UtahRails.net

UtahRails.net

UP Before Amtrak, 1971

This page was last updated on November 18, 2024.

(Return to UP Passenger Car Index Page)

Overview

These were the scheduled Union Pacific intercity passenger trains operating on April 30, 1971, the day before the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) began operations.

For most trains not incorporated into Amtrak's initial basic route structure, April 30 (a Friday) was the final day of operation. Overnight and transcontinental trains that began their final runs on April 30 continued through to their destination, with the last of these trains arriving at their respective terminals on May 2.

Former train names shown are, generally, names published in the Official Guide under the indicated train numbers.

Union Pacific operated through coaches and sleepers between Chicago and Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco (Oakland, California) and Portland, Oregon. All of these cars were conveyed in one train between Chicago and Omaha by The Milwaukee Road and as one train on UP between Omaha and North Platte, Nebraska, and more so between Cheyenne and Green River. This gave rise to the nickname "City of Everywhere."

Unless indicated otherwise, trains operated daily.

Union Pacific Trains

Nos. 9 and 10 (Kansas City-Denver)

"City of Kansas City" - Discontinued

Nos. 9 and 10 carried through coaches between Kansas City and Oakland, and Kansas City and Los Angeles.

Last Train 9 from Kansas City, Friday, April 30, 1971
Last Train 10 from Ogden, Saturday, May 1, 1971

Nos. 17 and 18 (Denver-Portland)

"Portland Rose" - Discontinued

Last Train 17 from Denver Friday, April 30, 1971
Last Train 18 from Green River, Saturday, May 1, 1971

Nos. 19 and 20 (Spokane, Washington-Hinkle, Oregon)

"Spokane" - Discontinued

Nos. 35 and 36 (Salt Lake City-Butte, Montana)

"Butte Special" - Discontinued

The Butte Special operated tri-weekly, departing Salt Lake City on Monday, Thursday and Saturday; and departing Butte on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday.

Nos. 79 and 80 (Columbus-Spaulding, Nebraska)

(Unnamed) - Discontinued

Nos. 79 and 80 were mixed trains operating on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Last passenger service Train 79 from Columbus, Friday, April 30, 1971
Last passenger service Train SO from Spalding, Friday, April 30, 1971

Nos. 81 and 82 (Columbus-Albion, Nebraska)

(Unnamed) - Discontinued

Nos. 81 and 82 were mixed trains operating on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Last passenger service Train 81 from Columbus, Thursday, April 29, 1971
Last passenger service Train 82 from Albion, Thursday, April 29, 1971

Nos. 93 and 94 (North Platte-South Torrington, Nebraska)

"Platte Valley Express" - Discontinued

Nos. 93 and 94 were daily mixed trains.

Last passenger service Train 93 from North Platte, Friday, April 30, 1971
Last passenger service Train 94 from South Torrington, Friday, April 30, 1971

Nos. 95 and 96 (Kearney-Stapleton, Nebraska)

(Unnamed) - Discontinued

Nos. 95 and 96 were mixed trains operating on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Last passenger service Train 95 from Kearney, Friday, April 30, 1971
Last passenger service Train 96 from Stapleton, Friday, April 30, 1971

Nos. 103 and 104 (Los Angeles-Omaha, Nebraska)

"City of Los Angeles-Challenger" Amtrak operated in part

Nos. 103 and 104 operated to Chicago via The Milwaukee Road east of Omaha.

Nos. 103 and 104 included cars for the City of Los Angeles-Challenger, the City of Denver, the City of San Francisco, and the City of Portland.

The City of San Francisco, which no longer had its own UP train numbers, operated tri-weekly, departing Chicago on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday; and departing Oakland on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. West of Ogden, the City of San Francisco operated on the Southern Pacific as Nos. 101 and 102. Amtrak kept the City of San Francisco, operating over the UP as Nos. 101 and 102.

The City of Portland used UP tracks between Green River, Wyoming, and Portland, operating daily as did the City of Los Angeles-Challenger and City of Denver.

The City of Denver separated from Nos. 103 and 104 at North Plate, Nebraska. Nos. 103 and 104 also included Kansas City-Los Angeles/San Francisco through cars between Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Ogden.

Last Train 103 from Omaha, Saturday, May 1, 1971
Last Train 104 from Ogden, Saturday, May 1, 1971

Nos. 105 and 106 (Portland-Green River, Wyoming)

"City of Portland" - Discontinued

Last Train 105 from Omaha, Saturday, May 1, 1971
Last Train 106 from Green River, Saturday, May 1, 1971

Nos. 111 and 112 (Denver-North Platte, Nebraska)

"City of Denver" - Discontinued

Last Train 111 from Omaha, Saturday, May 1, 1971
Last Train 112 from Denver, Friday, April 30, 1971

Nos. 117 and 118 (Denver-Kansas City, Kansas)

"Portland Rose" - Discontinued

Last Train 117 from Kansas City, Friday, April 39, 1971
Last Train 118 from Denver Friday, April 30, 1971

Nos. 457 and 458 (Seattle-Portland)

(Unnamed) - Amtrak operated in part

Nos. 457 and 458 served Seattle's Union Station and were folded into a tri-weekly Seattle-San Diego route that operated between King Street Station in Seattle and Portland as Nos. 11 and 12, a Southern Pacific train that had terminated in Portland. Intercity rail passenger service at Seattle Union Station ended with the coming of Amtrak. The train, which operated the length of its route as Nos. 11 and 12, used the Santa Fe south of Los Angeles.

Employee Changes

The following comes from an internal UP letter dated April 21, 1971.

###