Union Pacific’s ‘City of Saint Louis’ debuted on June 2, 1946
You know the song the City of New Orleans, here is the chorus:
Good morning America how are you?
Don’t you know me I’m your native son,
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.
But did you know there was a City of Saint Louis train as part of Union Pacific’s city series?
“The Union Pacific’s City fleet is credited with being the first lightweight streamlined passenger train to operate in the United States. In 1934 the City of Salina, the first in the fleet, debuted as a three-car lightweight trainset that the Electro-Motive Corporation named the M-10000. The Union Pacific was so impressed with the train, and the response it received from the public, that it purchased seven more sets and the City fleet was born.
Following the City of Salina, also in 1934 was the City of Portland, followed by the City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of Denver in 1936. The City fleet became revered throughout the west and rivaled the Santa Fe’s legendary Super Chief, and every other western passenger train, in exquisiteness and fine traveling. Once the trains received their Domeliners in the mid-1950s they became the lavish way to travel for many in Hollywood.“
Sixty-three years ago today (1946) the City of Saint Louis joined this series of luxury trains:
The City of Saint Louis was another of Union Pacific’s vast City fleet of trains connecting the Midwest with the west coast. The City of Saint Louis debuted on June 2, 1946 originally connecting its namesake city, in conjunction with the little Wabash Railroad between Kansas City and St. Louis, with Cheyenne, Wyoming via Denver and Kansas City. However, later in 1951 it was operated all of the way to Los Angeles via the Southern Pacific. Not long after the St. Louis hit the rails it was upgraded with lightweight, all-streamlined equipment in 1947 featuring diners, Pullman sleepers, lounges, observations, and even dome cars which were added in 1958 from Pullman-Standard.
Through the end the City of Saint Louis, along with her sister City trains, remained a top-notch, all matching consist operation by Union Pacific. As rail travel patronage slacked off through the 1960s the train was eventually downgraded, however. In June 1968 the City of Saint Louis was cut back to just Kansas City and remained as the City of Kansas City. While service remained satisfactory, however, this did not secure the St. Louis or other City trains’ futures as they were all discontinued with the startup of Amtrak in the spring of 1971. (Source)
So what began 46 years ago today lasted only 22 years (1946-1968). I’m not a fan of flying so I’d love to see true high-speed rail (200+ mph) in the US.
Because the tune is probably in your head by now, here is Arlo Guthrie performing The City of New Orleans in 1978:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxoM6trtZE
– Steve Patterson
This may be a bit off topic, but any idea what should become of Union Station? One unlikely idea that popped into my head would be a replacement for the convention center. I am not sure how well the train shed space could be turned into an enclosed suitable convention space while still preserving the historic character.
The Metra in Chicago I believe is still owned by Union Pacific and a wonderful and inexpensive way to get from the far suburbs into the city. Weekend round trip tickets are $7.
Steve, the very first time I ever rode on a REAL train, it was on the very same cars you wrote about. Union Pacific still has a fleet of “city” cars that they roll out for special occasions and occasions. In 1993, the NRHS (National Railway Historical Society) sponsored a trip from Omaha to Chicago, via Kansas City and St. Louis, for their annual convention. Union Pacific supplied the train cars. The City of St. Louis, New Orleans, Kansas city were all used, including several dome cars. The tickets were very expensive so I only rode from St. Louis to Villa Grove, IL where they stopped to take water for the steam engine. Had to take a bus home. It was truley the best train ride I ever had. Nothing since can compare. If you EVER get the chance to ride those cars by alll means do it. You'll never forget it!
Just a year after we were married and were living on Zephyr Pl in Maplewood, we went to Denver for a belated honeymoon. The reason then for the trip was to ride a full-day Union Pacific RR steam train excursion up into the hinterlands of Wyoming and back. Of course we rode the train round trip between StL and Denver, the City of St Louis.
Our reserved seats were in the dome car that was a thru car all the way, meaning that at Kansas City our dome coach was removed from the N&W/Wabash train and switched into the UP train. We never had to leave the car.
Apparently we made that trip in the last few remaining days of that thru train service, traveling west on May 31st, 1968 and returning a few days later in the first week of June.
Forty two years later I still remember passing under the decorative concrete street bridges of Kingshighway and Lindell(?), and the very unique structure of the depot at Delmar.