Railroads & Locomotives Amtrak trains on May 1, 1971

Amtrak trains on May 1, 1971

By Angela Cotey | March 26, 2010

| Last updated on November 23, 2020

Which trains were running on Day 1 of Amtrak? Check the table below to find out

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Trains Magazine looks at passenger trains per day across the United States in its May 2010 issue. Our “Map of the Month” compares today’s train volumes with those Amtrak was running on its first day of operation, May 1, 1971, and what was running the day before. Check out the May issue and see which parts of the country have gained passenger trains (the East and West coasts are teeming with trains today) and which areas no longer have service (sorry, Wyoming). It’s all in one place, the May 2010 “Map of the Month.”

For a detailed list of trains Amtrak was running on May 1, 1971, we turned to author David C. Warner, who prepared these tables of trains.

 

May 1, 1971 Amtrak Train Listing by Timetable Tables Menu
This series of pages provides a numerical listing of Amtrak trains shown in the May 1, 1971 Timetable, arranged by the Tables in that timetable.
Amtrak’s first timetable contained 29 tables based on routes by end points. Trains listed in each of these tables are contained in the “Tables” section. Some trains in the Northeast had names; but they weren’t always listed in tables. Where a train name wasn’t listed in the timetable, it is not listed here. Because of the overlap of some tables, certain trains appear more than once. Where a train’s actual origin and destination were beyond the limits of the table, e.g., City of New Orleans on the Chicago-Carbondale table (No. 16), the origin and destination for that table are considered the limits of the table.
In several cases, there are duplicate train numbers because the original numbers used by Amtrak were the same as the railroads used up to April 30, 1971. These numbers were used up through the November 14, 1971, timetable change.
Origins and destinations are listed by the current three-letter Amtrak codes. The railroad(s) that operated the train are listed; the abbreviations are explained below.

Operating Railroad Abbreviations
These are the railroads listed in the May 1, 1971, timetable as operators of trains. The Southern and D&RGW are shown as operating Amtrak trains; these two railroads opted out of Amtrak after the timetable was published. This change was reflected in the July 12, 1971, timetable. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific trains are not shown in the timetable.
ATSF: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
BN: Burlington Northern
C&O: Chesapeake and Ohio
D&RGW: Denver and Rio Grande Western
MILW: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific
GM&O: Gulf, Mobile and Ohio
IC: Illinois Central
L&N: Louisville and Nashville
MP: Missouri Pacific
PC: Penn Central
RF&P: Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
SCL: Seaboard Coast Line
Sou: Southern SP: Southern Pacific
TP: Texas Pacific
UP: Union Pacific

   Table 1 (NYP-BOS)
   Table 2 (NYP/NYG-NHV-SPG)
   Table 3 (NYP-WAS)
   Table 4 (NYP-PHL)
   Table 5 (HAR-Philly)
   Table 6 (NYG-BUF)
   Table 7 (NYP-CHI)
   Table 8 (NYP-KCY)
   Table 9 (NYP-NOL)
   Table 10 (NYP-STP/MIA)
   Table 11 (WAS-BOS)
   Table 12 (WAS-CHI)
   Table 13 (WAS-KCY)
   Table 14 (NPN-CIN)
   Table 15 (CHI-CIN)
   Table 16 (CHI-CDL)
   Table 17 (CHI-STL)
   Table 18 (CHI-MKE)
   Table 19 (CHI-DET)
   Table 20 (CHI-STP/MIA)
   Table 21 (CHI-NOL)
   Table 22 (CHI-HOU)
   Table 23 (CHI-LAX)
   Table 24 (CHI-OAK)
   Table 25 (CHI-SEA)
   Table 26 (NOL-LAX)
   Table 27 (SEA-SAN)
   Table 28 (SEA-PDX)
   Table 29 (LAX-SAN)

