Talk:Western Star (train)

Chicago service
The Western Star's Chicago connection is something of a puzzle. It appears that, at least as of June 1960, the westbound Western Star did depart Chicago directly, using the CB&Q to reach the Twin Cities and then proceeding west. Eastbound is a different matter. The Official Guide says this: "The Eastbound Western Star makes intermediate connections at Minneapolis with C. B. & Q. Afternoon Zephyr for Chicago. Passengers wishing to use overnight train service to Chicago will transfer at Minneapolis or St. Paul to coach or Pullman accommodations on C. B. & Q. overnight train No. 48 to Chicago." #48 is the Mainstreeter and the times match. Mackensen (talk) 03:58, 25 August 2013 (UTC)


 * The November 1960 CB&Q timetable is a bit more informative. The Chicago to Twin Cities Western Star also is the NP Mainstreeter and CB&Q Black Hawk (all No. 47). They all depart Chicago at 10:30pm and arrive St. Paul at 7:25am. In St Paul, the Black Hawk portion continues to Minneapolis immediately, arriving at 8:10. The Mainstreeter and Western Star get re-assembled in St. Paul and arrive at Minneapolis at 9:05 and 9:55 respectively for their trips further west. The eastbound Mainstreeter goes to Chicago with the evening Blackhawk (both No.48) from St. Paul at 10:30, arriving in Chicago at 8:15am. The Western Star goes to Chicago with the Afternoon Zephyr (both No. 24) at 5:00pm, arriving at 11:15pm. In practice, this could mean some far less precise arrival times after 3 days from Seattle to Minneapolis. Meaning that, upon arriving in St. Paul, and finding your train may not go until the next afternoon, finishing out on a different CB&Q train could be the best option. This arrangement also exists on the May 1966 CB&Q timetable. Group29 (talk) 00:45, 7 September 2022 (UTC)
 * I just realized your comment was from 2013. Sorry for the delay :-) Group29 (talk) 00:46, 7 September 2022 (UTC)


 * In the 1947 CB&Q timetable there were seven Twin Cities trains, each with their own Chicago departure and arrival time: The Oriental Limited, Empire Builder, North Coast Limited, Black Hawk, Morning Zephyr, Afternoon Zephyr, and a numbered every stop train.