Colorado Eagle

The Colorado Eagle was an American streamlined passenger train operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MP) in the mid 20th century. It operated between St. Louis, Missouri and Denver, Colorado, using MP trackage from St. Louis to Pueblo, Colorado and traveling on the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad from there to Denver.[2] The train began service on June 21, 1942 and replaced those railroads' Scenic Limited.[3]

For the minor-league hockey team based in Loveland, Colorado, see Colorado Eagles.
Colorado Eagle
Missouri Pacific E7A 26 with Train 11, The Colorado Eagle, waiting to depart St. Louis' Union Station on April 17, 1963
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleWestern United States/Midwestern United States
PredecessorScenic Limited
First service1942
Last service1964
Former operator(s)Missouri Pacific / Denver and Rio Grande Western
Route
TerminiSt. Louis, Missouri
Denver, Colorado
Distance travelled1,021.1 miles (1,643.3 km) (1957)
Average journey timeWestbound: 18 hrs 50 min
Eastbound: 19 hrs 15 min (1957)[1]
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)Westbound: 11-4
Eastbound: 3-12
On-board services
Seating arrangementsReclining seat coaches
Sleeping arrangementsOpen sections in early years; Roomettes and Double Bedrooms
Catering facilitiesDiner-Bar-Lounge
Observation facilitiesPlanetarium coach; Vista Dome Chair Car
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The Colorado Special operated until March 1964, when the name as well as on-board amenities (save for a diner-parlor coach for the initial St. Louis - Kansas City segment of the trip) were dropped as the MP reduced passenger service across its system.[2][4] On April 2, 1966, the MP canceled the remaining unnamed trains serving Denver, ending passenger service along the Colorado Eagle's route west of Kansas City.[2]

References
  1. "The Colorado Eagle timetable July 1957". Streamliner Schedules. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. Schafer, Mike (2000). More Classic American Railroads. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Company. pp. 87. ISBN 0-7603-0758-X.
  3. Maiken, Peter. Night Trains, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989, p. 232. ISBN 9780801845031.
  4. MP train being unnamed, with minimal amenities "Missouri Pacific Lines, Table 7". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 97 (7). December 1964.
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