TABLE 1: NEW YORK-BOSTON (via New Haven-Providence)
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
170 The Colonial NYP NHV BOS Daily PC
171 The Colonial BOS NHV NYP Daily PC
172 The Senator NYP NHV BOS Daily PC
173 The Senator BOS NHV NYP Daily PC
174 The Patriot NYP NHV BOS Daily PC
175 The Patriot BOS NHV NYP Daily PC
180 The Bostonian NYP NHV BOS Daily PC
181 The New Yorker BOS NHV NYP Su-Fr PC
182 The Bay State NYP NHV BOS Daily PC
183 The Manhattan BOS NHV NYP Daily PC
184 Yankee Clipper NYP NHV BOS Su-Fr PC
185 The Merchants Limited BOS NHV NYP Su-Fr PC
186 The Merchants Limited NYP NHV BOS Su-Fr PC
187 The Murray Hill BOS NHV NYP Daily PC
402 NHV NLC Mo-Fr PC
403 NLC NHV Mo-Fr PC
3001 Turboservice BOS NHV NYP Mo-Fr PC
3002 Turboservice NYP NHV BOS Mo-Fr PC

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TABLE 2: NEW YORK-HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD (via New Haven Connection)
Number ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY CONNECTION TO/FROM RAILROAD
070 NHV HFD SPG Daily NYG(1200)Mo-Fr PC
071 HFD NHV NYG Mo-Fr direct PC
072 NHV HFD Mo-Fr NYG(1330) PC
073 SPG HFD
NHV
Mo-Sa
Su
NYG(1347) PC
074 NHV HFD Daily NYP(180)
NYG(1332)
PC
075 HFD NHV Daily NYP(171) PC
076 NHV HFD
SPG
Mo-Fr
SaSu
NYP(183) NYG(1336)
NYP(183) NYG(1334)
PC
077 HFD NHV Mo-Fr (NYG)1353-1657 PC
078 NHV HFD
SPG
Mo-Fr
Su
NYP(170, 184) NYG(1342)
NYP(170, 184) NYG(1342)
PC
079 HFD NHV Daily NYP(173) PC
080 NHV HFD
SPG
FrSa
Mo-Th
NYP(172) NYG(1346)
NYP(172) NYG(1346)
PC
081 SPG HFD
NHV
Fr, Su
Mo-Th, Sa
NYP(175) NYG(1361) PC
082 NHV HFD SPG Daily NYG(1356) PC
083 HFD NHV Daily NYP(183)
NYG(1367-1663[SU])
PC
084 NHV HFD Su NYP(186) NYG(1358) PC
085 SPG NHV Mo-Sa NYP(185[Mo-Fr])
NYG(1369[Mo-Sa])
PC
086 NHV HFD Mo-Fr NYG(1360) PC
087 SPG HFD Su NYG(1369) PC
088 NHV SPG Daily NYP(174) NYG(1370) PC
089 SPG
SPG
HFD
NHV
HFD
NHV
Mo-Th, Sa
Fr
Su
NYP(187 NYG(Sa/Su/direct) PC
090 NHV HFD SPG SaSu NYG(1376) PC

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TABLE 3: NEW YORK-WASHINGTON
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
100 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
101 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Mo-Sa PC
102 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
103 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Mo-Fr PC
104 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Mo-Sa PC
105 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
106 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
107 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
108 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
109 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
110 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
111 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
112 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Su-Fr PC
113 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
114 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
115 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Su-Fr PC
116 Metroliner WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
117 Metroliner NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
126 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
130 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
132 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
133 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
135 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
137 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
139 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
142 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
143 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
152 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
154 WAS PHL NYP Su-Fr PC
155 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
161 NYP PHL WAS Su & Holidays PC
163 NYP PHL WAS Holidays PC
165 NYP PHL WAS Holidays PC
166 WAS PHL NYP Su & Holidays PC
170 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
171 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
172 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
173 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
174 WAS PHL NYP Daily PC
175 NYP PHL WAS Daily PC
401 PHL WIL WAS Mo-Fr PC

