The Zephyr Rocket was jointly operated with the Rock Island, with each railroad supplying a consist, except for the observation cars which were both owned by Rock Island. Burlington and Rock Island also jointly owned the line between Fort Worth and Houston, with each railroad operating a daily streamliner round trip. The Rock Island operated the Twin Star Rocket, through from Minneapolis. The Texas Zephyr was operated by Burlington subsidiaries Colorado & Southern and Fort Worth & Denver, with each subsidiary supplying a consist. After the Denver Zephyr was reequipped, the original 1936 articulated Denver Zephyr trains were transferred to the Texas Zephyr.
The Burlington Route also provided an entrance into Chicago for Great Northern for its Empire Builder, and for Northern Pacific for its North Coast Limited. Both trains operated to and from Seattle and Portland.
April 29, 1956 #21 #25 #31 #23 ------------------------------------------------------ Chicago 8:15 am 11:30 am 2:00 pm 4:15 pm Savanna 10:20 am 1:47 pm 4:15 pm 6:22 pm La Crosse 12:20 pm 3:55 pm 6:23 pm 8:22 pm St. Paul 2:30 pm 6:40 pm 9:10 pm 10:30 pm Minneapolis 3:00 pm 7:10 pm 9:40 pm 10:55 pm ------------------------------------------------------ April 29, 1956 #26 #32 #22 #24 ------------------------------------------------------ Minneapolis 6:15 am 6:30 am 8:00 am 3:30 pm St. Paul 7:00 am 7:15 am 8:25 am 4:00 pm La Crosse 9:07 am 9:21 am 10:24 am 5:55 pm Savanna 11:19 am 11:38 am 12:28 pm 8:04 pm Chicago 1:45 pm 2:00 pm 2:40 pm 10:15 pm ------------------------------------------------------ MORNING ZEPHYR (#21-#22) AFTERNOON ZEPHYR (#23-#24) (required 2 sets) (all cars built by Budd in 1947-1949) Baggage Lounge 800 - Silver Buffet /801 - Silver Salon Dome Coach 4726 - Silver River /4729 - Silver Scene Dome Coach 4727 - Silver Stream /4725 - Silver Island Dome Coach 4728 - Silver Wave /4730 - Silver Vision Dome Coach 4723 - Silver Bluff /4724 - Silver Glade Diner 197 - Silver Feast /196 - Silver Salver Parlor 340 - Silver Parlor /341 - Silver Chair Dome Parlor Observation 360 - Silver View /361 - Silver Vista NORTH COAST LIMITED (#25-#26) (Northern Pacific train) EMPIRE BUILDER (#31-#32) (Great Northern train) April 29, 1956 #11 #21 #17 #1 #3 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Chicago 9:30 am ----- 3:30 pm 5:00 pm 11:00 pm Galesburg 11:58 am ----- 5:50 pm 7:09 pm 1:40 am Ottumwa 1:52 pm ----- 7:48 pm 8:58 pm 3:37 am Kansas City ----- 4:00 pm ----- ----- ----- St. Joseph ----- 5:28 pm ----- ----- ----- Omaha 5:40 pm 8:40 pm 11:55 pm 12:40 am 8:15 am Lincoln 6:40 pm 9:40 pm 1:14 am 1:52 am 9:20 am Mc Cook ----- ----- 3:50 am 4:35 am ----- Denver ----- ----- 8:40 am 8:30 am ----- Bond ----- ----- 12:31 pm ----- ----- Grand Junction ----- ----- 3:50 pm ----- ----- Salt Lake City ----- ----- 10:15 pm ----- ----- Elko ----- ----- 1:45 am ----- ----- Portola ----- ----- 7:15 am ----- ----- Sacramento ----- ----- 11:50 am ----- ----- Oakland Pier ----- ----- 3:15 pm ----- ----- ---------------------------------------------------------------- April 29, 1956 #30 #10 #18 #20 #12 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Oakland Pier ----- ----- 10:28 am ----- ----- Sacramento ----- ----- 1:30 pm ----- ----- Portola ----- ----- 6:05 pm ----- ----- Elko ----- ----- 11:40 pm ----- ----- Salt Lake City ----- ----- 6:00 am ----- ----- Grand Junction ----- ----- 11:58 am ----- ----- Bond ----- ----- 3:14 pm ----- ----- Denver ----- 4:00 pm 7:15 pm ----- ----- Mc Cook ----- 8:38 pm 12:09 am ----- ----- Lincoln 9:00 pm 12:11 am 3:45 am 7:30 am 11:15 am Omaha 10:30 