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Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Brad Neville The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was one of the pioneer railroads of Chicago. It was opened to the Mississippi River in 1858, then it expanded further west. It was used as a main route by settlers moving west. The "Burlington," also known as the "Q," was one of the first railroads centered in Chicago. Its owners spent considerably on new lightweight, streamlined cars including coach, parlor, all-room sleeper, dining, dormitory, lunch counter, club, and lounge cars. It also introduced the expensive vista domes and dome diners. In addition the most modern postal and express cars were also acquired, and a tremendous and very costly effort was made to keep its passenger trains operating, even after it no longer carried the U.S. mail. The Burlington greatly influenced western development. It was one of the largest advertisers of its time. In competition with other railroads, the Burlington promoted agricultural research and new dry farming methods in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado, even though it had no land to sell in those areas. If one were to put a definite date on the passing age of steam power in America, one could do worse than pick the opening day of the second year of the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. It was there that the gleaming, stainless-steel diesel-powered Pioneer Zephyr, euphoniously named after the Greek personification of the West Wind, made
its first public appearance. A year later the Zephyr was put into service. The streamlined design was very fast. It was an instant success, because millions of people had already walked through it at the Century of Progress Exhibition before it went into service. The Zephyr's sleek and good-looking exterior also helped attract people. When James J. Hill, the man who owned the Burlington, died, the company was combined with two other railroads. The newly merged Burlington Northern became the nation's longest railroad. The company created the train that put an end to the steam era. It also helped with westward expansion. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was important to Illinois history.—[From George H. Douglas, All Aboard; Nicholas Faith, The World the Railways Made; Skip Farrington, Jr., Railroading Coast to Coast; Stewart H. Holbrook, American Railroads; Oliver Jenson, Railroads in America; Charlton Ogburn, Railroads; Keith Wheeler, The Railroaders.]
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