The Nebraska Zephyr: Burlington's Lincoln Service

Published: May 20, 2026

The Nebraska Zephyr was one of the most distinctive streamlined passenger trains operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q, popularly known as the Burlington Route). Introduced in 1947, it provided fast, stylish daylight service between Chicago, Illinois, and Lincoln, Nebraska (via Omaha), covering 551 miles (887 km) in under 10 hours at an average speed of about 56 mph.

Though it shared the famous "Zephyr" name with Burlington's pioneering diesel streamliners, the Nebraska Zephyr was unique: it was powered by elegant stainless-steel articulated equipment originally built in 1936 for the Twin Cities Zephyr route. One of its two identical trainsets—the "Train of the Goddesses"—remains the only complete original Burlington Zephyr trainset still operating today, preserved and run at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in Union, Illinois.

Burlington's train 11, the "Nebraska Zephyr" at La Grange Road in La Grange, IL during April, 1968. Rick Burn photo.

Origins in the Zephyr Fleet

Burlington revolutionized American rail travel in 1934 with the Pioneer Zephyr, the nation's first diesel-powered streamlined passenger train. Its success led to a fleet of "Zephyr" trains, all featuring sleek stainless-steel construction by the Budd Company of Philadelphia. The second pair of Twin Cities Zephyrs (for Chicago–Minneapolis–St. Paul service) entered service in 1936. These articulated trainsets were nicknamed the "Train of the Gods" and "Train of the Goddesses" because every car bore the name of a classical deity.

In 1947, newer dome-equipped equipment took over the Twin Cities route. Burlington reassigned the 1936 trainsets to the Chicago–Omaha–Lincoln corridor, replacing the Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr and launching the Nebraska Zephyr on November 16, 1947. The name evoked the state's agricultural heartland and fit perfectly with Burlington's marketing of fast, modern Midwest travel.

Design, Construction, and Equipment

The Nebraska Zephyr trainsets were masterpieces of 1930s Art Deco industrial design. Built entirely of fluted stainless steel, they were lightweight, durable, and aerodynamically styled with rounded ends and smooth lines that minimized wind resistance. The cars were articulated—permanently joined and sharing trucks between them—for a smoother, quieter ride and reduced weight.

Original 1936 consist (per trainset) included:

Cocktail lounge car
Two 60-seat coaches
Coach-dinette
Dining car
Parlor car
Parlor-observation car

All cars featured reclining seats, large windows, and elegant interiors. The parlor cars initially included private drawing rooms.

The "Train of the Goddesses" cars were originally named:

Venus (cocktail lounge)
Vesta, Minerva (coaches)
Psyche (coach-dinette)
Ceres (dining car)
Diana (parlor car)
Juno (parlor-observation car)

(The "Train of the Gods" used male deities like Apollo, Jupiter, etc.)

In later years, Burlington made cost-saving modifications: baggage cars Argo and Olympus were added in 1948; cocktail lounges became coaches in 1963; and dining cars were converted to cafeteria-style service with vending machines by 1966. By the mid-1960s, the consist was often shortened to five cars.

Motive power evolved too. Early service used paired "shovel-nose" EMC diesels (e.g., Pegasus and Zephyrus). From the 1940s onward, the train was typically pulled by one or two of Burlington's famous EMD E5 passenger diesels, with their distinctive stainless-steel fluting and "Burlington Route" nose heralds. The last surviving E5, No. 9911A Silver Pilot, still hauls the preserved trainset today.

Timetable and Consist (August, 1952)

Route, Schedule, and Passenger Experience

The Nebraska Zephyr (trains 11 westbound and 12 eastbound) followed Burlington's main line through Illinois and Iowa before crossing into Nebraska. Key stops included La Grange, Aurora, Galesburg, Burlington (Iowa), Ottumwa, Creston, Council Bluffs, Omaha, and Lincoln.

Typical 1947–1950s schedule:

Westbound #11: Depart Chicago Union Station 12:45 p.m. → Arrive Lincoln 10:30 p.m.
Eastbound #12: Depart Lincoln 11:00 a.m. → Arrive Chicago 8:45 p.m.

Passengers enjoyed reclining-seat coaches, full dining-car meals prepared onboard (later cafeteria service), parlor-car luxury, and observation-lounge views of the rolling Midwest countryside. The train competed with other Burlington services like the Denver Zephyr and Exposition Flyer, offering reliable, comfortable daytime travel for business travelers, families, and tourists.

The same train as seen above with a business car trailing the train. Rick Burn photo.

Later Years, Decline, and Retirement

By the 1960s, passenger rail faced stiff competition from automobiles and airlines. Burlington cut amenities and extended running times. In February 1968, the railroad retired the distinctive articulated Zephyr equipment from regular service (though the name Nebraska Zephyr continued briefly with conventional cars). The "Train of the Goddesses" set was retired that year.

The Nebraska Zephyr (and its name) ended completely on April 30, 1971, when Amtrak took over most U.S. intercity passenger service. The "Train of the Gods" set was refurbished in 1977 and sold to Saudi Arabia, where it operated into the 21st century on the Dammam–Riyadh line.

Preservation and Legacy at the Illinois Railway Museum

In 1968, IRM member Herb Hanson purchased the "Train of the Goddesses" set and donated it to the museum. It was soon joined by E5 locomotive 9911A Silver Pilot. Today, the five-car consist operates on the museum's tracks:

960 "Venus" – Power car / coach
4626 "Vesta" – Coach
4627 "Minerva" – Coach
150 "Ceres" – Dining car (still cooks full meals in its original galley)
225 "Juno" – Observation-lounge

The train has appeared in films (including A League of Their Own as the fictional "Oregon Zephyr") and runs regular excursions and dinner trains. It remains the only complete operating Burlington Zephyr and one of the finest examples of 1930s streamliner technology anywhere.

The Nebraska Zephyr symbolized Burlington's commitment to speed, comfort, and modernity during the golden age of rail travel. Its stainless-steel durability, articulated design, and goddess-named elegance captured the optimism of the 1930s and 1940s. Today, riding it at the Illinois Railway Museum lets visitors experience that era firsthand—polished fluting gleaming in the sun, the smooth glide of articulated cars, and the thrill of a true Zephyr.

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