pm 1:15 am 4:50 am 9:00 am 12:30 pm St. Joseph ----- ----- ----- 11:43 am ----- Kansas City ----- ----- ----- 1:10 pm ----- Ottumwa 2:32 am 4:49 am 8:28 am ----- 4:07 pm Galesburg 4:55 am 6:43 am 10:33 am ----- 6:10 pm Chicago 7:45 am 9:00 am 1:00 pm ----- 8:45 pm ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Denver-Salt Lake City via Denver & Rio Grande Western) (Salt Lake City-Oakland Pier via Western Pacific) DENVER ZEPHYR (#1-#10) (required 2 sets) (most cars built by Budd in 1956) (car 1601 built 1938/car 1604 built 1948/cars 906-907 built 1948) Baggage Mail 1601 - Silver Mail /1604 - Silver Pouch Baggage 906 - Argo /907 - Olympus 50 Seat Coach 4741 - Silver Rein /4739 - Silver Halter Dome Coach 4736 - Silver Brand /4735 - Silver Buckle Slumbercoach 4901 - Silver Slumber /4900 - Silver Siesta 50 Seat Coach 4737 - Silver Bit /4738 - Silver Blanket CSP Dome Lounge Dorm 254 - Silver Kettle /253 - Silver Cup CSP Slumbercoach 4902 - Silver Rest /4903 - Silver Repose CSP 10R/6BR Sleeper 493 - Silver Ridge /485 - Silver Terrain CSP Diner 201 - Silver Chef /202 - Silver Tureen 6BR/5C Sleeper 453 - Silver Swan /454 - Silver Pelican 10R/6BR Sleeper 486 - Silver Plateau /491 - Silver Ravine 10R/6BR Sleeper 487 - Silver Hollow /488 - Silver Boulder Dome Parlor Obs. 236 - Silver Veranda /235 - Silver Chateau (consists introduced 10/28/56 replacing original 1936 consists) (certain cars operated Chicago-Colorado Springs-CSP via connecting train) CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR (#17-#18) (required 6 sets) (cars cycled with New York service and Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr required 7 sets) (most cars built by Budd in 1948) (cars variously owned by the participating railroads as noted) Baggage CBQ 903 - Silver Bear CBQ 904 - Silver Buffalo CBQ 905 - Silver Coyote RG 1100 - Silver Antelope WP 801 - Silver Beaver WP 802 - Silver Stag Dome Coach (3 cars) CBQ 4716 - Silver Bridle CBQ 4717 - Silver Lodge CBQ 4718 - Silver Lariat CBQ 4719 - Silver Ranch CBQ 4720 - Silver Rifle CBQ 4721 - Silver Saddle CBQ 4722 - Silver Stirrup RG 1105 - Silver Bronco RG 1106 - Silver Colt RG 1107 - Silver Mustang RG 1108 - Silver Pony WP 811 - Silver Dollar WP 812 - Silver Feather WP 813 - Silver Palace WP 814 - Silver Sage WP 815 - Silver Schooner WP 816 - Silver Scout WP 817 - Silver Thistle Dome Lounge Dorm CBQ 250 - Silver Club CBQ 251 - Silver Lounge CBQ 252 - Silver Roundup RG 1140 - Silver Shop WP 831 - Silver Chalet WP 832 - Silver Hostel 6BR/5C Sleeper (built by Budd in 1952) CBQ 450 - Silver Dove CBQ 451 - Silver Quail CBQ 452 - Silver Thrush RG 1135 - Silver Gull WP 851 - Silver Crane WP 852 - Silver Swallow 10R/6BR Sleeper (1 car/cycled for through New York service) CBQ 423 - Silver Point CBQ 424 - Silver Shore CBQ 425 - Silver Butte CBQ 426 - Silver Cliff CBQ 427 - Silver Falls CBQ 428 - Silver Valley CBQ 429 - Silver Crag (built by Budd in 1952/enabling cycling with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) CBQ 430 - Silver Chasm (built by Budd in 1952/enabling cycling with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) RG 1130 - Silver Pass RG 1131 - Silver Summit RG 1132 - Silver Gorge RG 1133 - Silver Creek RG 1134 - Silver Glacier WP 861 - Silver Arroyo WP 862 - Silver Canyon WP 863 - Silver Mountain WP 864 - Silver Palisade WP 865 - Silver Range WP 866 - Silver Bay WP 867 - Silver Surf PRR 8449 - Silver Rapids (enabling through New York service) 10R/6BR Sleeper (1 car/cycled with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) (see above) Diner (cycled