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Commuter trains at Chicago_Sept77.jpg
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(1) Morning commuter trains - at Chicago -- September 1977
An fascinating array of commuter trains still arrived and departed from Union Station in 1977.
Here are a few shots of the morning runs -- mostly arriving and headed to Union Station.
(1) Besides the E units at the Amtrak shops -- the Valparaiso-Chicago Conrail commuter run is arriving with an ex-Erie Lackawanna E8 (EL #825) and a slew of ex-PRR P-70 coaches.
The Amtrak French Turbo train is arriving from probably St.Louis or Detroit.
The other Amtrak train with new Amfleet cars waits.
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Commuter trains at Chicago-2_Sept77.jpg
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(2) Morning commuter trains - at Chicago -- September 1977
Some more of the Valpo-Chicago consist with quite a few ex-PRR P-70 coaches and one ex-EL/ ex-Delaware, Lackawanna & Western lightweight coach. The ex-DL&W coach and ex-EL E-8 were last used earlier in the year on the Cleveland-Youngstown commuter train operated by Conrail for about a year after the demise of the Erie Lackawanna.
A BN commuter train is arriving in the background.
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Commuter trains at Chicago-3_Sept77.jpg
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(3) Morning commuter trains - at Chicago -- September 1977
An all Gulf Mobile & Ohio consist on the arriving Joliet-Chicago train operated by the Illinois Central.
An F-3, a few coaches (2 six wheel truck ACF built? coaches) and an unmodernized open window heavyweight coach.
I rode the heavyweight coach one time -- opened the window and had a great ride!
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Commuter trains at Chicago-4_Sept77.jpg
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(4) Morning commuter trains - at Chicago -- September 1977
The Norfolk & Western commuter train is headed to Union Station with ex-N&W coaches.
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Inter-American at Temple_July76a.jpg
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(1) Inter-American at Temple,Tx -- July 1976
The southbound Inter-American has just departed the station at Temple a couple of minutes before and is headed south (at a crawl) on the Santa Fe.
A crew member is headed towards a switch to throw so the train can head on to the transfer track to the MKT line. It will head south on the Katy for about 40 miles to Taylor where it will transfer to the Missouri Pacific. A year or two before, the Inter-American continued south on the Santa Fe another 45 miles to Milano where it transferred to the MP. Running on the MKT saved considerable time. The Texas Eagle uses the same route today.
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Inter-American at Temple-2_July76a.jpg
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(2) Inter-American at Temple,Tx -- July 1976
Amtrak ex-UP E9 #424 leads the train on the transfer track. The MKT crosses the Santa Fe behind me.
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ex-Seaboard sleeper at New Orleans_Oct79.jpg
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ex-Seaboard sleeper Columbia at New Orleans -- October 1979
A 10 roomette-6 double bedroom car built in 1949.
This car was among a number in the "dead" line at New Orleans Union Station.
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Amtrak at Chicago_June82a.jpg
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Conrail SW-1 #8429 at Chicago -- June 1982
#8429 helps out an unidentified train between Union Station and the shops.
The bridge in the background and the open area to the left and right was the site of the B&O Grand Central Station and trackage to it (torn down in 1971).
Just above the 'Conrail" on the switcher can be seen (barely) a B&O painted gondola on what trackage remained.
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I-American at Laredo_Feb78.jpg
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Inter-American at MP station in Laredo -- January 1978
Unfortunately the E units and conventional equipment had been replaced a short time before.
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SFZ at DenverUnionSt_Nov76.jpg
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San Fransico Zephyr at Denver Union Station -- November 1976
Looks like the baggage car is being worked from the rear so I guess this will be the westbound Zephyr -- passengers will ride backwards to Cheyenne.
The dome car to the right should be added on.
I haven't been to Denver in a long time but from pictures I have seen this view (if the bridge is even existing) would be almost unrecognizable.
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LoneStar_SunsetLtd at Houston_March79a.jpg
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Lone Star and Sunset Limited at Houston -- March 1979
The Lone Star (on the left) had arrived from Chicago a couple of hours earlier and will be serviced and cleaned overnight by the Amtrak crew based in Houston. This crew also watered the Sunset Limited (on the right) when it passed through town every other day. This was the westbound Sunset headed to Los Angeles.
