Trackside Guides

This is meant to be a summary of the the routes previously run by Amtrak are
currently not in use. I have included the Sunset Limited route between New Orleans and Jacksonville which has been suspended since Hurricane Katrina. That route may see a return of service, and it would be removed from this summary. 

Amtrak took over passenger train service from the railroads on May 1, 1971.
A summary of passenger trains operated by the freight railroads on April 30, 1971 can be found here.

The initial Amtrak system consisted of 19,233 route miles, and served 43 of the 50 States. I have a summary of that network which is Amtrak's Original Routes.
At this time Amtrak has a system of 21,157 routes miles, serving 46 States. It is covered by Amtrak's Current Routes.

Well over 100 route changes have been made over the past 36 years, adding 15,999 miles and bringing the all-time total to 35,232 route miles. A large number of these changes involved new routes, or the cancellation of routes. Others have involved detouring off of rail lines not required by the freight railroads. The first route change took place on May 10, 1971, by extending a New York to Buffalo run to Chicago and calling it the Lake Shore. The first line abandoned by Amtrak covered 11 miles between Mott Haven and New Rochelle, New York. This took place during 1971 when all service to New England was consolidated into Penn Station. A similar early abandoned line was roughly 1 mile in length on Illinois Central. This lies in Chicago from South Wye to Chicago Central Station, a result of Amtrak consolidating all of their trains to Union Station on March 6, 1972.

Indiana holds the largest total of Amtrak's abandoned routes, 18 segments adding up to 1,708 miles. Ohio comes next, with 11 segments and 1,116 miles, and Illinois with 15 segments and 1,041 miles. Many of these lines result from the Penn Central mess, and the rationalization process that was required to make Conrail profitable.

Several of the distances I've listed will be off by a mile or two, a result of measuring them from maps. I believe this list is complete, but I would appreciate any additions or corrections. I've also added a few routes in red that the freight railroads, or VIA Rail, ran in the USA after May 1, 1971.

I've listed the States by alphabetical order-   

Alabama
May 1971 routes....351 miles-
    The South Wind, which was later renamed the Floridian, rode 351 miles of the
      L&N and SCL.
Current  routes......232 miles-
    The Crescent route through Birmingham is 232 miles long between Mississippi
      and Georgia.
Abandoned routes..558 miles-
    88 miles on CSX from Mississippi through Mobile to Florida, by the
       Sunset Limited suspension east of New Orleans on August 28, 2005,
      from April 4, 1993.
       Stations dropped- Mobile, Atmore
    216 miles on CSX from Birmingham through Montgomery to Flomaton, by the
      Gulf Breeze cancellation on March 31, 1995, from May 1, 1971.
      Stations dropped- Montgomery, Greenville, Evergreen
    112 miles on L&N from Tennessee through Decatur to Birmingham, by the
      Floridian cancellation on October 8, 1979, from May 1, 1971.    Timetable
      Stations dropped- Decatur
    142 miles on SCL from Montgomery through Dothan to Georgia, by the Floridian
      cancellation on October 8, 1979, from May 1, 1971. The Floridian was originally
      called the South Wind, and operated between Chicago and Florida.
      Stations dropped- Montgomery, Dothan

Hawaii
May 1971 routes.......0 miles-
Current  routes.........0 miles-
Abandoned routes.....0 miles-
    Hawaii, along with Alaska and South Dakota, has never been served by Amtrak.

Idaho
May 1971 routes.....102 miles-
    The Empire Builder traveled across the State on 102 miles of Burlington Northern
      through Sandpoint.
Current  routes.......102 miles-
    The Empire Builder remains on the same 102 mile route, now owned by BNSF.
Abandoned routes...426 miles-
    392 miles on Union Pacific from Oregon through Boise to Utah, by the
      Seattle-Denver Pioneer cancellation on May 11, 1997, from June 7, 1977.
      Stations dropped-  Nampa, Boise, Shoshone, Pocatello
    34 miles on Burlington Northern from Sandpoint to Montana, by the
      North Coast Hiawatha cancellation on October 7, 1979, from June 5, 1971.

