Re: [CBQ] Twin City Zephyr speed limits and LaCrosse street running

["Louis Zadnichek via groups.io" <LZadnichek=aol.com@groups.io>]

December 9, 2021

 

Leo - During the late 1950s when Dad was Assistant Superintendent at North LaCrosse, WI, we occasionally rode the Twin Cities Zephyr on weekend trips either north to St. Paul, MN, or south to Chicago.  I remember the train as luxurious and very FAST on the run into and out of Chicago.  If the train was running late, it was not unusual for it to run at or slightly in excess of 100 mph to arrive on time at the next station stop.

 

At those times, Dad would be watching the mile posts fly by outside the Vista Dome window and timing the seconds between them on his railroad pocket watch.  When the train hit a hundred miles-an-hour, he'd smile broadly and tap my brother Ken and I on the shoulder to let us know how FAST we were moving - Louis

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL

In a message dated 12/9/2021 10:32:27 AM Central Standard Time, qutlx1=aol.com@groups.io writes:

 

 

Aaron your assumption on 90MPH being a recommendation rather than an absolute speed would be correct.

 

Jim Palmer, working as a fireman, tells the story of coming down Burke hill westbound near Savanna with the over speed going off…… seems the engineer had nodded off.

 

Several tell the story of how “Catfish” would make up time on the “east end”( Aurora to Chicago) by running …….. let’s just say well over the 75MPH posted speed limit.

 

Leo

On Dec 9, 2021, at 9:58 AM, Aaron Isaacs via groups.io <aaronmona=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:

 

Leo and others,

The Steffee speed surveys show point to point average speeds, which is certainly interesting. I was curious to see what top speeds were permitted to achieve those averages. 90 mph appears to be the official top speed but I’ll bet they went faster when they needed to.

Aaron 

 

On Dec 9, 2021, at 9:33 AM, Leo Phillipp via groups.io <qutlx1=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:

 

 

 

Aaron,

 

I trust you are aware of the well documented fact that for many years a part of the route was the fastest schedule in the country.

The best way to develop a map of speed limits would be to use employee timetables as they show the various speed limits and restrictions at various points. The person doing this would need the timetables from various decades as things changed, especially once the Zephyrs were operating. The applicable timetables are from the Chicago and Aurora div. and from the La Crosse div.

 

Once the Zephyrs were operating special speed signs dedicated to those trains were posted along the route which allowed Zephyrs higher speeds than other trains.

 

Here’s just a sampling of what can be found in the timetables from the 1940s and 50s. These are broad statements as there many points where speed was restricted.

 

 Between Western Ave in Chicago and just east Aurora 75MPH.

Between just west of Aurora and just east of Rochelle,IL 90 MPH

Between a point west of Oregon,IL.  and just east of Savanna,IL 90MPH

 

In the 1950s Numbers 21 and 23 took one hour 31 minutes between Aurora and Savanna at an average speed of 70.6 MPH which included the station stop at Oregon,IL.

 

Leo Phillipp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Dec 8, 2021, at 10:26 PM, aaronmona via groups.io <aaronmona=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:

I'm helping write a Shore Line Historical Society book on the Chicago-Twin Cities passenger corridor. I'm wondering if anyone has a map or other description of the passenger train speed limits on the Twin Zephyr route.

Also looking for info and photos on the La Crosse street running to the old downtown depot.

If any of this is in a Burlington Bulletin back issue, please let me know.
Aaron Isaacs
Minneapolis
aaronmona@aol.com

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