Blue Bird (train)

The Blue Bird was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Wabash Railroad and its successor the Norfolk and Western Railway between Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. It operated from 1938 to 1971. Beginning in 1950 it was one of the few Wabash passenger trains to carry a dome car and the first dome train in regular operation between the two cities. The train was cut back to Decatur, Illinois, in 1968 and renamed City of Decatur. Amtrak did not retain the City of Decatur, and it made its last run on April 30, 1971.

"City of Decatur" redirects here. For the Illinois Terminal Railroad service, see Streamliners (Illinois Terminal Railroad).

Blue Bird
City of Decatur

The Blue Bird's "Vista-Dome" dome parlor-observation car in the 1950s.
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Midwest United States
First service	1938
Last service	April 30, 1971
Former operator(s)	Wabash Railroad Norfolk and Western Railway
Route
Start	Chicago
End	St. Louis
Distance travelled	285.7 miles (459.8 km)
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	Southwestbound: 21; Northeast bound: 24
On-board services
Seating arrangements	Reclining seat coaches
Catering facilities	Dining car
Observation facilities	dome parlor-lounge
Route map 0.0 St. Louis Union Station 5.6 mi 9 km Delmar Boulevard Missouri Illinois 8.3 mi 13.4 km Granite City 21.8 mi 35.1 km Edwardsville 52.3 mi 84.2 km Litchfield 84.8 mi 136.5 km Taylorville 113.2 mi 182.2 km Decatur 140.7 mi 226.4 km Monticello 193.3 mi 311.1 km Forrest 270.9 mi 436 km Oak Lawn 279.1 mi 449.2 km Englewood 285.7 mi 459.8 km Dearborn Station

History

The Wabash introduced a heavyweight Blue Bird on the Chicago–St. Louis run in 1938. The train was painted blue-gold, previously reserved for the Wabash's Banner Blue.[1]^:143

The Wabash relaunched the Blue Bird as a streamlined train on February 26, 1950, with all-new Budd Company "Vista-Dome" dome cars and E-unit diesel locomotives from Electro-Motive Division. The new train carried Wabash's standard blue-gray-white livery.[1]^:144 The Wabash referred to the Blue Bird as a "Domeliner" in contemporary advertising.[2] Amenities on the new train included radio and "recorded musical programs"; coach passengers had access to the "Coffee Shop Club".[3] The new equipment cost the Wabash US$1,500,000; it was the first dome train to operate between Chicago and St. Louis.[4]

The Norfolk and Western Railway leased the Wabash in 1964 but continued to operate the Blue Bird. This changed in 1968 when the N&W truncated the Blue Bird to Decatur, Illinois, still departing from Chicago.[5]^:150 This new service was named City of Decatur and operated until the formation of Amtrak in 1971.[6]^:101

Route

The Blue Bird used the Wabash's line between Chicago and St. Louis. In March 1950 northbound #24 departed St. Louis' Union Station at 8:55 AM and arrived at Chicago's Dearborn Station at 2:05 PM. The equipment set returned as southbound #21 the same day, departing Chicago at 4:45 PM and arriving in St. Louis at 10:10 PM. Intermediate stops included Englewood in Chicago, Forrest, Decatur, Taylorville, Litchfield and Granite City in Illinois, and the Wabash's Delmar Boulevard station in St. Louis itself. At the time two other Wabash trains operated on the route: the Banner Blue, which operated a reverse schedule, and the overnight Midnight.[3]

Equipment

Interior of one of the "Vista-Dome" dome coaches on the Blue Bird.

The 1950 lightweight consist included six cars: a baggage-lunch counter-lounge, three "Vista-Dome" dome coaches, a dining car, and a "Vista-Dome" dome parlor-observation car. The Budd Company manufactured all six cars, although the interior of the parlor-observation car was designed according to Pullman Plan #9525. Strong demand led the Wabash to add another dome parlor-lounge in 1952. Pullman-Standard delivered the car, which included the "Blue Bird Room", an eleven-seat private dining room.[7]^:113[5]^:150

References

1. Schafer, Mike (2000). More Classic American Railroads. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-7603-0758-8. OCLC 44089438.
2. "Going Wabash puts you in a Conventioneering mood!". The Rotarian. April 1954.
3. Official Guide of the Railways. New York: National Railway Publication Co. March 1950. p. 252. OCLC 6340864.
4. Howe, Ward Allan (February 26, 1950). "RAIL NOTES: NEW TRAIN; Wabash's Streamlind Blue Bird Adds Dome Cars to Chicago-St. Louis Run Lunch Counter". The New York Times.
5. Schafer, Mike; Welsh, Joe (1997). Classic American Streamliners. Osceola, Wisconsin: MotorBooks International. ISBN 978-0-7603-0377-1.
6. Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.
7. Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972). Car Names, Numbers and Consists. New York: Wayner Publications. OCLC 8848690.

External links

• 1950 timetable