Illinois
May 1971 routes..1,321 miles-
    Chicago has always been the center of Amtrak's system, with services radiating
      in all directions. Initially this included the Empire Builder (48 miles) into Wisconsin,
      the San Francisco Zephyr (204 miles) and the Super Chief and Texas Chief
      (231 miles) into Iowa. Heading for St. Louis were the Abraham Lincoln and
      Prairie State (278 miles), while the City of New Orleans ran south 361 miles into
      Kentucky. Traveling east into Indiana were the Wolverine, St. Clair and
      Broadway Limited 14, along with the James Whitcomb Riley and South Wind
      (88 miles). One train that did not serve Chicago was the National Limited,
      which had a 157 route across the State. 
Current  routes....1,066 miles-
    Illinois is served by the State supported Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandberg
      (258 miles), the Illini and Saluki (310 miles), and Lincoln Service (278 miles).
      Other Midwestern trains operating in Illinois include the Hiawatha (48 miles),
      the Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette (14 miles),
      and the Hoosier State (26 miles).
      Several long distance trains run out of Chicago. These are the
      Empire Builder (48 miles), California Zephyr (204 miles),
      Southwest Chief (216 miles), Texas Eagle (278 miles),
      City of New Orleans (362 miles), Lake Shore Limited (14 miles),
       Capitol Limited (14 miles) and the Cardinal (26 miles).
Abandoned routes.1,041 miles-
    34 miles on WSOR and METRA from Rondout to Wisconsin, by the
      Lake Country Limited cancellation on September 22, 2001, from April 15, 2000.
      The Lake Country Limited connected Janesville and Chicago.
    182 miles on BNSF from Chicago to Cameron, by the Southwest Chief
      reroute on July 31, 1996, from May 1, 1971. The Southwest Chief now uses
      the former BN rather than ATSF between Chicago and Galesburg.
      Stations dropped- Galesburg(ATSF), Chillicothe, Streator
    3 miles on Burlington Northern from Quincy to Missouri, by the Illinois Zephyr
      route change on May 1, 1994, from November 14, 1971. The Illinois Zephyr had
      terminated in West Quincy, Missouri.
    61 miles on TRRA, A&S and NS from East St. Louis to Centralia, by the
      River Cities cancellation on November 4, 1993, from April 29, 1984.
      Station dropped- Belleville
    12 miles on Conrail from Colehour to Indiana, by the Cardinal/Hoosier State
      reroute on June 30, 1993, from January 23, 1972. The route now goes
      through Dolton.
    38 miles on NS from Tolono to Decatur, by the Illini route change on July 10, 1983,
      from July 2, 1981. The Illini switched from Chicago-Decatur to Chicago-Carbondale
      Station dropped- Decatur
    45 miles on TP&W from Chenoa to East Peoria, by the Prairie Marksman
      cancellation on October 4, 1981, from August 10, 1980.
      Station dropped- East Peoria
    178 miles on Illinois Central Gulf from Chicago to Iowa by the Black Hawk
      cancellation on September 30, 1981, from February 14, 1974. The Black Hawk
      ran between Dubuque and Chicago.      Timetable
      Stations dropped- Elmhurst, Rockford, Freeport, Warren, Galena,
      East Dubuque
    156 miles on Conrail from East St. Louis through Vandalia to Indiana, by the
      Kansas City-New York National Limited cancellation on October 1, 1979,
      from May 1, 1971.
    10 miles on the Chicago and Western Indiana from 87th Street to State Line,
      by the James Whitcomb Riley reroute onto B&O on June 12, 1977, from
      August 1, 1974.
    109 miles on UP and L&N from Thornton to Indiana, by the Floridian reroute on
      April 26, 1975, from August 1, 1974. The new route was through Louisville
      rather than Evansville.
    1 mile on TRRA from Missouri to East St. Louis, by the National Limited reroute
      off of Eads Bridge and onto MacArthur Bridge during 1974, from May 1, 1971.
    33 miles on Penn Central from Kankakee to Indiana, by the James Whitcomb Riley 
      reroute on October 16, 1973, from May 1, 1971.
    178 miles on Penn Central from Lenox to Indiana, a secondary route used
      by the National Limited until 1973, from May 1, 1971.
    1 mile on Illinois Central from Chicago (South Wye) to Chicago (Central Station),
      by the City of New Orleans reroute to Union Station on March 6, 1972,
      from May 1, 1971.
      Station dropped- Chicago Central Station
Non Amtrak...........228 miles-
    181 miles on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, from LaSalle Street Station
      in Chicago through Bureau to Rock Island, by the Quad City Rocket
      cancellation on January 1, 1979.
    161 miles on the CRI&P, from Chicago through Bureau to Peoria, by the
      Peoria Rocket cancellation on January 1, 1979. 

