The Challenger, Union Pacific's Other Chicago - Los Angeles Streamlined Operation

The Union Pacific’s Challenger was a more affordable option to the City of Los Angeles as both passenger trains operated over the same route, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles with the help of the Chicago & North Western (until 1955) between Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago. As with the other west coast trains like the Los Angeles and City of San Francisco the Challenger proved to be a very successful operation for at least 20 years although by the late 1960s the train had been combined with several others essentially ending its run. The train had ebbed and flowed as part of UP's fleet, although it remained a permanent fixture by the mid-1950s. As with the entire City fleet the Challenger was discontinued a final time following the startup of Amtrak.

The Union Pacific’s City fleet is credited with being the first lightweight streamlined passenger train to operate in the United States. In 1934 the City of Salina, the first in the fleet, debuted as a three-car lightweight trainset that the Electro-Motive Corporation named the M-10000. The Union Pacific was so impressed with the train, and the response it received from the public, that it purchased seven more sets and the City fleet was born!

Following the City of Salina, also in 1934 was the City of Portland, followed by the City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of Denver in 1936. The City fleet became revered throughout the west and rivaled the Santa Fe’s legendary Super Chief, and every other western passenger train, in exquisiteness and fine traveling. Once the trains received their Domeliners in the mid-1950s they became the lavish way to travel for many in Hollywood.

The train was operated in conjunction with the Chicago & North Western Railway between Omaha and Chicago with the Union Pacific carrying the train westward to Los Angeles. A year later, in the spring of 1936 UP teamed up with the Southern Pacific to offer patrons the availability to ride the train between Ogden and Oakland/San Francisco known as the San Francisco Challenger.

Interestingly, the Challenger was discontinued in 1947 due to lack of lightweight, streamlined equipment for the train, which allowed the entire City fleet of trains to provide daily services. However, the Challenger’s discontinuance was short-lived and by 1954 the train was back, this time sporting lightweight, streamlined equipment of its own (built by both Pullman-Standard and American Car & Foundry) including Domeliners (dome coaches) and observations along with the lounges, sleepers, and diners already provided previously with the train.

As with most of the UP’s City fleet its connection to Chicago for the Challenger was provided, again via the C&NW. However, the railroad elected not to re-inaugurate service to Oakland/San Francisco since by this time it already had City of San Francisco serving this market. C&NW's alliance with the train, and for UP's entire City fleet, lasted until 1955 when the railroad, dissatisfied with the services C&NW was providing handed the train over to rival Milwaukee Road, a partnership that would last until the train’s end.

The end for the Challenger began as early as 1956 when it was combined with big sister City of Los Angeles during the off seasons. As patronage and passenger rail travel continued to wane the Union Pacific began combining most of its passenger fleet until the Challenger itself fell victim in the late 1960s. In 1969, it, along with the Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of Denver, and City of Portland were all combined into one giant train, the City of Los Angeles, east of Wyoming.

When Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail operations in May of 1971 it chose not to retain the Challenger name or any other Union Pacific passenger train thus ending the railroad’s grand fleet of streamliners. Today, you can still see what the City fleet would have looked like when UP operates its official business train, which still operates several pieces of original equipment, including the EMD E9s. For more information regarding the Challenger and its late year timetable and consist please click here.

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Also, for more reading on streamliners like the Challenger you might want to also consider the book Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon from renowned author Mike Schafer who covers in detail most of the well known and remembered “classic” passenger trains to operate in the country. If you have any interest in such you should very much enjoy Mr. Schafer’s book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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