When the Great Northern upgraded the streamlined Empire Builder with new equipment in 1951 the 1947 equipment was transferred to a new, secondary train: the Western Star. This train served many of the minor stops which the Empire Builder skipped, notably Glacier National Park. By the time of this timetable in the mid-1960s the train's itinerary emphasized the Seattle-St. Paul service, although through equipment did still continue to and from Chicago combined with Burlington trains. By 1971, however, through service to Chicago would end on this train and it would end its days as a Seattle-St. Paul run.

Read about the Western Star at American Rails.

A Western Star dining car menu from the summer of 1966.

From the pages of the Official Guide, July 1966

Burlington Route heraldGreat Northern Railway heraldSpokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. herald

The Western Star

Burlington Route
Great Northern Railway
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry.
April 24, 1966

47 Train Number 24
Daily Miles (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Services Daily
9 30P Dp 0 Chicago, IL (Union Station) (CT) C R Ar 9 55P
R 9 46P 14 La Grange, IL C D 9 30P
10 07P Ar 38 Aurora, IL C R 9 07P
10 09P Dp
DF 55 Hinckley, IL
DF 67 Shabbona, IL
10 52P 83 Rochelle, IL C 8 28P
11 09P 98 Oregon, IL C 8 13P
11 52P Ar 145 Savanna, IL C R Dp 7 33P
12 12A Dp Ar 7 30P
1 20A 184 East Dubuque, IL C 6 52P
1 46A 212 Cassville, WI C
2 28A 239 Prairie du Chien, WI C R 6 01P
3 24A 297 La Crosse, WI C R 5 11P
3 36A 299 North La Crosse, WI 5 05P
4 01A 326 Winona Junction, WI (Winona via bus) 4 37P
F 4 15A 341 Cochrane, WI C
F 4 22A 349 Alma, WI
F 4 37A 364 Pepin, WI
F 4 49A 377 Maiden Rock, WI
F 4 55A 384 Bay City, WI
F 5 15A 406 Prescott, WI
6 15A Ar 427 St. Paul, MN C R Dp 3 15P
Through Sleepers Seattle-Chicago
Connecting Train Number (Burlington) 48
0 Chicago, IL (Union Station) (CT) C R Ar 6 40A
297 La Crosse, WI C R Dp 12 47A
427 St. Paul, MN C R Dp 10 15P
438 Minneapolis, MN (GN Station) C R Dp 9 30P
27 (Great Northern Ry.) 28
8 30A Dp 427 St. Paul, MN C R Ar 3 10P
8 55A Ar 438 Minneapolis, MN C R Dp 2 40P
9 10A Dp Ar 2 30P
F 9 28A 451 Wayzata, MN C
10 20A 503 Litchfield, MN C
10 50A Ar 529 Willmar, MN C
10 55A Dp
11 25A 560 Benson, MN C
11 55A 585 Morris, MN C
1 00P Ar 642 Breckenridge, MN C
1 02P Dp
1 05P 643 Wahpeton, MN C
1 53P Ar 688 Moorhead, MN C
504 St. Cloud, MN C Dp 1 03P
Ar 1 00P
546 Sauk Centre, MN C 12 19P
571 Alexandria, MN C 11 52A
616 Fergus Falls, MN C 11 02A
647 Barnesville, MN C 10 18A
670 Moorhead, MN C 9 50A
1 53P Dp 688
1 55P Ar 689 Fargo, ND C Dp 9 47A
2 10P Dp Ar 9 37A
3 22P 761 Hannaford, ND C 8 29A
4 12P Ar 813 New Rockford, ND C Dp 7 42A
4 22P Dp Ar 7 35A
6 10P Ar 922 Minot, ND C Dp 5 50A
6 25P Dp Ar 5 35A
7 34P 975 Stanley, ND C 4 28A
8 03P 1002 Tioga, ND C 4 00A
F 8 16P 1014 Ray, ND F 3 48A
8 50P Ar 1042 Williston, ND (CT) C R Dp 3 15A
8 05P Dp Williston, ND (MT) Ar 2 05A
9 11P 1094 Culbertson, MT C 1 03A
9 42P 1127 Poplar, MT C 12 27A
10 13P 1148 Wolf Point, MT C 12 05A
11 06P 1198 Glasgow, MT C 11 00P