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TABLE 4: NEW YORK-PHILADELPHIA
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
16 The Duquesne PHN NYP Daily PC
25 The Duquesne NYP PHN Daily PC
100 Metroliner PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
101 Metroliner NYP PHL Mo-Sa PC
102 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
103 Metroliner NYP PHL Mo-Fr PC
104 Metroliner PHL NYP Mo-Sa PC
105 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
106 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
107 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
108 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
109 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
110 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
111 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
112 Metroliner PHL NYP Su-Fr PC
113 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
114 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
115 Metroliner NYP PHL Su-Fr PC
116 Metroliner PHL NYP Daily PC
117 Metroliner NYP PHL Daily PC
126 The Legislator PHL NYP Daily PC
130 PHL NYP Daily PC
132 The Representative PHL NYP Daily PC
133 The President NYP PHL Daily PC
135 NYP PHL Daily PC
137 The Midday Congressional NYP PHL Daily PC
139 The Mount Vernon NYP PHL Daily PC
152 The Afternoon Congressional PHL NYP Daily PC
154 The Embassy PHL NYP Su-Fr PC
155 The Embassy NYP PHL Daily PC
161 NYP PHL Su PC
166 The Mount Vernon PHL NYP SaSu PC
170 The Colonial PHL NYP Daily PC
171 The Colonial NYP PHL Daily PC
172 The Senator PHL NYP Daily PC
173 The Senator NYP PHL Daily PC
174 The Patriot PHL NYP Daily PC
175 The Patriot NYP PHL Daily PC
200 PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
201 NYP PHL Mo-Sa PC
202 PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
204 PHL NYP Mo-Sa PC
206 PHL NYP Mo-Sa PC
207 NYP PHL Mo-Sa PC
211 NYP PHL Daily PC
212 PHL NYP Daily PC
213 NYP PHL Daily PC
215 NYP PHL Su-Fr PC
218 PHL NYP Daily PC
219 NYP PHL Daily PC
220 PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
221 NYP PHL Su-Fr PC
223 NYP PHL Mo-Fr PC
225 NYP PHL Daily PC
227 NYP PHL Daily PC
229 NYP PHL Daily PC
231 NYP PHL Daily PC
234 PHL NYP Sa PC
235 NYP PHL Daily PC
237 NYP PHL Mo-Sa PC
254 PHL NYP Mo-Fr PC
256 PHL NYP Mo-Sa PC
263 NYP PHL Mo-Fr PC
272 PHL NYP Sa PC
280 PHL NYP Su PC
282 PHL NYP Su PC
298 PHL NYP Su PC

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TABLE 5: PHILADELPHIA-HARRISBURG
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
16 The Duquesne HAR PHN Daily PC
25 The Duquesne PHN HAR Daily PC
48 Broadway Limited HAR PHN Daily PC
49 Broadway Limited PHN HAR Daily PC
600 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Mo-Fr PC
601 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Fr PC
602 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Mo-Sa PC
603 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Sa PC
604 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Daily PC
605 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Fr PC
606 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Daily PC
607 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Daily PC
608 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Mo-Sa PC
609 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Fr PC
610 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Su-Fr PC
611 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Fr PC
612 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Mo-Fr PC
613 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Mo-Fr PC
614 HAR PHL PHL-Penn Center Daily PC
615 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Su-Fr PC
617 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR SaSu PC
633 PHL-Penn Center PHL HAR Daily PC

TABLE 6: NEW YORK-ALBANY-BUFFALO)
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
61 NYG ALB Daily PC
62 ALB NYG Daily PC
70 BUF* ALB NYG Daily PC
71 NYG ALB BUF Daily PC
72 BUF ALB NYG Daily PC
73 NYG ALB BUF Daily PC
74 BUF ALB NYG Daily PC
75 NYG ALB BUF Daily PC
80 ALB NYG Daily PC
81 NYG ALB Daily PC
82 ALB NYG Daily PC
83 NYG ALB Daily PC
84 ALB NYG Daily PC
85 NYG ALB Daily PC

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TABLE 7: NEW YORK-PITTSBURGH-CHICAGO
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
16 Duquesne NYP PHN PGH Daily PC
25 Duquesne PGH PHN NYP Daily PC
48 Broadway Limited NYP PHN-PGH CHI* Daily PC
49 Broadway Limited CHI PGH-PHN NYP Daily PC