with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) CBQ 193 - Silver Cafe CBQ 194 - Silver Diner CBQ 195 - Silver Restaurant CBQ 198 - Silver Cuisine (built by Budd in 1952/enabling cycling with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) RG 1115 - Silver Banquet WP 841 - Silver Plate WP 842 - Silver Platter 16S Sleeper (cycled with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) CBQ 400 - Silver Maple CBQ 401 - Silver Larch CBQ 402 - Silver Cedar (built by Budd in 1952/enabling cycling with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) RG 1120 - Silver Aspen RG 1121 - Silver Pine WP 871 - Silver Palm WP 872 - Silver Poplar 10R/6BR Sleeper (1 car/cycled with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) (see above) 3BR/1D Dome Obs. (cycled with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) CBQ 375 - Silver Horizon CBQ 376 - Silver Penthouse CBQ 377 - Silver Solarium CBQ 378 - Silver Lookout (built by Budd in 1952/enabling cycling with Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr) RG 1145 - Silver Sky WP 881 - Silver Crescent WP 882 - Silver Planet AK-SAR-BEN ZEPHYR (#3-#30) (required 1 set in addition to cycling cars with trains #17-#18) (coaches required 2 sets) 52 Seat Coaches from series 4700-4715 (Budd 1938-1940) 10R/6BR Sleeper cycled with California Zephyr/above Diner cycled with California Zephyr/above 16S Sleeper cycled with California Zephyr/above 10R/6BR Sleeper cycled with California Zephyr/above 3BR/1D Dome Obs. cycled with California Zephyr/above NEBRASKA ZEPHYR (#11-#12) (required 2 sets) (articulated trains built by Budd in 1936 originally for Twin Zephyrs) Power Car 9904 - Pegasus /9905 - Zephyrus Baggage Lounge 960 - Venus /961 - Apollo 60 Seat Coach 4626 - Vesta /4629 - Neptune 60 Seat Coach 4627 - Minerva /4630 - Mars 56 Seat Coach Dinette 4850 - Psyche /4851 - Cupid Diner 150 - Ceres /151 - Vulcan 19 Seat Parlor 4625 - Diana /4628 - Mercury 24 Seat Parlor Observation 225 - Juno /226 - Jupiter SILVER STREAK ZEPHYR (#20-#21) (required 1 set) (all cars built by Budd in 1940) (observation car built by Budd in 1939) Baggage 900 - Silver Light Baggage Mail 1600 - Silver Sheen 52 Seat Coach 4703 - Silver Gleam 52 Seat Coach 4704 - Silver Glow Diner Parlor Observation 300 - Silver Spirit April 29, 1956 #35 #55 ------------------------------------------------------ Chicago 12:30 pm ----- 10:00 pm ----- Galesburg 2:58 pm ----- 12:40 am ----- Quincy 4:55 pm ----- 3:25 am ----- Brookfield 6:45 pm 6:48 pm 5:45 am 5:50 am St. Joseph ----- 9:30 pm ----- 8:20 am Kansas City 8:30 pm ----- 7:30 am ----- ------------------------------------------------------ April 29, 1956 #36 #56 ------------------------------------------------------ Kansas City ----- 12:15 pm ----- 10:00 pm St. Joseph 11:10 am ----- 8:30 pm ----- Brookfield 1:40 pm 1:57 pm 11:15 pm 11:55 pm Quincy ----- 3:45 pm ----- 2:20 am Galesburg ----- 5:35 pm ----- 4:40 am Chicago ----- 8:00 pm ----- 7:30 am ------------------------------------------------------ KANSAS CITY ZEPHYR (#35-#36) AMERICAN ROYAL ZEPHYR (#55-#56) (required 2 sets) (certain cars operated only on one pair of trains) (most cars built by Budd in 1952) (car 4702 built 1938/cars 1601,4715 built 1940/car 1604 built 1948) Baggage Mail 1601 - Silver Mail /1604 - Silver Pouch 52 Seat Coach 4702 - Silver Spring /4715 - Silver Cascade (#35-#36) 50 Seat Coach 4732 - Silver Shield /4733 - Silver Spear Dome Buffet Dorm 320 - Silver Garden / 321 - Silver Patio Diner 199 - Silver Inn / 200 - Silver Manor (#35-#36) Dome Parlor Obs. 366 - Silver Tower / 365 - Silver Terrace (#35-#36) 