The dome on the Sunset was an ex-CB&Q car built by Budd in 1954 (the info I have says it ran on the NP North Coast Limited?). It was a 4 duplex single room-4 roomette-4 double bedroom car rebuilt in 1967 with a buffet under the dome. The dome seats were rebuilt as lounge seating. It looks like an ex-Southern sleeper back of the dome (the Southern Crescent was taken over by Amtrak a month or two before). This was probably the transcontinental sleeper (NY-LA).
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AMTK cars at St.Louis_July81.jpg
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(1) Amtrak ex-SAL and Rock Island cars at St.Louis -- July 1981
A group of retired Amtrak cars sits at the entrance to the abandoned St.Louis Union Station.
I assume these were on the Amtrak bid list.
The abandoned tower was plenty busy at one time but it and the station were completely deserted.
The car to the left was an ex-Seaboard 60 seat coach built by Budd in 1947.
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ex-RI Golden Triangle at St.Louis_July81.jpg
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(2) Amtrak ex-SAL and Rock Island cars at St.Louis -- July 1981
The Golden Triangle was an ex-Rock Island 8 roomette 6 bedroom sleeper (originally Lake Nokomis) built by Pullman-Standard in 1954.
This car was originally used on the Minneapolis-Houston Twin Star Rocket.
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ex-SAL Sun Ray at St.Louis_July81.jpg
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(3) Amtrak ex-SAL and Rock Island cars at St.Louis -- July 1981
The Sun Ray was an ex-Seaboard 5 double bedroom buffet lounge built in 1955 by Pullman-Standard.
Originally named Hollywood Beach (renamed Sun Ray in 1967) I believe it is in private car service today.
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AMTK GeorgePullman at Chicago_June82.jpg
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Amtrak George M. Pullman at Chicago -- June 1982
The last Superliner I and the last car manufactured by Pullman-Standard was sleeper George M. Pullman.
The car is pictured at Chicago.
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Lone Star at Houston_Sept79a.jpg
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(1) Lone Star at Houston -- September 1979
I don't have an exact date on these shots but it was near the end of the Lone Star which was discontinued in October 1979.
The Lone Star prepares to begin its journey north to Chicago from the Amtrak station in Houston.
The station was built by the SP around 1960 after they tore down their large station which was just at and beyond the freeway in the background.
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Lone Star at Houston_Sept79-33.jpg
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(2) Lone Star at Houston -- September 1979
A slightly different consist on this day.
In the last couple of years of the Lone Star run the consist was usually one SDP40F,baggage,sleeper,diner and a couple of ex-Santa Fe hi-level cars.
This day had an extra coach and engine.
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Denver Union Station_Nov74.jpg
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(1) Denver Union Station - with all the tracks -- November 1974
3.5 years after Amtrak it looks like little has changed at Union Station. Two or three tracks to the right look to be out of service.
The San Francisco Zephyr is getting fresh power and the dome is either an ex-SP homemade or maybe ex-GN ?
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SFZephyr engines at Denver Union Station_Nov74.jpg
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(2) Denver Union Station - with all the tracks -- November 1974
ex-CB&Q NW2 #554 (built in 1949) switches a pair of fresh SDP40F units on to the San Francisco Zephyr.
Ex-ACL E3 #501 with the Nebraska Zephyr consist is on the left.
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ex-GN diner Lake McDonald at Denver_Nov74.jpg
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ex-Great Northern diner Lake McDonald -- November 1974
The Lake McDonald was built in 1947 by Pullman-Standard as part of the 5 consists for the first lightweight Empire Builder.
Here it is being moved around Denver Union Station as part of the San Francisco Zephyr consist.
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LoneStar at RioVistaTx_March77.jpg
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(1) The Lone Star and semaphores - in Texas -- March 1977
(1) The northbound Lone Star "at speed" passing the semaphores at Rio Vista,Tx -- about 7 miles south of Cleburne.
An extra baggage (coach-baggage) car along with a couple of ex-Santa Fe hi-levels,lounge,diner and sleeper.
It wouldn't be long before Amtrak reduced the consist to one SDP40F,baggage,sleeper,diner and two Hi-Levels (usually on the rear).
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SanFranZephyr near Cheyenne_Nov74a.jpg
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San Francisco Zephyr in Wyoming -- November 1974
Westbound - just west of Cheyenne.