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TABLE 8: NEW YORK-ST. LOUIS-KANSAS CITY
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
49-31-15 NYP PHN-PGH-STL KCY Daily PC-MP
16-4-48 KCY STL-PGH-PHN NYP Daily MP-PC

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TABLE 9: NEW YORK-ATLANTA-NEW ORLEANS
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
173/1 Southen Crescent NYP WAS-ATL NOL Daily: NYP/WAS-ATL
TuThSu: ATL-NOL
PC/Sou
2/126 Southern Crescent NOL ATL-WAS NYP MoWeFr: NOL-ATL
Daily: ATL-WAS/NYP
Sou/PC
The Amtrak timetable showed the Southern Crescent as an Amtrak train, but the Southern Railway opted out of Amtrak after the timetable was printed. Trains 126 and 173 continued to run as separate NYP-WAS service, with through cars to/from NYP added/removed at Washington.

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TABLE 10: NEW YORK-TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG and MIAMI
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
135-21-31 Silver Star NYP WAS-RGH-JAX-ORL STP (21)
MIA (31)
Daily PC-RF&P-SCL
32-22-130 Silver Star MIA (23)
STP (22)
ORL-JAX-RGH-WAS NYP Daily SCL-RF&P-PC
143-57 Silver Meteor NYP WAS-RGH-JAX-WWD MIA Daily PC-RF&P-SCL
48-142 Silver Meteor MIA WWD-JAX-RGH-WAS NYP Daily SCL-RF&P-PC
145-91 Champion NYP WAS-CHS-JAX-ORL STP Daily PC-RF&P-SCL
92-144 Champion STP ORL-JAX-CHS-WAS NYP Daily SCL-RF&P-PC

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TABLE 11: WASHINGTON-BOSTON
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
108/3002 Metroliner/Turboservice WAS NYP BOS Mo-Fr PC
170 The Colonial WAS NYP BOS Daily PC
171 The Colonial BOS NYP WAS Daily PC
172 The Senator WAS NYP BOS Daily PC
173 The Senator BOS NYP WAS Daily PC
174 The Patriot WAS NYP BOS Daily PC
175 The Patriot BOS NYP WAS Daily PC
3001/107 Turboservice/Metroliner BOS NYP WAS Mo-Fr PC

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TABLE 12: WASHINGTON-PITTSBURG-CHICAGO
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
549-49 Broadway Limited WAS HAR-PGH CHI* Daily PC
48-548 Broadway Limited CHI PHG-HAR WAS Daily PC

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TABLE 13: WASHINGTON-ST. LOUIS-KANSAS CITY
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
549-31-15 Spirit of St. Louis WAS HAR-PGH-STL KCY Daily PC-MP
16-4-548 Spirit of St. Louis KCY STL-PGH-HAR WAS Daily MP-PC

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TABLE 14: NORFOLK/NEWPORT NEWS and WASHINGTON-CINCINNATI
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
41-1 George Washington NPN (41)
WAS (1)
CVS* CIN Daily C&O
2-42 George Washington CIN CVS WAS (2)
NPN (42)
Daily C&O

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TABLE 15: CHICAGO-CINCINNATI
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
304 James Whitcomb Riley CHI* LAF CIN Daily PC
303 James Whitcomb Riley CIN LAF CHI Daily PC

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TABLE 16: CHICAGO-CARBONDALE
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
1 City of New Orleans CHI* CHM CDL Daily IC
2 City of New Orleans CDL CHM CHI Daily IC
9 CHI CHM CDL Daily IC
10 CDL CHM CHI Daily IC

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TABLE 17: CHICAGO-SPRINGFIELD-ST. LOUIS
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
1 The Limited CHI* SPI STL Daily GM&O
2 Abraham Lincoln STL SPI CHI Daily GM&O
3 Abraham Lincoln CHI SPI STL Daily GM&O
4 The Limited STL SPI CHI Daily GM&O

