#panamalimited

[railwayhistorical]

Train Schedule Board

This was seen in the passenger station in Effingham, Illinois. The board lists trains that once operated on the Illinois Central Railroad. By this time, I think two Amtrak trains would have been in play: the Panama Limited and the Shawnee. The Illini was operating as well but would turn at Champaign for its return to Chicago.

Ninety degrees to this would have been one for the Pennsy line that crosses the IC at that location—don't know why I didn't shoot that! One Amtrak train was operating on Conrail, former PC/Pennsy: the National Limited.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken February of 1979.

[railwayhistorical]

On the West Side

We’re along the Burlington Northern at Union Street in Chicago. I’m puzzling over the train: I assume the San Francisco Zephyr, but a vintage timetable states that it does not leave until 6:00 PM and the sun would be down. Perhaps I shot the train backing in—the headlight is not lit—but I’m not sure.

Update, from a knowledgeable person on FB, Rob Conway...

This is Union Avenue on the BN. Amtrak regularly makes wye moves through here. It could very well be the North Coast Hiawatha being turned after arrival at CUS. However, the lack of any dome cars could indicate that this is the inbound Panama Limited that has just pulled over the St. Charles Air Line and is about to back into CUS.

The lack of domes did not register with me, so I’m now inclined to say this is the Panama Limited with this input. And to support this hypothesis, I recall seeing GE U30PHs on the Illinois Central around that same time (which indicates they were set up for IC cab signals and such).

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken December 23rd 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Chicago Union Station Action

The first image shows a Burlington Northern commuter train headed out of the station late in the afternoon. The second and third depict Amtrak’s Panama Limited first being moved to the station prior to departure and later backing out (though I don’t know which is which). In the final image a porter has just opened the rear door as I was shooting away with a banged-up twin-lens reflex. It is the Sears Tower, of course, visible in the background.

Three views by Richard Koenig; taken September 5th 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Panama Limited

Amtrak 436, of Illinois Central heritage, backs out of Chicago Union Station. It's not a very good image, but I was taken by the make-up of the consist: the E8A on point, followed by a P30CH and an SDP40F.

A few things tell us the name of the train: the former Illinois Central unit on point, the fact that it's backing out (also an IC trait), and the time of day (late afternoon).

One image by Richard Koenig; taken September 5th 1976.