Passenger Trains > Long distance trains out of Chicago

Last June 7, 2017 I was in Chicago photographing the action of passenger trains leaving Chicago Union Station in the afternoon. Beautiful sunny day with lots of trains. I photographed two long distance trains leaving westbound early on. The first had the 87/68 leaving at 2:37 PM. Never wrote down what train this was. What was the name of this train?

At 3:10 PM I caught the 184/189 leaving the station and was told this was the Southwest Chief. Nice catching a Heritage unit. Good trip and I'll probably have more questions later.

Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

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I think one is the California Zephyr and the other
the Southwest Chief.I also think one way to ID these
trains is one always has units BtoB.

Uncle Joe
Seffner,Fl.

First train was likely the Empire Builder to Seattle.

map

map Wrote:
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> First train was likely the Empire Builder to
> Seattle.
>

Wrong side of the station. The Builder leaves headed north (the MILW side of the station). These are south (the Q, PRR, GM&O side of the station).

TAW

The Southwest Chief can always be identified by the ATS shoe on the right front axle of the lead unit---like 184 has here. BSB

Whatever train is in picture 1 it is not going to the BNSF ( former Q ).
It is already past the last set of crossovers to the Q mains and even if
routed via the north wye to Union Ave it is one track too far to the east.

A guess would be No 21 but is the consist too big?
Do they still back trains in? It could be a consist headed for the wash.

Capitol Ltd ?

The first train is not on a track to turn west and head toward Naperville. It's headed for the bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River.

Marty Bernard

First picture is probably Train #21 which departed CHI at 2:35PM on June 7, 2017.

gmo1111 Wrote:
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> First picture is probably Train #21 which departed
> CHI at 2:35PM on June 7, 2017.

This is probably what I photographed. A quick check shows #21 is the Texas Eagle from Chicago to San Antonio, TX via St Louis and Little Rock, AR. Didn't even know about this train. Nice to have this info now. Thanks!

Brian

gmo1111 Wrote:
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> First picture is probably Train #21 which departed
> CHI at 2:35PM on June 7, 2017.

I just checked an Amtrak timetable and #21 is due out of Chicago at 1:45 PM so it was 50 minutes late out of Chicago Union Station. It meant I got to see it but am a bit surprised it got such a late start.

Brian

BrianA Wrote:
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> gmo1111 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > First picture is probably Train #21 which
> departed
> > CHI at 2:35PM on June 7, 2017.
>
> I just checked an Amtrak timetable and #21 is due
> out of Chicago at 1:45 PM so it was 50 minutes
> late out of Chicago Union Station. It meant I got
> to see it but am a bit surprised it got such a
> late start.
>

Chicago, Amtrak, no more to say.

TAW