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TABLE 18: CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
9 CHI* MKE Daily MILW
12 MKE CHI Daily MILW
23 CHI MKE Daily MILW
24 MKE CHI Daily MILW
27 CHI MKE Daily MILW
31 Empire Builder CHI MKE Daily MILW
32 Empire Builder MKE CHI Daily MILW
46 MKE CHI Daily MILW

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TABLE 19: CHICAGO-DETROIT
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
14 CHI* BTL DET Daily PC
17 DET BTL CHI Daily PC
355 DET BTL CHI Daily PC
356 CHI BTL DET Daily PC

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TABLE 20: CHICAGO-TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG and MIAMI
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
90-15-12-5-15 South Wind CHI* LVL-MGM-JAX-ORL STP (5)
MIA (15)
Daily PC-L&N-SCL
16-6-11-16-99 South Wind MIA (16)
STP (6)
ORL-JAX-MGM-LVL CHI Daily SCL-L&N-PC

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TABLE 21: CHICAGO-NEW ORLEANS
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
1 City of New Orleans CHI* CDL-MEM NOL Daily IC
2 City of New Orleans NOL MEM-CDL CHI Daily IC

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TABLE 22: CHICAGO-HOUSTON
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
15 Texas Chief CHI* KCY-NEW-OKC-FTW HOU Daily ATSF
16 Texas Chief HOU FTW-OKC-NEW-KCY CHI Daily ATSF

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TABLE 23: CHICAGO-LOS ANGELES
17 Super Chief-El Capitan CHI* KCY-NEW-ABQ-SNB LAX Daily ATSF
18 Super Chief-El Capitan LAX SNB-ABQ-NEW-KCY CHI Daily ATSF

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TABLE 24: CHICAGO-SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
1-17 Denver Zephyr/
California Zephyr
CHI* OMA-DEN-SLC-OGD OAK Daily: CHI-DEN
MoThSa: DEN-OAK
BN-D&RGW-UP-SP
18-2 California Zephyr/
Denver Zephyr
OAK OGD-SLC-DEN-OMA DEN MoThSa: OAK-DEN
Daily: DEN-CHI
SP-UP-D&RGW-BN
1-101 Denver Zephyr CHI* OMA-DEN-CHY-OGD OAK Daily: CHI-DEN
MoThSa: DEN-OAK
BN-UP-SP
102-2 Denver Zephyr OAK OGD-CHY-DEN-OMA CHI MoThSa: OAK-DEN
Daily: DEN-CHI
SP-UP-D&RGW-BN

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TABLE 25: CHICAGO-TWIN CITIES-SEATTLE
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
31 Empire Builder CHI* MKE-MSP-SPK-PSC SEA Daily MILW-BN
32 Empire Builder SEA PSC-SPK-MSP-MKE CHI Daily BN-MILW

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TABLE 26: NEW ORLEANS-LOS ANGELES
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
1 Sunset Limited NOL HOU-ELP-PXN-POS LAX MoWeFr SP
2 Sunset Limited LAX POS-PXN-ELP-HOU NOL TuFrSu SP

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TABLE 27: SEATTLE-SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND-SAN DIEGO
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
11 SEA PDX-OAK-SNS-LAX SAN MoThSa BN-SP-ATSF
12 SAN LAX-SNS-OAK-PDX SEA SuWeFr ATSF-SP-BN
98 LAX SNS OAK MoTuThSa SP
99 OAK SNS LAX MoWeThSa SP

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TABLE 28: SEATTLE-PORTLAND
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
11 SEA PDX MoThSa BN
12 PDX SEA MoThSa BN
195 SEA PDX Daily BN
196 PDX SEA Daily BN
198 PDX SEA Daily BN
199 SEA PDX Daily BN

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TABLE 29: LOS ANGELES-SAN DIEGO
Number TRAIN NAME ORIGIN VIA DESTINATION FREQUENCY RAILROAD
11 LAX SAN TuFrSu ATSF
12 SAN LAX SuWeFr ATSF
75 SAN LAX Daily ATSF
76 LAX SAN Daily ATSF
77 SAN LAX Daily ATSF
78 LAX SAN Daily ATSF

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