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The "Mainstreeter": NP's Secondary Train To Seattle

Last revised: August 25, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The Mainstreeter is sometimes forgotten as one of the Pacific Northwest's important transcontinental streamliners: the Northern Pacific simply did not offer that many transcontinental services and the train was not launched until the 1950's. 

Despite the Mainstreeter's lack of publicity it proved a very important run for the railroad. While the North Coast Limited always made headlines its second-tier sibling worked quietly earning the NP steady profits through the movement of mail and seasonal vacationers to the popular Yellowstone National Park.  

In addition, the Mainstreeter was an all-stops service, meaning it paid a visit to every notable station along Northern Pacific's transcontinental corridor. 

The train operated for nearly 20 years, surviving through the Burlington Northern era.  It was finally discontinued with the start of Amtrak on May 1, 1971.

Photos

91928419971651yy1768017808180788.jpgNorthern Pacific F9A #6702-C with the westbound "Mainstreeter" near Valley City, North Dakota on the evening of September 27, 1964. Joe Stark photo. American-Rails.com collection.

History

Before the Northern Pacific launched the Mainstreeter there was another train serving its territory, known as the Alaskan. This run had a history that closely paralleled the NP's crack North Coast Limited, which was launched in late April of 1900.

As a secondary consist the Alaskan's primary responsibility was to provide local and intermediate service between Chicago and Seattle whereas the flagship was a fast express, limited stop train.

Reaching the two cities required help from allying roads; the Burlington between Minneapolis and Chicago as well as the Seattle, Portland & Spokane for the connecting section to Portland (via Spokane).

For a half-century little changed with either train except improved transit times, faster and more powerful steam locomotives, and all-steel heavyweight cars.

However, all of this changed with the streamliner age that dawned in 1934 when the Union Pacific and Burlington both successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the gleaming, colorful, and fast trains.

Consist (1958)

In 1946 the North Coast Limited was entirely reequipped with new, lightweight equipment from Pullman-Standard, which had been ordered two years earlier in 1944. The train was bedecked in a stunning two-tone green livery with white trim.

Despite the NCL's new look it still did not offer comparable running times with either the Great Northern's Empire Builder or the Milwaukee Road's Olympian Hiawatha. 

This changed in November of 1952 when the Northern Pacific cut the NCL's schedule to just over 37 hours but doing so reduced many stops along the way.

To  continue providing local service the NP inaugurated the Mainstreeter, named after the railroad's slogan as "Main Street of the Northwest." Using a mix of rebuilt heavyweight cars and newer lightweight equipment the train ran a schedule nearly 10 hours longer than its big sister (46.5 hours).

1892748127812587129538287359826826.jpgNorthern Pacific F9A #6704A (became Burlington Northern #782) has train 1, the "Mainstreeter," at Garrison, Montana in July, 1965. Unknown photographer, Rick Burn collection.

From the outset the train was always listed as #1 (westbound) and #2 (eastbound) on NP's official timetable, replacing the NCL's numbers which gained the slots of #25 (westbound) and #24 (eastbound).

Despite the fact that the train  ran a slow schedule, even in comparison to the GN's Western Star (the secondary run to the Builder), and was only semi-streamlined it was nevertheless adorned in NP's classic two-tone green passenger scheme as well.

Timetable (1969)