Indiana
May 1971 routes....648 miles-
    Indiana hosted several trains from Chicago back in 1971. These included the
      Wolverine and St. Clair (45 miles) to Detroit,  the Broadway Limited (154 miles)
      to New York,  the James Whitcomb Riley (196 miles) to Cincinnati, and the
      South Wind (217 miles) to Florida. Another route was the National Limited
      (151 miles) between Kansas City and the East Coast. 
Current  routes......448 miles-
    Amtrak now has the Wolverine and Blue Water (45 miles), and the
        Pere Marquette (46 miles) to Michigan, and the Hoosier State (169 miles)
      to Indianapolis. Long distance trains crossing the State are the
        Lake Shore Limited (155 miles), the Capitol Limited (155 miles) and the
        Cardinal (254 miles).
Abandoned routes.1,708 miles-
    138 miles on CSX from Pine Jct. to Ohio, by the Chicago-New York
      Three Rivers cancellation on March 7, 2005, from November 11, 1990.
      Station dropped- Nappanee
    115 miles on Louisville and Indiana from Indianapolis to Kentucky, by the
      Kentucky Cardinal cancellation on July 6, 2003, from May 1, 1971. The
      Kentucky Cardinal was an extension of the Hoosier State to Louisville.
      Station dropped- Jeffersonville
    1 mile on Conrail from Illinois to Maynard, by the Cardinal/Hoosier State
      reroute on June 30, 1993, from January 23, 1972.
    21 miles on Conrail from Pine Jct. to Valparaiso, by the Calumet
      cancellation on May 3, 1991, from May 1, 1971.
      Stations dropped- Whiting, Indiana Harbor, Gary (5th Street),
      Gary (Broadway), Hobart, Wheeler, Valparaiso
    124 miles on Conrail from Valparaiso through Fort Wayne to Ohio, by the
      Broadway Limited and Capitol Limited, rerouted on November 12, 1990,
      from May 1, 1971. The Broadway Limited moved onto CSX while the
      Capitol Limited was routed through Cleveland.
      Stations dropped- Warsaw, Fort Wayne
    173 miles on L&N from Crawfordsville through Bloomington to Kentucky, by the
      Floridian cancellation on October 8, 1979, from April 27, 1975.    Timetable
      Station dropped- Bloomington
    211 miles on Conrail from Illinois to Indianapolis (ex PRR), Terre Haute to
      Indianapolis (ex NYC), and Indianapolis to Ohio (ex PRR), by the
      Kansas City-New York National Limited cancellation on October 1, 1979,
      from May 1, 1971.       Timetable
      Stations dropped- Terre Haute, Richmond
    191 miles on C&O from La Crosse to Ohio, by the Cardinal, rerouted through
      Indianapolis rather than Marion on July 17, 1978, from August 1, 1974.
      Stations dropped- Muncie, Peru
    15 miles on B&O from Wellsboro to La Crosse, by the Cardinal, rerouted through
      Indianapolis rather than Marion on July 17, 1978, from June 12, 1977.
    36 miles on the Erie Lackawanna and Chesapeake and Ohio from State Line
       to La Crosse, by the James Whitcomb Riley reroute onto B&O on
      June 12, 1977, from August 1, 1974.
    172 miles on L&N from Illinois through Evansville to Kentucky, by the
      Floridian reroute through Louisville on April 26, 1975, from August 1, 1974.
      Station dropped- Evansville
    158 miles on Penn Central from Maynard through Logansport to Clermont, by
      the Floridian and James Whitcomb Riley, rerouted onto L&N and C&O on
      August 1, 1974, from October 16, 1973.
      Station dropped- Logansport
    61 miles on Penn Central from Logansport to Anderson, by the Floridian and
      James Whitcomb Riley, rerouted onto L&N and C&O on August 1, 1974, from
      October 16, 1973. (alternate route)
    28 miles on Penn Central from Lebanon to Indianapolis, by the Floridian and
      James Whitcomb Riley, rerouted onto L&N and C&O on August 1, 1974, from
      October 16, 1973. (alternate route)
    85 miles on Penn Central from Indianapolis through Anderson to Richmond,
      by the James Whitcomb Riley, rerouted onto C&O on August 1, 1974, from
      October 16, 1973. (alternate route)
    4 miles on Penn Central from Richmond to Ohio, by the
      Chicago-Cincinnati James Whitcomb Riley, rerouted onto C&O on August 1,
      1974, from October 16, 1973.
    167 miles on Penn Central from Illinois through Lafayette to Lebanon,
      and Indianapolis through Greensburg to Ohio, by the James Whitcomb Riley,
      rerouted on October 16, 1973, from May 1, 1971. The new route used the
      former PRR rather than former NYC line.
    8 miles on Penn Central from Illinois to Terre Haute, a secondary route used
      by the National Limited until 1973, from May 1, 1971.

