The most significant railroad serving Omaha was Union Pacific, which operated Union Station, along with the bridge east crossing the Missouri River. Burlington Route was also significant, with a separate station across the paralleling tracks. But east of the two stations, the Burlington trackage connected with UP bridge trackage. UP partnered with Chicago & North Western, later the Milwaukee Road, for access from the west into Chicago. And Omaha was on the main routes of UP and its partner railroad, Burlington, and Rock Island, between Chicago and points west. And Illinois Central had a route north of Omaha, connecting at Fort Dodge with its Chicago to Sioux City route. In addition, C&NW had a branch line northwest of Omaha through Fremont, ending in Lander WY. And Missouri Pacific had a route south to Kansas City. From Council Bluffs, in addition to the four railroads operating east to Chicago, Burlington had a route south to Kansas City, Wabash had a route southeast connecting with its Moberly Division main line east to St. Louis, and Chicago Great Western had a route northeast to Minneapolis. In addition, C&NW had two routes northeast to Minneapolis. One route diverged off its main line at Missouri Valley. While the former Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha originated at a separate station in Omaha on Webster Street. Finally, Burlington had two route options south of Omaha towards its main lines to Chicago and Kansas City. One route extended south from Council Bluffs. While immediately east of the Omaha station the other route diverged south via Plattsmouth. The lines converged at Pacific Jct., which also the junction of the Chicago and Kansas City lines. The Plattsmouth route was eventually adopted for Amtrak's California Zephyr.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
42nd Street (4 miles W) - junction of UP, C&NW Fremont line with trackage rights.
Gilmore Jct. (9 miles S) - junction of UP Old Main Line, MP with trackage rights.
CRI&P Jct. (5 miles S) - junction of UP Old Main Line, CRI&P with trackage rights.
Summit (2 miles W) - junction of UP main line, Old Main Line.
Tower C (W of Station) - west of Union Station.
Tower B (W of Station) - west end Union Station.
Tower A (E of Station) - east end Union Station.
Sixth Street (E of Station) - junction of CB&Q main line, Plattsmouth line, UP.
Tower A/Council Bluffs (1 mile E) - junction of UP north line, south line.
CGW Jct. (3 miles E) - junction of UP, CGW with trackage rights.
IC Jct. (3 miles E) - junction of UP, IC with trackage rights.
C&NW Jct. (3 miles E) - junction of UP, C&NW with trackage rights.
CRI&P Jct. (3 miles E) - east end UP south line, connect with CMSP&P, CRI&P, WAB.
Rigg (7 miles E) - connection of CGW with CRI&P for trackage rights.
Peter (18 miles E) - junction of CRI&P, CGW with trackage rights.
Pacific Jct. (21 miles S) - junction of CB&Q Council Bluffs line, Plattsmouth line.
Missouri Valley (24 miles NE) - junction of C&NW main line, Minneapolis line.