Read Down Time/Leave (Train #51/Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Milepost Location Read Up
Time/Arrive (Train #10/Chicago, Burlington & Quincy)
10:45 PM (Dp)0.0
Chicago, IL (Union Station) (CT)
11:15 PM (Ar)
11:22 PM38
Aurora, IL
10:30 PM
12:02 AM83
Rochelle, IL
9:50 PM
12:18 AM98
Oregon, IL
9:34 PM
1:30 AM145
Savanna, IL
8:50 PM
2:33 AM186
East Dubuque, IL
8:11 PM
3:31 AM239
Prairie du Chien, WI
7:18 PM
4:30 AM297
La Crosse, WI
6:26 PM
5:15 AM328
Winona Junction, MN
5:52 PM
7:15 AM (Ar)427
St. Paul, MN
4:30 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #1/Northern Pacific) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #2/Northern Pacific)
7:45 AM (Dp)0.0
St. Paul, MN
2:55 PM (Ar)
8:10 AM (Ar)11
Minneapolis, MN
2:30 PM (Dp)
8:20 AM (Dp)11
Minneapolis, MN
2:20 PM (Ar)
F 8:54 AM40
Elk River, MN
F 1:40 PM
9:29 AM76
St. Cloud, MN
1:02 PM
10:04 AM107
Little Falls, MN
12:23 PM
10:39 AM (Ar)141
Staples, MN
11:45 AM (Dp)
10:43 AM (Dp)141
Staples, MN
11:40 AM (Ar)
11:04 AM159
Wadena, MN
11:17 AM
11:27 AM182
Perham, MN
10:50 AM
11:47 AM203
Detroit Lakes, MN
10:28 AM
12:11 PM (Ar)228
Hawley, MN
9:57 AM (Dp)
12:11 PM (Dp)228
Hawley, MN
9:57 AM (Ar)
12:42 PM251
Moorhead, MN
9:25 AM
12:50 PM (Ar)252
Fargo, ND
9:23 AM (Dp)
1:05 PM (Dp)252
Fargo, ND
9:13 AM (Ar)
1:23 PM272
Casselton, ND
8:46 AM
1:56 PM310
Valley City, ND
8:13 AM
2:38 PM (Ar)344
Jamestown, ND
7:38 AM (Dp)
2:44 PM (Dp)344
Jamestown, ND
7:33 AM (Ar)
F 3:36 PM402
Steele, ND
6:32 AM
4:19 PM (Ar)446
Bismarck, ND
5:53 AM (Dp)
4:19 PM (Dp)446
Bismarck, ND
5:53 AM (Ar)
4:34 PM (Ar)451
Mandan, ND (CT)
5:40 AM (Dp)
4:49 PM (Dp)451
Mandan, ND (CT)
5:25 AM (Ar)
3:49 PM (Dp)451
Mandan, ND (MT)
4:25 AM (Ar)
4:14 PM473
Judson, ND
F 3:45 AM
4:20 PM479
New Salem, ND
F 3:37 AM
F 4:29 PM484
North Almont, ND
F 3:31 AM
4:42 PM500
Glen Ullin, ND
F 3:17 AM
5:02 PM512
Hebron, ND
3:00 AM
5:21 PM527
Richardton, ND
F 2:46 AM
5:30 PM532
Taylor, ND
F 2:40 AM
5:42 PM540
Gladstone, ND
F 2:32 AM
6:03 PM (Ar)552
Dickinson, ND
2:20 AM (Dp)
6:18 PM (Dp)552
Dickinson, ND
2:05 AM (Ar)
6:32 PM562
South Heart, ND
F 1:47 AM
6:49 PM572
Belfield, ND
1:37 AM
7:20 PM591
Medora, ND
F 1:14 AM
7:41 PM608
Sentinel Butte, ND
F 12:57 AM
7:56 PM616
Beach, ND
12:47 AM
8:06 PM627
Wibaux, MT
F 12:33 AM
8:55 PM (Ar)657
Glendive, MT
12:02 AM (Dp)
9:15 PM (Dp)657
Glendive, MT
11:42 PM (Ar)
687
Fallon, MT
F 11:05 PM
F 9:53 PM697
Terry, MT
F 10:56 PM
10:49 PM736
Miles City, MT
9:55 PM
11:44 PM (Ar)781
Forsyth, MT
9:11 PM (Dp)
11:47 PM (Dp)781
Forsyth, MT
9:08 PM (Ar)
F 12:14 AM809
