The Chicago and North Western (reporting mark CNW) was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over 12,000 miles (19,000 km) of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s.

The railroad also replaced the commuter fleet with new bi-level coaches and shuttered about 20 close-in stations so it could concentrate on suburban service. And it rehabbed several locomotives and instituted a push-pull operation into and out of Chicago.

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY The Chicago and North Western (reporting mark CNW) was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western".

After the Union Pacific removed its City trains from the Chicago and North Western to the Milwaukee Road in 1956, C&NW passenger service rapidly declined. By 1962, when this timetable was produced, it had just five routes left: Chicago-Twin Cities (with the once-a-day Twin Cities 400); Chicago-Rochester-Mankato (the Rochester 400);

One of the most fondly remembered was the Chicago & North Western which maintained a sprawling network of more than 11,000 route miles across Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and even reached North Dakota and Wyoming.

Chicago & North Western was the first railroad to connect with Union Pacific at Council Bluffs in 1867, and in 1984, partnered with UP to open a connector line to the coal fields in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin – enabling the region to become a major U.S. energy source.

Dec 3, 2023 · For years the Chicago & North Western operated Chicago’s most extensive commuter service. Its three routes were designated West, North, and Northwest. Those names also serve well to group C&NW’s lines west, northwest, and north from Chicago.

Pages in category "Passenger trains of the Chicago and North Western Railway" The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total. This list may not reflect recent changes.

Discover the storied history of the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW), a key player in shaping the transportation landscape of the Midwest. Explore its origins, expansion, and pivotal role in connecting Racine to the broader rail network.

Although the Great Depression threw the C&NW into receivership, the railroad in 1935 introduced its most famous trains of the twentieth century, “ The 400s.” Originally steam powered before dieselization in 1939, this initial service whisked passengers between Chicago-Milwaukee-Twin Cities in approximately 400 minutes.