Iowa
May 1971 routes....294 miles-
    The San Francisco Zephyr crossed the southern part of the State on 274 miles
      of Burlington Northern, and the Super Chief and Texas Chief used 20 miles of
      ATSF through Fort Madison.
Current  routes......294 miles-
    The California Zephyr, previously the San Francisco Zephyr, and the
      Southwest Chief, previously the Super Chief, use the same routes they did
      during 1971. 
Abandoned routes....22 miles-
    21 miles on BN and UP from Pacific Jct. to Nebraska by the San Francisco Zephyr
      reroute back through Oreapolis, on April 25, 1982, from May 1, 1971.
    1 mile on Illinois Central Gulf from Dubuque to Illinois by the Black Hawk
      cancellation on September 30, 1981, from February 14, 1974. The Black Hawk
      ran between Dubuque and Chicago.      Timetable
      Station dropped- Dubuque

Kansas
May 1971 routes....652 miles-
    Amtrak used the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe for both of their routes in
      Kansas. The Super Chief was on 457 miles, and the Texas Chief was on
      282 miles, with both routes sharing a segment between Emporia and Newton.
Current  routes......470 miles-
    The Southwest Chief, formerly the Super Chief, is now the State's only service,
      crossing Kansas on 470 miles of BNSF.
Abandoned routes..182 miles-
    84 miles on ATSF from Newton to Oklahoma, by the Lone Star cancellation
      on October 8, 1979, from May 1, 1971. The Lone Star replaced the
      Chicago-Houston Texas Chief.      Timetable
      Stations dropped- Wichita, Arkansas City
    98 miles on ATSF from Holliday through Ottawa to Emporia, by the 
      Southwest Limited reroute through Topeka on October 8, 1979, from May 1, '71.
      The Southwest Limited replaced the Chicago-Los Angeles Super Chief.

