Riding Private Varnish: Twin Cities to Chicago

Which car were you riding, Bill?  Did you have access to all the private cars?

Tom, I was in Mount Vernon, the silver former Union Pacific 10-6 sleeper. It was the only car that went out on #8 that day, so there were no other cars to access. we were the last car, behind the superliners. If you look at the second picture, you can see how the MNC locomotive only has us behind it, the other cars remaining at Midway.

 

We did not have access to the other cars on the Westbound trip. They were a private charter.

 

 

I should have seen that.  Age, I tell ya.

 

UPRR used to have a bunch of 10-6 Pullmans (in their handsome yellow paint, of course) that were in a name series that began with Pacific.  I probably rolled your Pullman by when we headed in to clear the City of Los Angeles back in the day.

I suspect you did, Tom. MOUNT VERNON was built as Pacific Island.  You can find out more about the car and its history here.

 

I'll have more on the trip after work this evening.

 

 

Part of the trip from Midway to downtown St. Paul was over the former Milwaukee Road. We then went past lots of bridges until the stop at St. Paul Union Depot. After the Depot, we passed Mississippi River bluffs.

That trackage by those bluffs is a nice area, once traversed by the Milw. Rd. Hiawatha, CNW 400, Burlington Zephyrs, North Coast Limited, Empire Builder, and more. I have a Pentrex tape of Twin Cities railroading in the 60s-70s, and this trackage has lots of great action. I see you caught the MN state capital dome there on the horizon.

 

To the left should be the large Canadian Pacific Dunn (aka Pig's Eye) Yard. Great railfanning location, with a turntable, maintenance facilities, etc. Currently undergoing an expansion from accommodating 7000 ft. trains to handling 10000 ft. trains, more of the current industry standard, they say.

 

There's been a fair amount of controversy and frustration expressed over the construction - the City of St. Paul has found it frustrating working with and exercising any control over the construction as far as permitting and compliance, because they say the railroad plays independently by their own rules, because they're under Federal jurisdiction and not state and local.

Nice photos, Bill.  I have ridden through the bluffs several times and have watched trains from the park that overlooks the scene.  My first ride through there was in 1952 (and again in 1956-'57), aboard the Rock Island Twin Star Rocket.  Rock Island used Milwaukee Road track for several miles, leaving St. Paul.  I learned that Milwaukee Road track rode just as rough as Rock Island's.  

Really nice photos. Do you have any taken from the inside of the sleeper car, like the room itself?

Thanks, maint. Yes, there are interior photos on the westbound trip report: Here.

 Track curve to left and lift bridge is former Chicago Great Western's Robert St. Lift bridge.

 

After leaving St. Paul, we would follow the Mississippi river for about 140 miles. First on the East bank, then crossing the river at Hastings to follow the West bank. The big Red wing on the grain elevator of course announced we were at Red Wing, MN. The Station there is a real classic and has a small museum.  Winona also had a neat station, and was a crew change point. We crossed the river again at LaCrosse and set out across the state of Wisconsin.

Incidentally, the railroad bridge at Hastings, MN, that Bill crossed still has its Milwaukee Road sign displayed on it. Pretty neat.

 

Thank you for these great pictures. I hope someday to travel the real Rails.Keep those beautiful pictures coming, they are Fantastic.

I realized I've been showing mainly scenery, but from the perspective on the rear of the train one also gets a good look at freight trains, locomotives, etc. Here's some of the interesting shots along the way getting down near LaCrosse and through it.

 

 

It was a relaxing ride across Wisconsin. Since my favorite was aboard the car, I relaxed with it. I have since been chastised for not using Miller, THE beer of WI, at least in some folks' opinion.

Portage came and went. We saw more CP in the Milwaukee area.

Interesting cars at the Milwaukee station. All in a NYC-style gray, including this dome.

We had seen people having dinner aboard them on the westbound trip.

But, running late, the sun was setting before we reached Chicago. The last photo in this series is looking back after we stopped in Union Station.

 

See "Have you been to Hinsdale?" for some of what we did on our day in Chicago. Then I will start the trip from Chicago to Washington, DC in a new thread.

Bill, This has been one of the coolest threads in a long time!! The inside look and views from your private car are amazing!

I ride into Union Station in Chicago every week day, but this puts it in a different perspective. Thanks!

Thanks, bigtruckpete, posting is like re-living the trip. Glad you are enjoying it. This week I'll get the Chicago-Washington segment on The Cardinal.