Silver Streak Zephyr

The Silver Streak Zephyr was a train service of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the American midwest. It ran from 1940 through 1959.

Silver Streak Zephyr
Postcard depiction of the train.
Overview
Service typeDaytime inter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
First serviceApril 15, 1940
Last service1959
Former operator(s)Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Route
TerminiLincoln, Nebraska
Kansas City, Missouri
Distance travelled250 miles (402 km)
Average journey timeEastbound: 5 hrs 50 min;
Westbound: 5 hrs 35 min
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)Eastbound: 20,
Westbound: 21
On-board services
Class(es)Coach and Parlor
Seating arrangementsTwo 52-seat coaches
Catering facilities24 seat diner in Parlor-observation car
Observation facilities22 seat Parlor-observation car
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On April 15, 1940 the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad inaugurated the Silver Streak Zephyr operating a Lincoln-Omaha-St. Joseph-Kansas City round trip daily. The new train was named Silver Streak Zephyr for the train portrayed in the Paramount Motion Picture The Silver Streak, with the starring role by the Pioneer Zephyr. The CB&Q liked the name and assigned it to the new Zephyr. This was the second Zephyr assigned to this route as the Pioneer Zephyr had operated in this service for some time and had actually outgrown it, when it generated more traffic than it was able to handle.

For power the new five car lightweight streamliner was assigned a new EMD E5A unit developing 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) Passengers were obviously pleased with the new Silver Streak Zephyr as ridership showed a marked increase within days of the new trains entry into service. As with the earlier General Pershing Zephyr and Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr the new Silver Streak Zephyr no longer operated with articulated train sets or for that matter even articulated cars. The Burlington's days of ordering articulated equipment were over and no further cars of that type would ever be contemplated.

Silver Streak Zephyr Consist[1]
9909SILVER BULLETEMD E5A 2,000 hp Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
900SILVER LIGHTBaggage car
1600SILVER SHEENBaggage 30-foot Railway Post Office car
4703SILVER GLEAM52-Revenue seat Coach
4704SILVER GLOW52-Revenue seat Coach
300SILVER SPIRIT24-seat dining 22-Revenue seat parlor-observation

References
  1. Dorin, Patrick C. (1976). p. 76
  • Dorin, Patrick C. (1976). Everywhere West. Seattle, WA: Superior Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87564-523-2. LCCN 76017317.
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