Zephyr Ride

I am looking for some information on a train ride I took with my Grandfather when I was 8. The train(I believe it to be a Zephyr) took off from Savanna, IL and then went to St. Paul. We went to the 1965 World Series (LA vs the TWINs).

I would like to confirm the route and train I was on and any other particulars about the train. I remember spending most of my time in an observation car, while Grandpa went to play cards.

The train concluded its trip at Union Depot in St. Paul, MN.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can research this trip?

The best way to get any details you want is to find a copy of the summer 1965 Burlington Railroad (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) system timetable. This will give you all train times and basic info on equipment and services. The same info is included in the Official Guide of the Railways, a monthly compendium of all railroad timetables. The Burlington timetable probably can be piuckred up at train shows or from a specialist dealer such as Carl Loucks, PO Box 484, North Haven, CT 06473.

Assuming you left Savanna in the morning, the earliest train would have been #21, the "Morning Zephyr", which left Savanna at 10:01 AM and arrived St. Paul at 2:25 PM. That seems late to catch an afternoon ball game, but the only earlier train left about 1AM. In any event, the route would have been via Prairie do Chien and La Crosse, Wisc.

It had a Diner and all Dome Cars. Their also was the North Coast and the EB. The 1Am Train was the Black Hawk.

John