6S/6R/4BR Sleeper 460 - Silver Flower / 462 - Silver Hyacinth (#55-#56) 10R/6BR Sleeper 431 - Silver Dale / 436 - Silver Slope (#55-#56) 6S/6R/4BR Sleeper 463 - Silver Iris / 465 - Silver Tulip (#55-#56) 50 Seat Coach 4731 - Silver Shaft /4734 - Silver Sword (#55-#56) (rear sleeper and coach on #55-#56 operated Chicago-St. Joseph) (#35-#36 between Brookfield and St. Joseph was Pioneer Zephyr consist) PIONEER ZEPHYR (#35-#36) (required 1 set) (articulated train built by Budd in 1934) (car 500 built by Budd in 1938) Power Baggage Mail 9900 Baggage 505 Coach Dinette 500 Coach Observation 570 #43 #15 April 29, 1956 #8 #44 ------------------------------------------------------ 9:02 am 5:00 pm St. Louis 7:35 am 10:08 pm 12:03 pm 7:30 pm Hannibal 4:35 am 6:55 pm 2:35 pm 10:40 pm Burlington 1:35 am 4:00 pm ----- 1:15 am Cedar Rapids 10:50 pm ----- ----- 4:13 am Manly 8:05 pm ----- ----- 7:10 am St. Paul 5:30 pm ----- ----- 8:00 am Minneapolis 5:00 pm ----- ------------------------------------------------------ (Burlington-Minneapolis via Rock Island) ZEPHYR ROCKET (#8-#15) (required 2 sets) (all lightweight cars built in 1940/CB&Q cars by Budd/RI cars by PS) (RI baggage cars were heavyweight) (sleepers of uncertain origin) Baggage Mail 1601 - Silver Mail /RI 500 Baggage 902 - Silver Express /RI 861 52 Seat Coach 4709 - Silver Castle /RI 312 - Waterloo 6S/6BR Sleeper ? /? 6S/6R/4BR Sleeper ? /? Diner Parlor Observation RI 432 - St. Louis /RI 433 - St. Paul MARK TWAIN ZEPHYR (#43-#44) (required 1 set) (articulated train built by Budd in 1935) Power Baggage Mail 9903 - Injun Joe Baggage 506 - Becky Thatcher Coach Dinette 551 - Huckleberry Finn Coach Observation 572 - Tom Sawyer #1 #507 #3 May, 1942 #4 #2 #508 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 12:01 pm ----- ----- Denver ----- 7:00 am ----- 2:31 pm ----- ----- Pueblo ----- 4:15 am ----- 4:36 pm ----- ----- Trinidad ----- 2:06 am ----- 8:28 pm ----- ----- Texline ----- 10:45 pm ----- 11:05 pm ----- ----- Amarillo ----- 9:14 pm ----- 1:32 am ----- ----- Childress ----- 6:40 pm ----- 6:25 am 8:20 am 4:00 pm Fort Worth 1:40 pm 2:00 pm 9:55 pm 7:10 am 9:25 am 5:00 pm Dallas 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 9:05 pm ----- 11:00 am 6:40 pm Teague 11:00 am ----- 7:17 pm ----- 1:35 pm 9:15 pm Houston 8:35 am ----- 5:00 pm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ZEPHYR (#1-#2) (required 2 sets) (articulated trains built by Budd in 1936) (coach dinette cars built by Budd in 1938) Power Car 9906A - Silver King /9907A - Silver Knight Power Car 9906B - Silver Queen /9907B - Silver Princess Baggage Mail 950 - Silver Courier /951 - Silver Herald Baggage Dorm Lounge 980 - Silver Lining /981 - Silver Bar 64 Seat Coach Dinette 4852 - Silver Beam /4853 - Silver Bell 60 Seat Coach 4631 - Silver City /4633 - Silver Spruce 38 Seat Coach 4632 - Silver Lake /4634 - Silver Plume Diner 152 - Silver Grill /153 - Silver Service 12S Sleeper 410 - Silver State /413 - Silver Skates 12S Sleeper 411 - Silver Tip /414 - Silver Screen 12S Sleeper 412 - Silver Arrow /415 - Silver Tone 3C/1DR/6BR 440 - Silver Sides /441 - Silver Threads 4R/4CH/1DR/1C/4BR Sleeper 445 - Silver Slipper /446 - Silver Moon Parlor Buffet Observation 230 - Silver Flash /231 - Silver Streak (consists transferred from Denver Zephyr effective 10/28/56) SAM HOUSTON ZEPHYR (#3-#4) (required 1 set) (articulated train built by Budd in 1935) (car 100 built by Budd in 1939) Power Baggage 9901 Coach Dinette 550 40 Seat Coach 525 60 Seat Coach 100 Coach Observation 571 TWIN STAR ROCKET (#507-#508) (operated by Rock Island)