The City of Los Angeles, Union Pacific's Premier LA-Chicago Passenger Train

The City of Los Angeles was just one train in the Union Pacific’s premier fleet of passenger trains. The railroad hosted an entire array of plush City trains including the City of Portland, City of Denver, City of Salina (the original M-10000), City of St. Louis, City of San Francisco, and City of Las Vegas. The The City of Los Angeles proved to be one of the West's most popular streamliners, even though it took two railroads for the train to complete its transcontinental journey between Chicago and Los Angeles. The train was one of the first to follow the Union Pacific's successful M-10000 streamliner and featured incredible onboard accommodations. Today, the City fleet can still be witnessed, in a manner of speaking, as the UP’s official business train is not only decorated in the Cities’ classic livery but also includes the original equipment, right down to the two E9As and E9Bs that power it!

The City of Los Angeles hit the rails in early May 1936, originally as the semi-articulated M-10002, and was soon upgraded in the early 1940s following a large order of streamlined equipment from Pullman-Standard and American Car & Foundry, which included some 145 cars in all (this also included the equipment operated by the Chicago & North Western). With the streamliner craze just being to take hold and railroads scrambling to upgrade their fleets the Union Pacific was one of the lucky few to field a wide array of streamlined trains before war restrictions forbid the use of steel and aluminum for the private sector.

When the City of Los Angeles was launched in late 1937 it originally featured streamlined diesel locomotives manufactured by the Electro-Motive Corporation (predecessor to GM's Electro-Motive Division) known as E2As with booster units (E2Bs). The railroad purchased six in total with three used for the City of L.A., E2A #LA-1 and E2Bs #LA2-LA3 (the other three were used for the City of San Francisco). Just prior to the start of World War II both the City of L.A. and City of S.F. were upgraded with EMC E6As and E6Bs. Similar to the earlier E2 model the E6s featured a more slanted nose and increased horsepower.

The original City of L.A. consist included 14 cars featuring a club-dormitory, sleepers, coaches, an observation-lounge, and perhaps the train's marquee piece an articulated diner-coffee shop (the diner section could seat 64). The City of Los Angeles was also the first streamliner to feature Pullman's new round-end observation, adding to the train's sleek look.

While the City of Los Angeles boasted a route connecting Los Angeles with the nation’s rail hub in Chicago it needed help to stretch that far east. While the Union Pacific's carried the during the central portion of the trip it relied on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Omaha, for the first twenty years or so of the train’s existence. This setup lasted until 1955 when the UP, dissatisfied with the services C&NW was providing handed the train over to C&NW rival Milwaukee Road, a partnership that would last until the train’s end. To keep the City of Los Angeles' livery consistent during both the Milwaukee Road's and C&NW's tenures operating the their locomotives were similarly painted in UP Armour Yellow and gray.

The Domeliners proved to be highly successful for UP and along with its regal onboard services such as shower-baths and barber shops it is no wonder that so many famous Hollywood celebrities chose City trains for their travels. Also, the Union Pacific was one of just a handful of railroads that continued to see strong ridership through the 1950s which no doubt was due to both its posh accommodations and fast transit times.

Ridership was so high during the 1950s that the railroad still operated two westbounds (Trains #103 and #107) and eastbounds (Trains #104 and #108) daily. During this time the UP and C&NW/Milwaukee Road could make the run between Chicago and Los Angeles in about 40 hours carrying a very fast average train speed of nearly 57 mph. There was also through sleeper service available on both the Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads to New York City via Chicago.

Through the end the City of Los Angeles, along with her sister City trains, remained a top-notch, all matching consist operation by Union Pacific. While service remained at a high level this, however, did not secure the Los Angeles’ or other City trains’ futures. By the late 1960s the City of Los Angeles was down to just an eastbound and westbound run. By 1971 with the startup of Amtrak the entire City fleet was discontinued. For more information regarding the City of Los Angeles, its consist, and timetable please click here.

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(A deep thanks to the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University for allowing Ron Nixon's historic collection of the Union Pacific to be featured here. Please note that the photos featured on this page feature their corresponding image number so that you may quickly and easily find more information about it from their website. To view Ron Nixon's entire collection please click here.)

Also, for more reading on streamliners like the City of Los Angeles 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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