Kentucky
May 1971 routes....340 miles-
    Back in 1971, Kentucky hosted Amtrak's The City of New Orleans for 43 miles on
      Illinois Central, the George Washington on 150 miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio,
      and the South Wind on 147 miles of Louisville and Nashville.
Current  routes......193 miles-
    The City of New Orleans rides 43 miles of Canadian National, and the Cardinal,
      originally the George Washington, is on 150 miles of CSX.
Abandoned routes..251 miles-
    2 miles on Louisville and Indiana from Indiana to Louisville, by the
      Kentucky Cardinal cancellation on July 6, 2003, from May 1, 1971. The
      Kentucky Cardinal was an extension of the Hoosier State to Louisville.
      Station dropped- Louisville
    145 miles on L&N from Louisville through Bowling Green to Tennessee, by the
      Floridian cancellation on October 8, 1979, from May 1, 1971.   Timetable
      Station dropped- Bowling Green
    6 miles on K&IT from Indiana to Louisville, by the Floridian cancellation on
      October 8, 1979, from April 27, 1975.
    98 miles on L&N from Indiana through Hopkinsville to Tennessee, by the
      Floridian reroute on April 27, 1975, from August 1, 1974. The South Wind, later
      renamed the Floridian, and ran between Chicago and Florida, and detoured onto
      this new route through Louisville rather than Evansville.

Louisiana
May 1971 routes....328 miles-
    The Sunset Limited used 247 miles of Southern Pacific while the
      City of New Orleans used 88 miles of Illinois Central.
Current  routes......409 miles-
    Today's Amtrak network radiating from New Orleans has the Sunset Limited
      heading 247 miles west to Texas, the City of New Orleans 88 miles north into
      Mississippi, and the Crescent 48 miles east into Mississippi as well. 
Abandoned routes....34 miles-
    34 miles on CSX from NOT Jct in New Orleans to Mississippi, by the
       Sunset Limited suspension on August 28, 2005, from April 29, 1984.

Maine
May 1971 routes.......0 miles-
Current  routes........45 miles-
    The Downeaster travels on 45 miles south from Portland.
Abandoned routes.....0 miles-
Non Amtrak...........201 miles-
    201 miles on Canadian Pacific from the Quebec Border to Vanceboro,
      by the VIA Rail Canada Atlantic cancellation on October 28, 1994. The Atlantic
      operated between Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Maryland
May 1971 routes....104 miles-
    The key piece of Amtrak's network in Maryland is the Northeast Corridor,
      90 miles in length. The Washington sections of the Broadway Limited and
      the National Limited had a 83 mile route leaving the NEC at Perryville
      heading to Harrisburg.
Current  routes......151 miles-
    The Northeast Corridor sees a large amount of Amtrak traffic on its 90 miles,
      and the Capitol Limited covers 61 miles on CSX between Washington
      and Pennsylvania.
Abandoned routes....74 miles-
    59 miles on B&O from Cumberland to West Virginia, by the Shenandoah
      cancellation on September 30, 1981, from September 8, 1971. The Shenandoah
      connected Cincinnati and Washington, DC.      Timetable
      Station dropped- Oakland
    15 miles on Conrail from Perryville to Pennsylvania, by the National Limited,
      (Washington section) rerouted through Philadelphia on October 28, 1978,
      from May 1, 1971.