Included in the consist is an ex-SP homemade dome and ex-GN diner Lake McDonald - still in blue.
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SunsetLtd near Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(1) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
All of these pictures show the same eastbound Sunset Limited - just west of Houston to just east of the downtown Amtrak station.
I don't have the exact date but this was one of the last conventional steam heated consists before the Superliners took over in a week or two.
(1) The eastbound Sunset is in the Sugarland-Missouri City area just west of Houston.
A nice array of old and new equipment (including one of the experimental Hi-Level cars for the Santa Fe - the third Hi-Level away) -- about a week or two before the Superliners took over for good.
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SunsetLtd equipment near Houston_Feb81-2.jpg
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(2) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
Part of the consist with an ex-GN diner and three ex-CB&Q sleepers - Silver Basin (10-6 built by Budd in 1956 for the replacing of pre-war consists of the Denver Zephyr), Silver Quail and Silver Plateau.
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SunsetLtd equipment near Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(3) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
A sign of changes to come were on the rear with three brand new Superliner cars closed to revenue service - for testing purposes only.
Baggage lounge car #10610 - Silver Buffet - built for the Twin Cities Zephyr is ahead of the Superliners.
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SunsetLtd at BellaireJct near Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(4) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
The Sunset passes by Bellaire Jct in Houston. This was crossed at one time by the San Antonio & Aransas Pass line -- taken over by the SP in 1925. The line west (to the right) still had service to Eagle Lake at this time (now abandoned). The part east to Houston was only a few miles in length - to serve a few business. It had recently been torn out - the wye remnant can be seen just beyond the pole. The other part of the wye in the bottom part of the picture had been torn out a number of years before. The last time this line crossed the SP double track was in the 50's?
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SunsetLtd lounge at BellaireJct near Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(5) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
#3302 was a bar-lounge on Amtrak but had an interesting beginning as part of the ill-fated C&O Chessie train. Built in 1948 by Budd for the Chessie (as coach #1606). After that train never started it went to the Seaboard Airline. Amtrak rebuilt it in to a bar-lounge in 1972. The ex-Santa Fe prototype Hi-Level car - part of it- is to the right.
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SunsetLtd sleeper at BellaireJct near Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(6) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
ex-CB&Q Silver Quail was built in 1952 by Budd for the California Zephyr. It had 6 double bedrooms and 5 compartments (Amtrak sold the compartments as bedrooms).
Nice skirts!
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SunsetLtd ex-SantaFe prototype at Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(7) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
One of the two prototype ex-Santa Fe Hi-Level coaches was on the train - seen here arriving at the Amtrak (ex-SP) station in Houston.
#9901 was built in 1954 by Budd. A regular production Hi-Level is next to it on the right.
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SunsetLtd ex-GN diner at Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(8) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
#8068 was an ex-Great Northern diner Lake Wenatchee. Built in 1951 by ACF for the Empire Builder.
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SunsetLtd sleepers at Houston_Feb81.jpg
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(9) One of the last conventional Sunset Limited -- February 1981
A couple of minutes after leaving the station, passing over Buffalo Bayou at Allen's Landing (allegedly where the Allen brothers landed and founded Houston).
I wish I could have cut down that tree but anyway here are two of the ex-CB&Q sleepers. Silver Quail (info at picture 6) on the left with the Silver Plateau on the right.
The Silver Plateau was a 10-6 built by Budd in 1956 for the replacing of the pre-war consists of the Denver Zephyr (same as the Silver Basin - picture 2).
Nice to see two cars with the original skirts intact.
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LoneStar at Houston_Oct79a.jpg
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(1) Ex-SP&S dome and ex-CZ diner on Lone Star - October 1979
The Lone Star is ready for its normal morning departure from the ex-SP station in Houston for Chicago.
Except nothing is normal. This was the next to last #16 to run and it should have been gone for at least a week.
If I remember correctly, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that kept the train (and others?) running for a week till a deal was reached to create a Houston section of the Inter-American that would merge with the main section at Temple.
Anyway, Amtrak had already taken the train out of its reservation system, etc and had to scramble around to get equipment back on the train. There was no telling what equipment would show up during the last week as evidenced here. The Lone Star with dome cars were few and far between since the ex-CZ observation cars were assigned.
