Union Pacific Streamliner 1st Train

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This page was last updated on May 15, 2023.

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(Portions of this Streamliner timeline are included as part of the larger UP Passenger Service Timeline)

1st Train (M-10000)

(1934-1942)

Winton distillate engine

Tapered sides, 10'-3" overall height (same as M-10001)

M-10000 600 HP motor-baggage, mail
10400 56 seat coach
10401 52 seat buffet-coach

M-10000 was a fully articulated three car trainset which during it's tours underwent many tests and attracted masses of people. The name "Streamliner" became a byword for American passenger trains. With the acceptance of this concept by the riding public the Union Pacific put it's plans of a system wide service into high gear.

The M-10000 three car articulated train was powered by a 600 HP Winton distillate burning engine traveled at speeds of 100 MPH during routine operations.

Number Dates Service
M-10000 January 31, 1935 to December 16, 1941 The Streamliner; City of Salina (1st Train)

M-10000 was out of service from August 16, 1935 to October 6, 1935 due to a low-speed single-axle derailment in Kansas City Union Station on August 16, 1935. The M-10000 and the entire 1st Train were removed from service until October 6, 1935 pending an investigation and remedy for the broken axle. The remedy included new larger axles for the entire train. The delivery of the 3rd and 4th Trains was delayed to allow these new trains to also receive new larger axles. A steam-powered train with standard equipment protected the schedule during the period of 51 days that the 1st Train was out of service. (Thomas R. Lee, "Union Pacific's M-10000 and the Early Streamliner Period 1934-1941," page 84-87)

February 12, 1934
The three-unit fully-articulated M-10000, the first streamlined internal-combustion passenger train, was delivered to Union Pacific at the Pullman plant at Pullman, Illinois; on February 11, 1934, the train had made two trial runs between Pullman, Illinois, and Michigan City, Indiana.

When W. A. Harriman accepted delivery of M-10000 at Pullman, Illinois, he announced that UP had ordered of one six-car train and two nine-car trains. (Railway Age, Volume 96, page 269)

February 12, 1934
The three-unit fully-articulated M-10000, the first streamlined internal-combustion passenger train, was delivered to Union Pacific at the Pullman plant at Pullman, Illinois; on February 11, 1934, the train had made two trial runs between Pullman, Illinois, and Michigan City, Indiana.

February 15, 1934
M-10000 was exhibited at Union Station in Washington, D.C.

March 2, 1934
Leaving from Omaha, Nebraska, M-10000 began touring the United States, covering 12,625 miles on 14 railroads and visiting 65 cities; a special invitation-only round trip was made on March 1, 1934 between Omaha and Columbus, Nebraska (88 miles one way)

March 9, 1934
The nationwide tour included a side trip from Las Vegas to Boulder Dam. During its layover at Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 9th, Union Pacific was given permission to operate the M-10000 over the Six Companies' government railroad out to the face of Boulder dam, which was then under construction. After stopping briefly at Boulder City, where the train was opened for tours, it was posed for publicity photos passing through a huge 30-foot diameter penstock pipe, then made its way out to the face of the dam.

April 11, 1934
M-10000 returned to Omaha

April 19, 1934
M-10000 made its first revenue trip, a special move for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce between Omaha and Gering, Nebraska (445 miles)

May 12, 1934
Overland Trail, the first streamlined sleeping car, was delivered and displayed with M-10000 at the Chicago Century of Progress; the train was displayed at Chicago from May 12 to July 12, 1934 ("Overland Trail" was later added to M-10001)

January 1, 1935
M-10000 entered revenue service on the 187-mile Kansas City-Salina, Kansas route. (Ranks and Kratville, Union Pacific Streamliners, 1974, page 37)

January 31, 1935
M-10000 entered service as the "City of Salina". (Wayner, Car Names Numbers and Consists, 1972, page 139; Kratville and Ranks, Motive Power of the Union Pacific, 1960, page 216)

August 16, 1935
M-10000 had a low-speed single-axle derailment in Kansas City Union Station on August 16, 1935. The M-10000 and the entire 1st Train were removed from service until October 6, 1935 pending an investigation and remedy for the broken axle. The remedy included new larger axles for the entire train. The delivery of the 3rd and 4th Trains was delayed to allow these new trains to also receive new larger axles. A steam-powered train with standard equipment protected the schedule during the period of 51 days that the 1st Train was out of service. (Thomas R. Lee, "Union Pacific's M-10000 and the Early Streamliner Period 1934-1941," page 84-87)

March 13, 1936
M-10000, known as "The Streamliner," was named "City of Salina" in a letter from W. M. Jeffers.

From Union Pacific Streamliners, by Ranks and Kratville, 1974, page 39:

Contrary to popular belief, the M-10000 was neither lettered nor identified as the City of Salina for many months after its delivery. The public usually referred to it as "The Streamliner" as did the local Kansas newspapers. It was listed in the timetables as No. 99 and 100 and it was not until March 13, 1936 that a letter from W. M. Jeffers stated that henceforth the M-10000 would be known as the City of Salina and that "this train was to be lettered accordingly, using the same style lettering as is being used on the City of Portland."

December 16, 1941
M-10000 was removed from service and retired after running over 899,000 miles in revenue service.

From Union Pacific Streamliners, by Ranks and Kratville, 1974 page 58:

Having outlived its economic usefulness, the City of Salina was withdrawn from service December 16, 1941. A national museum heard about the impending scrapping and sought to have Little Zip placed on exhibit on their grounds. W. M. Jeffers, however, decided that the train was too valuable a source of aluminum scrap to be placed in a museum. The fact that he held a prominent appointive post with the federal government at that time probably had considerable effect on this decision.

The City of Salina ran about 899,000 miles in revenue service before it was retired and sold for scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons at Omaha February 13, 1942.

February 13, 1942
M-10000 and its entire train set was sold for scrap to Aaron Ferer and Sons, Omaha, Nebraska.

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