Trains are listed in order of time scheduled, with "am" and "pm" omitted except where necessary for clarity.
Origin and destination cities are as of 1942. Many trains had their routes shortened between then and 1971.
Train numbers continued from 1942 through 1971, unless assigned new numbers, preceding the 1956 times or 1971 times.
Train names were as of 1942. For certain trains in 1942 without names, the 1956 names are listed.
Departures
No. Name 1942 Dest. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 21 Bureau 8:50 11 9:00 501 Peoria Rocket Peoria 10:15 9:55 3 Golden State Los Angeles 10:15 1:20 7 Rocky Mtn. Rocket Denver 1:55 2:00 505 Des Moines Rocket Des Moines 5:00 5:00 5 5:35 19 Sioux Falls 5:01 503 Peoria Rocket Peoria 7:00 5:30 11 6:15 23 Omaha Limited Omaha 8:10 43 Californian Los Angeles 8:50 39 9:00 5 Colorado Express Colorado Spr. 11:30 1 11:55 9 Corn Belt Rocket Des Moines 1:00 10:00Arrivals
No. Name 1942 Orig. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 6 Colorado Express Colorado Spr. 5:50 2 5:00 14 La Salle St. Limited Omaha 7:25 212 Bureau 8:20 44 Californian Los Angeles 8:30 40 7:05 4 Golden State Los Angeles 8:40 11:00 8 Rocky Mtn. Rocket Denver 8:50 8:50 502 Peoria Rocket Peoria 9:40 9:10 12 10:05 506 Des Moines Rocket Des Moines 1:15 1:15 6 10:25 504 Peoria Rocket Peoria 5:35 4:45 10 Corn Belt Rocket Des Moines 8:30 8:30 22 Chicago Express Rock Island 9:45 12 10:15Rock Island did not join Amtrak, and the remaining trains continued until 1978.
Departures
No. Name 1942 Dest. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 608 Toledo 8:30 708 6:50 14 Interstate Express Boston 9:50 46 8:45 44 New York Special New York Central Central 6 Fifth Ave. Special New York 11:20 11:30 64 8:30 132 Henry Hudson Buffalo 11:30 8 Wolverine New York Central 1:50 14 1:05 2 Pacemaker New York 2:15 2:30 28 New England States Boston 2:30 2:00 2:15 68 Commodore Vanderbilt New York 3:30 3:00 26 20th Century Limited New York 4:00 3:45 10 Water Level Limited New York 4:15 232 3:47 30 Twilight Limited Detroit 4:30 Central 356 4:00 612 Elkhart 4:35 210 4:35 22 Lake Shore Limited New York 5:30 6:00 80 Maumee Cleveland 8:10 290 10:55 58 Niagara Buffalo Central Central 31 Egyptian Harrisburg IL 10:15 62 9:50 90 Forest City New York 11:30 10:45 98 9:00 16 Motor City Special Detroit Central Central 52 10:05 52 Easterner Albany 1:00 32 12:01Arrivals
No. Name 1942 Orig. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 7 Motor City Special Detroit Central Central 351 5:45 9 Mail Cleveland 5:55 4:55 46 Egyptian Harrisburg IL 6:55 63 6:55 89 Forest City Cleveland 7:30 5 Mohawk New York 7:40 6:15 37 Adv. Com. Vanderbilt New York 8:20 67 Commodore Vanderbilt New York 8:40 7:30 25 20th Century Limited New York 9:00 7:45 27 New England States Boston 9:02 7:15 12:15 1 Pacemaker New York 9:20 6:50 641 Accommodation Toledo 11:45 741 7:05 39 North Shore Limited New York Central Central 17 Wolverine New York Central 10:55 1:20 19 Lake Shore Limited New York 12:10 12:40 57 Cleveland Limited Cleveland 1:50 59 3:05 41 Michigan Detroit Central Central 355 5:05 59 Iroquois New York 4:40 35 5:15 63 8:00 151 Interstate Express Buffalo 7:15 31 Twilight Limited Detroit 8:45 Central 609 Prairie State Cleveland 9:20 73 8:40 623 Elkhart 10:45 43 South Shore Express New York 12:30 2:20 51 5:15Prior to late 1950's, former Michigan Central trains (through Detroit and points east) had used Central Station, except for one daily train each way serving La Salle St. Station. In 1957, all remaining trains transferred to La Salle St. Station. Indicated are former Michigan Central trains, and use of Central Station.
After 1968 Penn Central merger, remaining trains transferred to Union Station.
Departures
No. Name 1942 Dest. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 8 New Yorker New York 9:40 am 9:20 am 6 Nickel Plate Limited Buffalo 11:20 pm 10:20 pmArrivals
No. Name 1942 Orig. 1942 Time 1956 Time 1971 Time 5 Nickel Plate Limited Buffalo 7:15 am 6:30 am 7 Westerner New York 4:30 pm 2:45 pm