In the late ‘60s I attended school in Mount Carroll, Illinois and used to take the train home to Chicago. I’d either go to Savanna and catch the Empire Builder or flag down the Milwaukee Road’s Arrow in Mount Carroll. Although the Empire Builder was in a class of its own, I’ve developed a nostalgia for the Arrow, which by then was merely a couple of coaches pulled by an E-8, I think. I’ve heard that previously it had been the MR’s primary overnight train between Omaha and Chicago with Pullmans and diner. I wonder if I’d been around earlier if I would have seen MR’s celebrated streamlined Atlantics or the Otto Kuhler designed 4-6-4s storming past Mount Carroll? This, of course, would have been after diesels took over the Minneapolis – Chicago runs. Can anyone give me a reference to material on the Arrow, or more generally the MR’s Omaha – Chicago line?
BTW, don’t confuse a similarly named Amtrak train, which I rode a few years ago, with the Empire Builder of the GN. At least Amtrak hasn’t had the temerity to name one of its trains the “20th Century Limited,” another train I have fond memories of riding.
Do you remember why the CoD spent so much time at DJ? I don’t remember the Arrow spending that much time there, even counting time spent for slowdown and acceleration.
The longer stop at Davis Junction may have been due to a bus connection from Rockford. The curse of the MILW between Chicago and Omaha was that it skirted or missed most of the larger cities and relied on bus connections for passengers.
Come to think of it, the Arrow may have also had the same problem. The reason I think so is that one reason I liked the Empire Builder because it was so fast to Chicago, and this was on CB&Qs single track to Aurora, whereas the MR was double-track all the way!
See above also, CB&Q was single-track Savanna-Aurora, MR double-tracked. I don’t know what’s happened since.
The MR from Savanah to Aurora is single track now. I think it was reduced in the 1970’s by MR.
The CGW route that roughly paralells this alignment and is also now erased. The Tunnel is even collapsed. Rumours abound that the CGW alignment will me made into a long distance bike trail from Chicago to the river.
Yup, the old MILW Rd line from Savanna to Elgin and into Chicago is single track now–it is run by the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern now–they’re owned by the DM&E. Train activity is sort of slow, maybe 4-6 trains per day. Davis Junction is still a favorite spot to see what maybe around–the bar within the leg of the wye (it was never a hotel that I can remember–late 70’s) the Track Inn, burned down in the spring of 1997. I miss the great bar cheeseburgers while waiting for trains!
I highly doubt the CGW line would ever be a complete bike trail through Illinois. Portions have been made into trails, but the western portion has been erased in some areas.
a great place to see cb&q , cmsp&p rrs 30 years ago. savahna had 3rd yard largest on the milwaukee, behind bensenville ill. and milwaukee wi. cb&q had a large yard and roundhouse in sav. spent many a day there and at beautiful mississippi palasades state park. the cmsp&p was one of the great lines west out of chicago. the chamber of commerence has office in restored pass. car open to public. i donated much mem. there. mini rr musuem. beautiful area in fall trees turning.
The streamlined Milwaukee Atlantics and Hudsons did run between Chicago and Savannah. The A photo in STEAMS FINEST HOUR is of an Atlantic leaving Elgin westbound. There is also reference to As on that line in the recent Classic Trains article dealing with those engines and the Hudsons.
I worked at Spaulding Tower and B-17 at Bensenville in the early 80’s and dispatched that line later on.
Just did some railfanning on thins line today. Still a good looking mainline with block signals and some welded rail. (even the jointed stuff seems in good shape.) Would have been nice to see some trains!!! just a few parked in Savanna. Anyone got some idea when these guys run? Would really like to catch a few trains on tis line (esp. the west end). LONG LIVE THE ROCK!!!
this is somewhat off topic, but a couple weeks ago i was in the quad cities and i saw the DM&E on the old RI/MR line south thru muscatine, IA…i know i don’t keep up with things as much as i should. just curious as to what’s goin on there. some insight please…?
If you’ve received the Summer issue of Classic Trains look at page 92 for a picture of MR 261 pulling a freight through Lanark, Ill., taken in its revenue days.
The old line through Muscatine is part of the IC&E Chicago-Kansas City line (ex-MILW) and IC&E has leased some power from parent DM&E. I believe that the MILW Chicago-Omaha line has been abandoned in its entirety west of Lanark.