LAS VEGAS'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Las Vegas in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Las Vegas, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Union Pacific Station
1 S. Main St.
Opened 1940, replacing earlier station at same location

Union Pacific was the only railroad serving Las Vegas. Las Vegas was founded in 1905, the year the first railroad was constructed through Las Vegas.

UNION PACIFIC

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

103  City of Los Angeles   Los Angeles     1:06        2:40 am     5:50 am
104  City of Los Angeles   Chicago         1:22       11:20 pm     8:15 pm
 38  Los Angeles Limited   Ogden           5:40
  8  L. A. Challenger      Chicago         6:20
 23  Pacific Limited       Los Angeles    12:45    9   7:20 am
 24  Pacific Limited       Kansas City     8:45   10   6:30 pm
 37  Los Angeles Limited   Los Angeles     9:20
  7  L. A. Challenger      Los Angeles     9:40
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

103  City of Los Angeles   Chicago         1:01        2:30 am     5:35 am
104  City of Los Angeles   Los Angeles     1:17       11:10 pm     8:00 pm
 38  Los Angeles Limited   Los Angeles     5:25
  8  L. A. Challenger      Los Angeles     6:05
 23  Pacific Limited       Kansas City    12:30    9   7:05 am
 24  Pacific Limited       Los Angeles     8:30   10   6:15 pm
 37  Los Angeles Limited   Ogden           9:05
  7  L. A. Challenger      Chicago         9:25
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the City of Los Angeles.

Trains 9-10, the City of St. Louis, replaced the Pacific Limited in 1947. The City of St. Louis operated via Wabash Railroad east of Kansas City.

STATIONS TODAY

The Las Vegas station was demolished in 1970, the Union Plaza Hotel was then constructed at that location. Union Pacific passenger trains continued to stop, behind the hotel, until 1971. Amtrak trains served Las Vegas at that stop, from 1979 to 1993.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

The Union Pacific main line between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City and Ogden was the main railroad through Las Vegas.