DES MOINES'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Des Moines, during the golden age of passenger trains. Most passenger trains used either Union Station or the Rock Island Station, which were adjacent.

Union Station
5th St. and Cherry St.

Rock Island Station
5th St. and Vine St.

C&NW Station
East 4th St. and Locust St.

MILWAUKEE ROAD

(Union Station)

Departures



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

207                        Madrid          2:10
 33                        Spirit Lake     7:40
201  (Motor Train)         Madrid          2:15
203  (Motor Train)         Madrid          5:05
209                        Madrid         11:20
Arrivals



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

208                        Madrid          1:35
204                        Madrid          4:50
200  (Motor Train)         Madrid          4:00
202  (Motor Train)         Madrid          7:00
 36                        Spirit Lake    10:50
Passenger service discontinued in 1953.

WABASH

(Union Station)

Departures



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

 14                        Moberly         9:00 pm     9:15 pm
Arrivals



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

 11                        Moberly         6:00 am     6:00 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1959.

BURLINGTON ROUTE

(Union Station)

Departures



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

 35  (Motor Train)         Osceola         8:40
178  (Motor Train)         Ottumwa         9:10
 37  (Motor Train)         Osceola         5:00
 28  (Motor Train)         Ottumwa         6:30        7:15 am
Arrivals



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

 27  (Motor Train)         Ottumwa        11:35        2:45 pm
 36  (Motor Train)         Osceola         2:00
179  (Motor Train)         Ottumwa         8:40
 38  (Motor Train)         Osceola        11:40
Passenger service discontinued in 1967.

In 1950, Burlington began using a separate station at SW 6th St. and Market St., approximately one mile from Union Station.

CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN

(Union Station)

Departures



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

 15  Mill Cities Limited   Kansas City     1:00 am 5  12:10 pm
 16                        Oelwein         7:10 am
 11                        Kansas City     7:15 am
 12  Mill Cities Limited   Minneapolis    11:00 pm 6  10:30 pm
Arrivals



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

 15  Mill Cities Limited   Minneapolis    12:45 am 5  11:25 am
 16                        Kansas City     6:30 am
 11                        Chicago         6:55 am
 12  Mill Cities Limited   Kansas City    10:30 pm 6   9:40 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1962.

In 1950, Chicago Great Western began using a separate station reportedly at SW 9th St. and Clifton Ave., a short distance from Union Station.

ROCK ISLAND

(Rock Island Station)

Departures



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

 18  Mid Continent         Minneapolis     1:45  510   1:30
 15  Mid Continent         Kansas City     2:40  509   2:05
  8  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Chicago         2:55        2:30
 23  Omaha Limited         Omaha           4:45    9   5:15
 17  Short Line Express    Kansas City     6:55        8:40
506  Des Moines Rocket     Chicago         7:15        7:15
 16  Short Line Express    Minneapolis     7:25        9:30
  5  Colorado Express      Colorado Spr.   8:00   55  12:45 am
431  (mixed train)         Sibley          8:05
474  (Motor Train)         Eldon           8:30
 10  Corn Belt Rocket      Chicago         1:15
508  Twin Star Rocket      Minneapolis     3:04        1:20
507  Twin Star Rocket      Kansas City     5:03        4:58
  6  Colorado Express      Chicago         6:50   26   8:30
  7  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Denver          7:55        8:00
 14  La Salle St. Limited  Chicago        11:30   10   2:05 pm
Arrivals



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

 18  Mid Continent         Kansas City     1:30  510   1:05
 15  Mid Continent         Minneapolis     2:20  509   1:45
  8  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Denver          2:50        2:20
 23  Omaha Limited         Chicago         4:30
 17  Short Line Express    Minneapolis     6:35        8:15
 16  Short Line Express    Kansas City     7:00        6:00
  5  Colorado Express      Chicago         7:30    1   9:45
  9  Corn Belt Rocket      Chicago        11:30        5:00
508  Twin Star Rocket      Kansas City     3:02        1:15
432  (mixed train)         Sibley          3:55
507  Twin Star Rocket      Minneapolis     5:01        4:53
475  (Motor Train)         Eldon           6:00
  6  Colorado Express      Colorado Spr.   6:35   26   8:10
  7  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Chicago         7:50        7:55
505  Des Moines Rocket     Chicago        11:00       11:40
 14  La Salle St. Limited  Omaha          11:10   10   1:55 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1970.

MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS

(M&SL Station)

Departures



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

  3                        Minneapolis     8:00 pm     8:10 pm
Arrivals



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

  4                        Minneapolis     7:55 am     7:45 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1959.

Previously used Rock Island Station, this was a modest new station on SW 9th St.

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

(C&NW Station)

Departures



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

 50                        Ames            2:00 am
 56                        Ames           10:00 pm
Arrivals



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

 59                        Ames           12:55 am
 53                        Ames            6:50 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1954.

STATIONS TODAY

The last passenger train serving Des Moines was a Rock Island train, discontinued in 1970, one year before the creation of Amtrak.

The Rock Island station still stands, while Union Station and the Chicago & North Western station have been demolished.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.