Hysham, MT
F 8:38 PM
F 12:36 AM830
Custer, MT
F 8:13 PM
1:32 AM (Ar)883
Billings, MT (Bus Connection To Yellowstone National Park Via Mammoth.)
7:22 PM (Dp)
1:47 AM (Dp)883
Billings, MT (Bus Connection To Yellowstone National Park Via Mammoth.)
7:07 PM (Ar)
2:07 AM898
Laurel, MT
6:43 PM
2:31 AM923
Columbus, MT
F 6:18 PM
3:15 AM964
Big Timber, MT
5:36 PM
3:57 AM (Ar)999
Livingston, MT (Bus Connection To Yellowstone National Park Via Mammoth.)
5:05 PM (Dp)
4:05 AM (Dp)999
Livingston, MT (Bus Connection To Yellowstone National Park Via Mammoth.)
4:55 PM (Ar)
4:50 AM (Ar)1023
Bozeman, MT
4:16 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #1/Via Helena) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #2/Via Helena)
4:50 AM (Dp)1023
Bozeman, MT
4:16 PM (Dp)
5:00 AM1032
Belgrade, MT
5:10 AM1041
Manhattan, MT
5:19 AM1047
Logan, MT
3:45 PM
F 5:29 AM1053
Trident, MT
F 6:00 AM1077
Toston, MT
F 2:54 PM
6:16 AM1088
Townsend, MT
2:40 PM
7:00 AM (Ar)1121
Helena, MT
1:56 PM (Dp)
7:05 AM (Dp)1121
Helena, MT
1:51 PM (Ar)
F 7:29 AM1134
Austin, MT
7:51 AM1150
Elliston, MT
F 1:04 PM
8:07 AM1159
Avon, MT
F 12:55 PM
8:29 AM (Ar)1172
Garrison, MT
12:38 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #1) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #2)
8:34 AM (Dp)1170
Garrison, MT
12:30 PM (Ar)
8:58 AM1190
Drummond, MT
12:04 PM
9:48 AM (Ar)1238
Missoula, MT
11:17 AM (Dp)
10:01 AM (Dp)1238
Missoula, MT
11:02 AM (Ar)
11:02 AM1276
Ravalli, MT
9:57 AM
F 11:24 AM1297
Perma, MT
F 9:36 AM
11:41 AM (Ar)1309
Paradise, MT (MT)
9:20 AM (Dp)
10:44 AM (Dp)1309
Paradise, MT (PT)
8:15 AM (Ar)
11:24 AM1341
Thompson Falls, MT
7:25 AM
12:04 PM1379
Noxon, MT
6:40 AM
12:54 PM1428
Sandpoint, ID
5:45 AM
F 1:24 PM1456
Athol, ID
F 5:15 AM
2:09 PM (Ar)1496
Spokane, WA
4:35 AM (Dp)
2:19 PM (Dp)1496
Spokane, WA
4:25 AM (Ar)
2:44 PM1512
Cheney, WA
3:52 AM
F 3:29 PM1561
Ritzville, WA
F 2:58 AM
F 4:26 PM1606
Connell, WA
F 1:56 AM
5:08 PM (Ar)1642
Pasco, WA
1:15 AM (Dp)
5:23 PM (Dp)1642
Pasco, WA
1:05 AM (Ar)
5:33 PM1644
Kennewick, WA
12:55 AM
6:18 PM1681
Prosser, WA
F 12:15 AM
6:49 PM1712
Toppenish, WA
11:46 PM
7:23 PM (Ar)1731
Yakima, WA
11:24 PM (Dp)
7:28 PM (Dp)1731
Yakima, WA
11:19 PM (Ar)
8:23 PM1768
Ellensburg, WA
10:21 PM
F 8:55 PM1792
Cle Elum, WA
9:53 PM
F 9:59 PM1827
Lester, WA
F 8:53 PM
F 10:08 PM1835
Maywood, WA
F 8:40 PM
10:33 PM1850
Kanaskat, WA
8:16 PM
11:05 PM (Ar)1869
East Auburn, WA
7:50 PM (Dp)
11:10 PM (Dp)1869
East Auburn, WA
7:45 PM (Ar)
11:45 PM (Ar)1892
Seattle, WA (King Street Station)
7:15 PM (Dp)

