55 am


Arrivals



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

 36  Tippecanoe            Indianapolis    6:00   12  10:35
  4  Night Express         Louisville      7:05
  6  Day Express           Louisville      6:45        4:30
 30  Hoosier               Indianapolis    9:15   14   8:15



WABASH

Departures



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

 11  Banner Blue           St. Louis      11:20       11:30
 21  Blue Bird             St. Louis       4:50        4:25  121   5:25
 13                        Decatur         5:25        4:40  113   5:30
 17  Midnight              St. Louis      11:50       11:15


Arrivals



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

 18  Midnight              St. Louis       7:40        6:50
 12                        Decatur         8:00        7:10  112   8:00
 10  Banner Blue           St. Louis       5:50        7:30 pm
 24  Blue Bird             St. Louis      10:10        2:05  124  10:05


Trains 12-13, later trains 112-113, evolved to the Orland Park commuter operation.

Wabash had another line operating east of Chicago to Montpelier, Ohio, junction with the Detroit to St. Louis main line. Through service to that line from Dearborn Station on that line was discontinued during 1930's. As of 1942, a mixed train existed between Gary and Montpelier, Indiana. Train 52 departed Gary at 6:00 am, Train 51 arrived Gary at 2:30 pm. And during the early 1940's, there was a mixed train between Landers Yard and Forrest, on the line towards Decatur and St. Louis. Train 75 departed Landers at 8:00 am, Train 74 arrived Landers at 11:15 am.


CHESAPEAKE & OHIO

In 1933, through service from Cincinnati wad discontinued into Dearborn Station, terminating at Hammond. As of 1942, Train 18 departed Hammond at 8:50 am, Train 17 arrived Hammond at 3:40 pm.


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