Massachusetts
May 1971 routes......41 miles-
    When Amtrak began, the only service in the Commonwealth was on Penn Central,
      36 miles on the Northeast Corridor to Boston and an additional 5 miles to
      Springfield from New Haven.
Current  routes......282 miles-
    The 36 miles of the Northeast Corridor in Massachusetts are now electrified,
      allowing the Acelas into Boston. The Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited
      travels 161 across the State, while the Vermonter travels another 65 on a
      north-south route. Service between Boston and Maine is now handled by
      the Downeaster for 36 miles.
Abandoned routes...132 miles-
    64 miles on Conrail and Bay Colony from Attleboro to Hyannis, by the
      Cape Codder cancellation on September 2, 1996, from June 29, 1986.
      Stations dropped- Taunton, Wareham, Buzzards Bay, Sandwich,
      West Barnstable, Hyannis
    9 miles on New England Central from Palmer to Connecticut, by the Montrealer
      cancellation on April 2, 1995, from July 18, 1989. The Vermonter replaced
      the Montrealer north of Palmer.
    9 miles on Conrail from Readville to South Station, by the Northeast Corridor
      reroute on October 5, 1987, from 1981. The north end of the
      Northeast Corridor was undergoing reconstruction during this time.
    50 miles on Boston and Maine from Springfield to East Northfield, by the
      Montrealer temporary cancellation and reroute on April 6, 1987, from
      September 29, 1972.
      Station dropped- Northampton

Michigan
May 1971 routes....220 miles-
    The Wolverine and the St. Clair traveled 220 miles as part of their
      Chicago-Detroit route.
Current  routes......520 miles-
    Michigan now has the Wolverine (244 miles) to Pontiac, the Blue Water
      (260 miles) to Port Huron, and the Pere Marquette (117 miles) to Grand Rapids.
Abandoned routes....50 miles-
    1 mile on CN from Port Huron to Canada, by the International cancellation
      on April 23, 2004, from October 31, 1982. The International operated
      between Chicago and Toronto.
    47 miles on Conrail from West Detroit to Ohio, by the Lake Cities, rerouted
      on April 1, 1995, from August 3, 1980. The Lakes Cities changed from a
      Chicago-Detroit-Toledo train to run Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac.
    1 mile on Conrail from Detroit to Detroit, by the Wolverine and Twilight Limited
      reroutes on May 4, 1994, from May 1, 1971.
      Station dropped- Detroit (Rose Street)
      Amtrak used Michigan Central Station until January 6, 1988.
    1 mile on Conrail from Detroit to Canada by the Niagara Rainbow
      cancellation on April 28, 1979, from October 31, 1974. The Niagara Rainbow
      connected Detroit and New York.
Non Amtrak...........191 miles-
    191 miles on Soo Line from Sault Ste Marie to Wisconsin, by the mixed train
      service cancellation on September 20, 1986. This service split in Wisconsin,
      going to Neenah and Rhinelander.

Minnesota
May 1971 routes....382 miles-
    The Empire Builder used 382 miles of Burlington Northern (previously
      Great Northern) and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific trackage. 
Current  routes......380 miles-
    The Empire Builder now uses BNSF's former Northern Pacific line between the
      Twin Cities and Fargo, resulting in a shorter 380 mile line across Minnesota.
      East of the Twin Cities, the route remains on CP's former CMSP&P line.
Abandoned routes..373 miles-
    118 miles on BN from Coon Creek through Superior to Duluth, by the
      North Star cancellation on April 7, 1985, from April 15, 1975. The North Star
      connected Minneapolis and Duluth.     Timetable
      Stations dropped- Cambridge, Sandstone, Duluth
    1 mile on BN from Wisconsin to Duluth, by the North Star reroute through
      Grassy Point on June 1, 1984, from February 15, 1977. 
    1 mile on BN from North Dakota to Moorhead, by the North Coast Hiawatha
      cancellation on October 7, 1979, from June 5, 1971.
    243 miles on BN from Moorhead through Willmar to Minneapolis, by the
      Empire Builder reroute through Staples on October 2, 1979, from May 1, 1971.
      Stations dropped- Breckenridge, Morris, Willmar
    7 miles on BN from Union Jct. to Division St, by the Empire Builder
      and North Coast Hiawatha reroute through Midway Station on
      February 28, 1978, from May 1, 1971.
    3 miles on BN from Minneapolis over the Stone Arch Bridge to