Success Stories: Historical

Back to the Future: The Twin Zephyrs

Over thirty years before Japan's Shinkansen re-ignited the modern revolution in high-speed rail, the Zephyr raced across the Midwest at over 100 mph. The second Twin Zephyrs, designed specifically for the Chicago-St. Paul/Minneapolis corridor, began operating on December 18, 1936.

The Twin Zephyrs incorporated all of the key design principals of successful high-speed trainsets: quick acceleration and breaking, fast in curves, rapid and safe loading and unloading of passengers, low operating costs, and a comfortable ride.

The articulated connections between the Twin Zephyrs' passenger coaches reduced weight substantially, allowing faster acceleration, faster breaking and lower fuel consumption. They also allowed higher speeds in curves since each car was lead through curves by the preceding car.

As originally delivered, the trains had a seating capacity of 120 to 158 in coach and 38 in first class. A 32-seat food car was also part of the consist. Over time, capacity was increased by adding a coach section and converting a first class section to coach.

The train required a relatively small 1,800-horsepower diesel power plant (Amtrak's new Acela Express trainsets have two 6,000 horsepower locomotives - one on each end), resulting in low operating costs. Yet it made the trip from Chicago to St. Paul in 6 hours 15 minutes (two hours faster than Amtrak's current schedule) and is believed to be the first trainset scheduled to cruise at speeds over 100 mph.

In 1947, the two trainsets were renamed the Nebraska Zephyr and transferred to service between Chicago and Lincoln, Nebraska via Omaha. They were removed from operation in the late 1960s.

The Twin Zephyr coaches were high-capacity but very comfortable.

Though the original locomotives were scrapped, one of the trainsets was donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. On selected weekends you can ride the train and see the design principals at work up close.

The Twin Zephyrs' low floors made passenger loading and unloading faster and safer, reducing dwell times at stations. The lower floors also reduce the center of gravity, allowing higher speeds in curves by reducing forces on the outside rail.

(Photos taken at the Illinois Railway Museum, used with permission.)