Utahn (train)
The Utahn was a short lived named passenger train operated by the Union Pacific Railroad between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Los Angeles, California that ran from 1947 to 1951. The train was unique due to its mixed up usage of a variety of road power the UP used.
| Utahn | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Service type | Inter-city rail |
| Locale | Western United States |
| First service | May 14, 1947 |
| Last service | April 29, 1951 |
| Former operator(s) | |
| Route | |
| Termini | Cheyenne, Wyoming Los Angeles, California |
| Train number(s) |
|
| Line(s) used | Overland Route |
| On-board services | |
| Seating arrangements | Reclining seat coaches |
| Sleeping arrangements | Sleeping car |
| Catering facilities | Dining car |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
History
When the City of St. Louis started service on June 2, 1946, between St. Louis and Cheyenne, there was only a connection to the other named trains to head to other destinations westward. As a result, the Utahn entered service on May 14, 1947, to provide a connection service to Los Angeles for the City of St. Louis.[1] The Utahn replaced unnamed trains 43 and 44, which ran between Omaha and Los Angeles since June 2, 1946.[2]
The Utahn did not last long in service as beginning in the 1950s, the UP was doing a major reconstruction of its passenger train fleet. The Utahn was one of these victims and on April 29, 1951, the train made its last run. The City of St. Louis replaced the Utahn's route, being extended all the way to Los Angeles.
Consist
While in service, the train boasted a wide variety of power such as FEF 4-8-4 Northern steam locomotives, ALCO's PA-1, EMD F3's, and Fairbanks-Morse Erie-builts.[3]
As much, the train ran with as much as 29 cars which is a long train. Many of these cars were head end equipment heading to different destinations such as express reefers cars, baggage cars, and Railway Post Offices. Two coaches, a diner, a club-dormitory lounge car, and a heavyweight sleeper were in the set. The consist also included a few lightweight passenger cars, but the train was a mix of many different colors. Colors ranged from "Armour Yellow" to the "Greyhound" and "Olive Green" liveries.
References
- "The Utahn". American-Rails. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- "UP, Other Trains". UtahRails.net. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- "The Utahn". American-Rails. Retrieved May 1, 2023.