Trains 5 & 6, California Zephyr

• Donner Pass Capsule History

• Donner Pass Traffic in the 1990s

• Rio Grande Route Traffic in the 1990s

• Galesburg, IL, to Lincoln, NE, Traffic in the 1990s

At its inception, Amtrak's train ran from Chicago to Denver seven days a week, but on to Oakland only three days a week. On the days its terminated at Denver, the train was known as the Denver Zephyr, but on to Oakland was the California Zephyr until July 11, 1971, ?? until November, City of San Francisco from November 14, 1971, and San Francisco Zephyr from June 11, 1972. The Denver Zephyr name lingered until October 26, 1973, even though the train began daily operation to Oakland  in summer from June 11, 1972 to September 10, 1972, and year-around from June 10, 1973. The train became the California Zephyr once again  on the reroute via Grand Junction in 1983, after the introduction of Superliners in 1980.

Oakland to Sacramento/Haggin

• 2005 Route Description

Haggin to Roseville

• 2005 Route Description

Roseville to Sparks (Donner Pass)

• 2002 Route Description

Sparks to Weso

• 2006 Route Description

Weso to Alazon (Track 1)

• 2006 Route Description

Weso to Alazon (Track 2)

• 2006 Route Description

Prior to July 15, 1983 (planned for April 25, 1983, but delayed by the Thistle mudslide), while Denver & Rio Grande Western remained out of Amtrak, the train ran from Oakland to Denver via Ogden (Alazon to Ogden not ending until October 29, 1983, with an Ogden to SLC jog during that time period) and Rawlins, rather than via Salt Lake City and Grand Junction:

Alazon to Ogden

• 2005 Route Description

Salt Lake City (Grant Tower) to Ogden

• 1996 Route Description

Ogden to Granger

• 2001 Route Description

Granger to Borie/Speer

• 2001 Route Description

Until October 27, 1979, the train continued into Cheyenne and then ran in reverse between Cheyenne and Denver.

 

Borie/Speer to La Salle

• 2005 Route Description

La Salle to Denver

• 2005 Route Description

Alazon to Salt Lake City (Smelter)

• 2006 Route Description

Salt Lake City (Smelter to Grant Tower)

• 2006 Route Description

Salt Lake City (Grant Tower to Springville)

• 2006 Route Description

Springville to Helper

• 2006 Route Description

Helper to Grand Junction

• 2006 Route Description

Grand Junction to Dotsero

• 2006 Route Description

Dotsero to Orestod (Bond)

• 2006 Route Description

Orestod (Bond) to Denver

• 2006 Route Description

Denver to Brush

• 2006 Route Description

Brush to Lincoln

• 2006 Route Description

Lincoln to Ashland

• 2006 Route Description

Ashland to Omaha

• 2006 Route Description

Omaha to Oreapolis

• 2006 Route Description

Oreapolis to Pacific Junction

• 2006 Route Description

Pacific Junction to Albia/Maxon

• 1993 Route Description

Albia/Maxon to Burlington

• 1993 Route Description

Burlington to Cameron/Galesburg

• 1993 Route Description

Galesburg (Cameron) to Aurora

• 2006 Route Description