Zephyrs in Colorado?

The Denver Zephyr....

Rusty

Yes, even the first zephyr, the Pioneer Zephyr 9900 ran from Chicago to Denver.

RAY

@Ray of sunshine posted:

Yes, even the first zephyr, the Pioneer Zephyr 9900 ran from Chicago to Denver.

RAY

While it may have deadheaded to Denver, it was Denver to Chicago for the "Dawn to Dusk run, not revenue service.  The PZ ran between KC, Omaha and Lincoln Nebraska in revenue service.

Rusty

Rusty you are correct,  the Pioneer Zephyr was primarily used on the KC - Lincoln run. However, it along with the Mark Twain Zephyr operated under the name of the Advanced Denver Zephyrs for 97 days between May 31 and Sept 5 1936, Chicago - Denver. This was done to compete with and ahead of Union Pacific's City of Denver.

Burlington's 10 car Denver Zephyr was delivered in early Oct 1936 and was powered by EMD EA/EB shovel nose engines.

RAY

If you can get a copy, I suggest the book "Burlington's Zephyrs" by Karl Zimmermann. Should be available in a library or for purchase on the internet. It is a pretty good read with many photos and some good info

Colorado springs was served by the Texas Zephyr from 1940 to 1966.  The articulate sleeping cars from the Denver Zephyr were used on this train in from 1957.

Although the California Zephyr may be the best remembered Zephyr train now, the Burlington always considered the Denver Zephyr as it's premier train.

In the late 1930's my dad worked as a telegrapher in Galesburg, Illinois. He said that a common way folks spent the evening in the summer was to watch the Denver Zephyr arrive and depart on the Burlington, and the new streamlined Super Chief on the Santa Fe. The two railroad's depots weren't too far apart, and the trains came in an hour or so apart, so people could watch one come in, and then when it left go watch the other arrive. (I forget now which came in first.)

One of my other hobbies is collecting LIRR rpos and first trip covers. Just got this one from the Advance Denver Zephyr first trip. Also included a sticker for the Zephyr and a newspaper clipping publicizing the trip and giving the drop off point for collectors. The RR were much more interested good publicity than now.