Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr
Encyclopedia
The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
as "Burlington Route" train No. 5 eastbound and train No. 30 westbound.
The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was the overnight (sleeping car
service) version of its daytime sister (coach only) train, the Nebraska Zephyr
, which operated over the same route. The "Ak-Sar-Ben" portion of name was created by spelling Nebraska
(Neb-ras-ka) backwards; a fraternal organization (the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben) and an arena and horse racing facility
in Omaha have also used the name.
The first Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a lightweight day train which operated Lincoln-Chicago between 1940 and 1947. The train was eastbound only, and returned as the Advance Flyer. The modern Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr streamliner began in 1953, using a mixture of 1940s equipment and new cars which it pooled with the California Zephyr
. The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was discontinued prior to the formation of Amtrak
in 1971.
The eastbound train departed Lincoln at 9:00 p.m., arriving at Chicago Union Station the following morning at 7:50 a.m.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
as "Burlington Route" train No. 5 eastbound and train No. 30 westbound.
The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was the overnight (sleeping car
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
service) version of its daytime sister (coach only) train, the Nebraska Zephyr
Nebraska Zephyr
The Nebraska Zephyr was a named passenger train of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad ....
, which operated over the same route. The "Ak-Sar-Ben" portion of name was created by spelling Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
(Neb-ras-ka) backwards; a fraternal organization (the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben) and an arena and horse racing facility
Ak-Sar-Ben
Ak-Sar-Ben, or Aksarben, was an indoor arena and horse racing complex in Omaha, Nebraska. Built to fund the civic and philanthropic activities of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, the thoroughbred race track was built in 1920 and the Coliseum was built in 1929...
in Omaha have also used the name.
The first Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a lightweight day train which operated Lincoln-Chicago between 1940 and 1947. The train was eastbound only, and returned as the Advance Flyer. The modern Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr streamliner began in 1953, using a mixture of 1940s equipment and new cars which it pooled with the California Zephyr
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California...
. The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was discontinued prior to the formation of Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
in 1971.
Route
Westbound (as of April 26, 1964)- Chicago, Illinois – departed at 10:00 p.m.
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– arrived at 9:15 a.m.
The eastbound train departed Lincoln at 9:00 p.m., arriving at Chicago Union Station the following morning at 7:50 a.m.
Equipment
- Pullman Sleeping Cars, Chicago to Omaha-Lincoln featuring double bedrooms and roometteRoometteA roomette is a type of sleeping car compartment in a railroad passenger train. The term was first used in North America, and was carried over into Australia and New Zealand...
s - DiningDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
-Lounge CarLounge carA lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
(Open to all passengers - sleeper or coach), providing evening refreshments and breakfast from Chicago to Omaha. - Chair Cars (reclining seats), Chicago to Omaha-Lincoln
- A Vista-Dome Observation Lounge sleeping car with 3 Double Bedrooms and a Drawing room was operated from 1952-1960 in conjunction with the California Zephyr.