As you are probably aware. The consist of the Kansas City Zephyr layed over
at the Kansas City Terminal Railway Coach yard until the following day. The
KCT Rwy had two coach yards at that time. The north coach yard was located
north of the main throat tracks, and to the south, was appropriately the
south coach yard. The north coach yard was eliminated sometime in the
fifties or sixties. The south coach yard was used by the Terminal Railway up
to and after Amtrak. A former KC Terminal Railway coach yard employee told
me 25 years ago that the KCZ/ARZ frequented the north coach yard in the early
years. Perhaps someone has more information about that.
Between 1953 and 1957, the Vista Dome Dormitory Coffee Shop made a round trip
between Chicago and Kansas City the same day. In one direction on the Kansas
City Zephyr, the returning to the opposite end of the line on the American
Royal Zephyr. This ended in 1957 when the Kansas City Zephyr received a
Vista Dome Coach from the Twin Cities Zephyr, and the Vista Dome Dormitory
Coffee Shop was used exclusively on the American Royal Zephyr.
During the diesel era, the power for the American Royal Zephyr and Kansas
City Zephyr returned via the Hannibal Bridge to Burlington's Murray Yard for
servicing at the roundhouse and engine facility.
The American Royal Zephyr never carried any scheduled through Pullmans from
other railroads. They may have shown up for charters, special movements, etc.
Most east west railroads through KC Union Station had their own trains, or
access to Chicago.
Kansas City Union Station was a very busy place. I'm not sure how early the
Zephyrs were spotted for loading. Often times one track would host two
trains at once pointed in opposite directions for boarding. West gate #5 may
board for the Burlington train to Omaha, while east gate #5 would board the
KCS "Flying Crow".
In 1953 the lightweight Vista Dome American Royal Zephyr and Vista Dome
Kansas City Zephyr replaced the heavyweight "American Royal" after the
completion of the "Kansas City Shortcut".
Hubert Hanrahan
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