Are Trains Getting SLOWER? - The C&NW 400s [S2: E02]

Take a ride on the route of the famous Chicago & North Western Twin Cities 400s. Almost 100 years ago, these legendary trains could whisk you between Chicago and Minneapolis an hour and a half quicker than today's Amtrak Empire Builder. Learn about the 400s and see how you can still experience a part of this history on a Metra commuter train.
Check out our video from Season One about Left-Hand Running.
LEFT HAND RUNNING: • Trains going the WRONG...
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[@WAL_DC-6B]

I worked 11 years for the C&NW mostly in the 1980s. I remember in 1983 when an instructor in the locomotive engineer's class I was attending (he taught air brakes) talked about his earlier days of running the North Western's passenger trains between Chicago and Milwaukee in the 1950s/60s. He said that when the speed for these trains dropped below 90 mph, that's when things began to go bad for the railroad. Nice story on the Chicago & North Western's "400" streamliners and thanks for sharing!

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you! And that’s fascinating. What happened to make them drop below 90? Deferred track maintenance?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@RailWeekly As I recall, that was it. Or as the instructor put it, "the tracks were going to hell."

[@osmanjeffrey]

Nice camera work. Love that one can still find traces of the Northwestern here and there. There are still the faintest ghost signs at Clybourn directing passengers to Wisconsin Division trains for points to Madison, Wisc. at the bottom of the stairs on Ashland. Looking forward to more from you. Cheers.

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you, Jeffrey! That’s really neat. I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for those at Clybourn next time I’m around there.

[@osmanjeffrey]

@@RailWeekly They are so badly faded now and subject to nearby grafitti, so don't be too disappointed by their appearance. There is also a very rusted C&NW Ball and Bar sign on the overpass at Logan and Western that is barely noticeable anymore. Happy train riding and watching!

[@stephanieschindhelm7363]

I'm loving season 2 - great camera work, and the maps and music really make these videos pop!

[@ronaldlynnjohnson7589]

There was also the Peninsula 400 that ran from Chicago through Wisconsin stopping at Green Bay before terminating in Ishpeming in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
I am aging myself but I remember riding the CN&W commuter trains out of Elmhurst. Also I believe that the CN&W was the first railroad in the Chicago area to introduce bi-level and cab cars.
Very nice presentation.👍

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you very much! Yes, the Twin Cities 400s were the first, but I believe they named several of their short-haul trains “400s” eventually.

[@Mr.E723]

I wanted to cry when you mentioned the former right of way for the North Shore Line. It’s such a shame we can’t have the modern versions of such systems today.

[@RailWeekly]

Couldn’t agree more! And a lot of the rights of way are still there! (Turned into trails or just abandoned)

[@Pensyfan19]

Nice footage. In regards to passenger service in general, especially in this region, passenger trains on the CNW, Milwaukee Road and others used to travel 100+mph, whereas today's PTC limits all passenger trains to 80, with way too much red tape just to raise top speeds by 10mph, which makes rail uncompetitive against cars and planes. Furthermore, Amtrak also lacks funding to run more than one train a day, whereas the Chicago to St. Paul corridor used to see service from five different passenger railroads (CNW, Milwaukee Road, Burlington Route, Chicago Great Western, and Soo Line). I suggest we should have more privately operated railroads like Brightline in the Midwest, so this way Amtrak can face some competition from service that is much more frequent, centralized in its operations, and funded by both the private sector and local governments, so this way it's not at the mercy of anti rail politicians.

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you! And great info as always!

[@packr72]

PTC doesn’t limit top speed to 80mph.

[@thetrainguy1]

Amtrak is currently in the process of getting PTC certified for 110mph. Also I don't believe we should focus on private operators, I believe Amtrak should get more funding. Stable funding.

[@jovetj]

This was a great video! Keep up the wonderful work!
Edit: My only suggestion would be to tone-down the background music when you're showing the trains-we like to hear those!

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you so much! :)

[@timl6039]

Hiawatha > 400

[@RailWeekly]

I mean… they most certainly had some really nice looking trains on the Hiawatha!