Track 4 - The Midwest

The Midwestern United States - roughly encompassing, for the purposes of this website, the territory between and including the states of Kansas and Ohio and points north - was second only to the Northeast in density and concentration of railroad activity in North America. But with line clearances which were as a rule more generous than in the urban Northeast allowing the widespread use of dome cars and other premium equipment, the variety of services here took a back seat to nobody.

The Trains:

The Abraham Lincoln

One of the first streamliners in the Midwest, the Abraham Lincoln would enter service with then-B. & O. affiliate Alton between Chicago and St. Louis in 1935. It would still be operating 30 years later.
Abraham Lincoln/Ann Rutledge - August, 1950

The Blue Bird

The Wabash Railroad's spectacular domeliner competed in the Chicago to St. Louis market.
Blue Bird - August, 1950

The City of Salina

Union Pacific and Pullman-Standard opened the streamliner era with this pioneering trainset, which operated in revenue service between Kansas City and Salina, Kansas.
City of Salina - September, 1938

The "400"

Flagship of the Chicago & North Western, this speed demon was named after its ability to cover 400 miles in as many minutes on its run from Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul via Milwaukee.
The "400" - June, 1941

The Green Diamond

The Illinois Central's first streamliner served St. Louis and Chicago, via Springfield, Illinois.
Green Diamond - September, 1938

The Mercury

New York Central's homebuilt streamliner served the cities of Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland.
The Mercury - September, 1938

The Missouri River Eagle

The original Eagle in Missouri Pacific's fleet connected St. Louis with Kansas City and Omaha.
The Eagle - June, 1941
Missouri River Eagle - April, 1971

The Nickel Plate Limited

The Nickel Plate Road operated this nocturnal streamliner between Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo NY. Eventually it would be renamed the City of Chicago/City of Cleveland.
Nickel Plate Limited - August 1950

The Pere Marquettes

Regional streamliner service launched by the Pere Marquette Railway, the Michigan affiliate of (and later merged into) Chesapeake & Ohio. Originally operated between Detroit and Grand Rapids; later service expanded under the same name from Grand Rapids to Chicago.
Pere Marquettes - June, 1947

The Twin Zephyrs

The Burlington operated these pioneering streamliners, offering morning and afternoon service both ways, between Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Twin Zephyrs - September, 1938

The "Wabash Cannon Ball"

The Wabash Railroad brought the hoboes' mythical train to life when it renamed its daytime St. Louis-Detroit express after the popular song.
Wabash Cannon Ball - December, 1952