The normal consist for the Lone Star was an SDP40F,baggage,10-6 sleeper,diner and a couple ex-Santa Fe Hi-Level cars.
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exSPS dome at Houston_Oct79a.jpg
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(2) Ex-SP&S dome and ex-CZ diner on Lone Star - October 1979
#9211 was an ex-SP&S dome built by Budd in 1954 for the North Coast Limited. It had 4 duplex single rooms,4 roomettes and 4 double bedrooms.
The car exists today -- here are some pictures of it at Weblurkers great dome site -- http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker/SPS/#306
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exCZ diner at Houston_Oct79a.jpg
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(3) Ex-SP&S dome and ex-CZ diner on Lone Star - October 1979
The diner was an ex-California Zephyr car built by Budd in 1948 (CB&Q --Silver Cafe).
Amtrak was still using it in 2003 but don't know where it is today.
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LoneStar at Houston-2_Oct79a.jpg
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(4) Ex-SP&S dome and ex-CZ diner on Lone Star - October 1979
Ex-Santa Fe Hi-Level cars were on the rear. The SP business car to the left was the 99. The one to the left of it was possibly the Alamo.
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LoneStar-Houston_Oct79a.jpg
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(1) Next to last Lone Star in Texas -- October 1979
The Lone Star was extended after its discontinuance date by about a week. This was the next to last one with an ex-SP&S dome and ex-CZ diner.
20 minutes or so after departing the Houston station, #16 is on the SP in Houston about to go under the SW Freeway.
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LoneStar-RosenbergTx_Oct79a.jpg
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(2) Next to last Lone Star in Texas -- October 1979
About 35 miles west of Houston in Rosenberg, the Lone Star is about to leave the SP Sunset Route and connect to the Santa Fe (tracks to the right) at Tower 17.
The Santa Fe paralleld the SP for a few miles before turning south to Galveston.
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LoneStar-Tower17-RosenbergTx_Oct79a.jpg
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(3) Next to last Lone Star in Texas -- October 1979
#16 is on the connecting track to the ATSF with 3 sets of train orders up for the crew.
The train to the left of Tower 17 has come up on the SP Victoria line.
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LoneStar-Tower17-RosenbergTx2_Oct79a.jpg
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(4) Next to last Lone Star in Texas -- October 1979
Ex-CZ diner (Silver Cafe) passes the order stand with one set of orders left for the conductor who is ready in the next coach.
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LoneStar-Tower17-RosenbergTx3_Oct79a.jpg
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(5) Next to last Lone Star in Texas -- October 1979
After clearing the switch the Lone Star will immediately notch it up to about 80mph.
The Victoria line train (with a CN unit) will have to wait for one more train seen in the distance -- the almost on time eastbound Sunset Limited.
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LoneStar arriving FtWorth_June79a.jpg
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(1) Lone Star arriving at Ft.Worth -- June 1979
Standing at the end of the platform on the north side at the Santa Fe station in Ft.Worth as the southbound Lone Star comes around the bend. It will cross over to the track on the right.
The Santa Fe yard on the right and local business to the left were still very busy.
I haven't been here in a long time but I'd bet -- as usual -- that the yard and local business are gone.
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LoneStar arriving FtWorth_June79.jpg
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(2) Lone Star arriving at Ft.Worth -- June 1979
The 10 car train crosses over to the other track and soon will be watered,switched and a new crew (possibly 2)
will take over.
#501 (SDP40F numbers started with 500) was delivered 6 years earlier and will be cut off and moved to the track on the left. The second engine and the first five cars will continue to Houston. Most of the remaining cars will be moved to the other track with #501 and head to Dallas.
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Amtrak and NOUPT units at New Orleans_July76a.jpg
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Engines at New Orleans -- July 1976
At the engine shop a P30CH (#705), an ex-UP E9B #1916 and NOUPT SW8 #3.
The E9B was unpowered -- I assume used as a steam generator ?
#3 was built for and started working at NOUPT when it opened in 1954.
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ex-B&O Eunit at New Orleans_July76a.jpg
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(1) P30CH and an ex-B&O E9 at New Orleans -- July 1976
Amtrak #401 (ex-B&O E9) and a couple of fairly new P30CH GE units are serviced between Panama Limited runs in New Orleans.
The GE units were in the lead when the Panama arrived earlier.
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