Burlington (CB&Q) Timetables: August, 1952

Published: April 17, 2026

Presented below is the Burlington's public timetables listed in the August, 1952 issue of The Official Guide Of The Railways. Also included is the company's system map and corporate information. This era, by and large, presented the railroad's zenith.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, commonly referred to as the "Burlington" or "CB&Q", played an integral role in the development of the Midwestern United States throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Originally chartered in 1849 as the Aurora Branch Railroad in Illinois, it connected Chicago and Quincy, resulting in its current name in 1856. The company witnessed major expansion, extending into Burlington, Iowa in 1852, and reaching Denver by 1882, synergising mining and agriculture with the national trade network.

Its contribution to American passenger travel was notable, introducing the famous Zephyr diesel-powered streamliners in 1934. CB&Q was also part of the critical transcontinental route provided by the Chicago-San Francisco Overland Limited.

By 1970, the company merged with three other railroads, Great Northern Railway, Northern Pacific Railway, and Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway to form the Burlington Northern Railroad.

This act resulted in one of the most extensive freight systems in the world. CB&Q's contributions to transportation technology, extensive rail network, and ultimate amalgamation into a major freight system underscore its importance in U.S. railway heritage. Research on this company provides deep insight into the evolution of American railroads.