The Mainstreeter's consist comprised  a wide range of equipment depending on needs and demand. However, typically, one could find its makeup including a half-dozen heavyweight baggage cars (especially in the later years), a standard Railway Post Office (RPO), a handful of reclining seat coaches, one sleeper, and a diner (between St. Paul and Pasco, Washington).  

Timetable (1958)

Power for the train during the diesel era could be one of a number of early Electro-Motive Division F models from F3s and F7s to FP7s and F9s.  Interestingly, the NP, aside from the two FP7s it owned, never fleeted any passenger-specific diesels such as Electro-Motive's E models or American Locomotive Company PAs. 

127894125218759268276908707.jpgNorthern Pacific F7A #6510C, F3B #6507B, and F7A #6512A have train #1, the "Mainstreeter," at Great Northern Depot in Minneapolis in September, 1962. Rick Burn photo.

Instead, the road stuck with four-axle road-power, such as F3s and F7s (the Santa Fe was also noted for using Fs in passenger service).  In later years the sleeper was dropped for a Slumbercoach and dining service was discontinued for an economy buffet car. 

Northern Pacific F9A #6702-C leads the "Maintstreeter" across the High Line Bridge near Valley City, North Dakota on September 27, 1964. Joe Stark photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Final Years

In spite of  declining traffic through the 1950s and 1960s the train remained a somewhat profitable operation, at least until the United States Postal Service cancelled mail contracts after 1967. Even then the Mainstreeter remained on the timetable through the 1970 Burlington Northern merger.

By this point its scheduling had declined to the point that it required 48 hours to complete the journey between Chicago and Seattle. 

Further cutbacks took place just prior to Amtrak Day when the train was truncated no further east than St. Paul.  It continued running this schedule until privately operated passenger services ceased after April 30, 1971.

Sources

  • Schafer, Mike. More Classic American Railroads. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2000.
  • Schafer, Mike and Welsh, Joe. Streamliners, History of a Railroad Icon. St. Paul: MBI Publishing, 2003.
  • Wood, Charles R.  The Northern Pacific, Main Street Of The Northwest: A Pictorial History. Seattle: Superior Publishing Company, 1968.

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  40. Charleston and Western Carolina Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Oct 06, 26 11:29 PM

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    Charleston and Western Carolina diesel roster. Twenty-one GP7s, two SW7s, two SW9s, and six F7As, all built 1950–1952. Serials, order numbers, and ACL and SCL numbers.

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  41. Charleston and Western Carolina Railway: Map, History, Timetables

    Oct 06, 26 11:18 PM

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    Charleston and Western Carolina Railway, incorporated September 16, 1896. Port Royal to Spartanburg, with branches to Anderson and Greenville. Merged into the Atlantic Coast Line on December 31, 1959.

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  42. Central of Georgia Steam Roster (Post 1900)

    Oct 06, 26 04:00 PM

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    Central of Georgia steam since 1900. Cooke Consolidations, Harriman Mikados, 32 Mountains, and eight Lima 4-8-4s. Class grid after Drury. Last steam May 1953.

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  43. Central of Georgia Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Oct 06, 26 03:44 PM

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    Central of Georgia diesel roster. SW1 No. 1 in 1939, E7s and E8s, nine F3As, 39 RS3s, GP7s through SD35s. Serials and order numbers.

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  44. Central of Georgia Railway: Map, Logo, History, Rosters

    Oct 06, 26 03:42 PM

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    Central of Georgia Railway, from the 1833 Savannah charter to Southern control on June 17, 1963. Map, logos, Nancy Hanks II, and links to the steam and diesel rosters.

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  45. Georgia Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide

    Oct 06, 26 03:33 PM

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    Georgia railroad museums—Savannah’s Central shops, Duluth, the General at Kennesaw, the Texas in Atlanta, Tifton, Waycross, and Albany. Confirm hours on each site.

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  46. Florida Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide

    Oct 06, 26 03:18 PM

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    Florida railroad museums—Boca Raton, Winter Garden, Whitehall, the Gold Coast, Parrish, Fort Myers, Milton, and Plant City. Confirm hours on each site.

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  47. Connecticut Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide

    Oct 06, 26 01:05 PM

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    Connecticut railroad museums—the Shore Line Trolley, East Windsor, the Naugatuck Railroad, Danbury Union Station, Willimantic, and the SoNo tower. Confirm hours on each site.

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  48. Colorado Railroad Museums (2026): A Complete Guide

    Oct 06, 26 12:47 PM

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    Colorado railroad museums—Golden, the Forney’s Big Boy 4005, Pueblo’s Santa Fe 2912, and the depots at Castle Rock, Limon, and Ridgway. Confirm hours on each site.

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  49. Atlantic Coast Line Steam Roster (Post 1900)

    Oct 06, 26 12:44 PM

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    Atlantic Coast Line steam since 1900. Copper Head Ten-Wheelers, 235 P-5 Pacifics, Q-1 Santa Fes, twelve R-1 4-8-4s. Class grid after Drury. Last steam June 30, 1955.

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  50. Atlantic Coast Line Diesel Roster (All-Time)

    Oct 06, 26 11:57 AM

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    Atlantic Coast Line diesel roster. HH660 1900 in 1939, E3s for the Champion, FTs and F2s, GP7s 100–279, GP30s, U25Cs, and the 1967 SCL numbers. Serials and orders.

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