Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr

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Chicago, Burlington and Quincy train No. 5, the Ak-Sar-Ben, blows through Omaha, Nebraska on February 22, 1932.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as "Burlington Route" train No. 5 eastbound and train No. 30 westbound.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was the overnight (sleeping car service) version of its daytime sister (coach only) train, the Nebraska Zephyr, which operated over the same route. The "Ak-Sar-Ben" portion of name was created by spelling Nebraska (Neb-ras-ka) backwards; a fraternal organization (the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben) and an arena and horse racing facility in Omaha have also used the name.

The start and ending date of the Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr is unknown, but the train was certainly in service in the mid-1960s.

Route

Westbound (as of April 26, 1964)

The eastbound train departed Lincoln at 9:00 p.m., arriving at Chicago Union Station the following morning at 7:50 a.m.

Equipment

  • Pullman Sleeping Cars, Chicago to Omaha-Lincoln featuring double bedrooms and roomettes
  • Dining-Lounge Car (Open to all passengers - sleeper or coach), providing evening refreshments and breakfast from Chicago to Omaha.
  • Chair Cars (reclining seats), Chicago to Omaha-Lincoln
  • A Vista-Dome Observation Lounge sleeping car with 3 Double Bedrooms and a Drawing room was operated from 1952-1960 in conjunction with the California Zephyr.

References

  • The Official Guide of the Railways, June 1964, Published by the National Railway Publication Co., New York, NY.