On this day, May 26, 1934, the Pioneer Zephyr made its record-breaking Denver-Chicago run.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Tue May 26, 2020, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Pioneer Zephyr


Burlington Zephyr postcard

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The Pioneer Zephyr is a diesel-powered trainset built by the Budd Company in 1934 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), commonly known as the Burlington Route. The trainset was the second internal combustion powered streamliner built for mainline service in the United States, the first such train powered by a diesel engine, and the first to enter revenue service. The trainset consists of one power/RPO car, one baggage/buffet/coach car, and one coach/observation car. The cars are made of stainless steel, permanently articulated together with Jacobs bogies. The construction incorporated recent advances such as shotwelding (a specialized type of spot welding) to join the stainless steel, and unibody construction and articulation to reduce weight. It was the first of nine similarly built trainsets made for Burlington and its technologies were pivotal in the subsequent dieselization of passenger rail service. Its operating economy, speed, and public appeal demonstrated the potential for diesel-electric powered trains to revitalize and restore profitability to passenger rail service that had suffered a catastrophic loss of business with the Great Depression. Originally named the Burlington Zephyr during its demonstration period, it became the Pioneer Zephyr as Burlington expanded its fleet of Zephyr trainsets.

On May 26, 1934, it set a speed record for travel between Denver and Chicago when it made a 1,015.4-mile (1,633 km) non-stop "Dawn-to-Dusk" dash in 13 hours 5 minutes at an average speed of almost 78 mph (124 km/h). For one section of the run it reached a speed of 112.5 mph (181 km/h). The historic dash inspired a 1934 film and the train's nickname, "The Silver Streak".

The train entered regular revenue service on November 11, 1934, between Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, and Lincoln, Nebraska. It operated this and other routes until its retirement in 1960, when it was donated to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, where it remains on public display. The train is generally regarded as the first successful streamliner on American railroads.

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1934 Burlington Pioneer Zephyr
55,026 views•Jun 4, 2008

WearybottomAssociate
155 subscribers

In 1934 The Burlington Pioneer Zephyr broke records with its Denver to Chicago run.

CB&Q Zephyr train on record run--outtakes Part 1
3,339 views•Nov 25, 2017

Classic Streamliners
812 subscribers

Scenes of the Burlington Zephyr, a new streamlined railroad train that can reach record speeds of 107 miles per hour. The train being pulled along the track by a team of men, the train being christened in the station, on-train views, aerial views of the train, passengers riding, and a plane racing the train (as viewed from inside the train).

Let's Ride The Zephyr, 1934
65,038 views•Jun 23, 2010

travelfilmarchive
182K subscribers

A ride on the new Zephyr streamlined train in 1934. To purchase a DVD of this film for personal home use or educational use contact us at [e-mail]. To license footage from this film visit: www.travelfilmarchive.com

[Ace Rothstein]

1. MSI in Chicago really needs to refresh this exhibit.

They have the locomotive and a few other cars on site.

[MLAA]

2. 😎 very cool

[CrispyQ]

3. Oh thank you for this!

I absolutely love the Zephyr! We see it chugging up the mountain, west of Denver, when we hike up near Eldorado Canyon. It looks like a giant silver caterpillar slithering between the Ponderosa pines.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. That's the successor to this train:

The California Zephyr - B&W promo video
33,581 views•Dec 12, 2010

Jonnie Alco
394 subscribers

Ride aboard the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco. The Burlington Railroad takes the train from Chicago to Denver. The Rio Grande takes the train from Denver Through the Moffat Tunnel o Salt Lake City. The Western Pacific completes the journey to San Francisco.
Lots of footage in and from the 5 Vista Dome cars. Watch the train get washed. See the spectacular scenery along the trip. ALCO PA locomotives are used by the Rio Grande.

[wryter2000]

5. That's my train!

I've taken it many times from Emeryville, CA, one end of the line, to Reno. A couple of summers ago, I got to take it to Denver. An amazing overnight journey. The scenery was incredible.

On edit: It does not go to San Francisco. You get off in Emeryville and take a bus to SF. There is more to this area than that city.

[CrispyQ]

7. That was great!

Sending to my friend who hikes with me.

Thank you!

[tritsofme]

6. There is a Zephyr train still in service at the Illinois Railway Museum

It comes out a few times a year, and is always a joy to ride on!