F11 45P 1224 Hinsdale, MT C F10 23P
12 05A 1236 Saco, MT C 10 10P
12 55A 1263 Malta, MT C 9 45P
1 40A 1308 Harlem, MT C 9 03P
2 05A 1329 Chinook, MT C 8 45P
2 40A Ar 1351 Havre, MT C Dp 8 20P
Through Coach St. Paul-Great Falls
3 Connecting Train Number (Great Northern) 4
3 15A Dp 0 Havre, MT C Ar 7 40P
4 03A 35 Big Sandy, MT C 6 58P
5 09A 79 Fort Benton, MT C 5 58P
6 20A Ar 123 Great Falls, MT (MT) C R Dp 5 00P
3 00A Dp 1351 Havre, MT C Ar 8 00P
4 45A Ar 1455 Shelby, MT C Dp 6 24P
5 05A Dp Ar 6 14P
5 35A Ar 1479 Cut Bank, MT C Dp 5 45P
5 40A Dp Ar 5 40P
6 25A 1513 Browning, MT C 5 02P
F 7 00A 1527 Glacier Park, MT (See Note) C F 4 37P
F 7 57A 1557 Essex, MT F 3 28P
F 8 45A 1583 Belton, MT (See Note) C F 2 44P
F 8 55A 1591 Coram, MT F 2 26P
9 11A 1598 Columbia Falls, MT C 2 13P
9 25A Ar 1606 Whitefish, MT (Kalispell via bus) C R Dp 1 55P
9 40A Dp Ar 1 40P
F10 01A 1623 Olney, MT C F 1 16P
F10 17A 1636 Stryker, MT F12 56P
F10 24A 1642 Trego, MT F12 46P
F10 34A 1647 Fortine, MT C F12 36P
10 52A 1658 Eureka, MT C 12 18P
F11 03A 1667 Rexford, MT C F12 04P
12 05P 1722 Libby, MT C 10 57A
12 25P Ar 1741 Troy, MT (MT) C Dp 10 30A
11 30A Dp Troy, MT (PT) Ar 9 25A
12 18P 1772 Bonners Ferry, ID C F 8 34A
F12 32P 1783 Naples, ID F 8 23A
1 01P 1806 Sandpoint, ID C 7 58A
1 26P 1827 Priest River, ID C 7 31A
1 39P 1834 Newport, WA C 7 21A
F 2 30P 1875 Hillyard, WA F 6 30A
2 45P Ar 1880 Spokane, WA C R Dp 6 15A
Connecting Service to/from Portland
3 Connecting train number (Spokane, Portland & Seattle) 4
8 25P Dp 1880.0 Spokane, WA (GN Station) C R Ar 5 00A
10 08P 1968.6 Washtucna, WA C 3 20A
11 25P Ar 2028.2 Pasco, WA C R Dp 1 40A
12 05A Dp Ar 1 10A
F 2 11A 2145.5 Maryhill, WA F11 09P
2 20A Ar 2153.4 Wishram, WA C Dp 11 00P
2 30A Dp Ar 10 54P
F 2 52A 2174.2 Lyle, WA C
F 3 02A 2183.6 Bingen-White Salmon, WA C F10 23P
F 3 23A 2205.2 Stevenson, WA C F10 02P
4 00A 2235.7 Camas, WA C R 9 31P
4 25A Ar 2249.5 Vancouver, WA C Dp 9 15P
4 40A Dp Ar 9 09P
5 05A Ar 2259.5 Portland, OR (Union Sta.) (PT) C R Dp 8 50P
27 Continuing Train Number (Great Northern) 28
3 30P Dp 1880 Spokane, WA C R Ar 5 30A
5 44P 2002 Ephrata, WA C 3 08A
6 02P 2018 Quincy, WA C 2 44A
6 50P Ar 2054 Wenatchee, WA C Dp 1 50A
7 05P Dp Ar 1 30A
DF 2062 Monitor, WA RF
DF 7 21P 2065 Cashmere, WA C RF 1 15A
DF 2070 Dryden, WA RF
DF 2073 Peshastin, WA RF
DF 7 37P 2076 Leavenworth, WA C RF 1 00A
Cascade Tunnel - 7.79 miles in length
DF 2161 Monroe, WA C RF10 39P
DF 2168 Snohomish, WA RF
10 00P Ar 2176 Everett, WA C Dp 10 25P
10 10P Dp Ar 10 15P
D 10 37P 2191 Edmonds, WA C R 9 53P
11 15P Ar 2209 Seattle, WA (King St. Station) (PT) C R Dp 9 15P

Train 47-27 (Chicago-Seattle): 76 stops, 51:45, 42.7 MPHTrain 47-27-3 (Chicago-Portland): 78 stops, 57:35, 39.2 MPH

Train 28-24 (Seattle-Chicago): 68 stops, 46:40, 46.9 MPHTrain 4-28-24 (Portland-Chicago): 68 stops, 47:05, 47.6 MPH



NOTE: Mileages west of Moorhead, MN are via Willmar and Breckenridge, MN.

NOTE: The westbound Western Star operates combined with the Mainstreeter and the Black Hawk between Chicago and St. Paul-Minneapolis.

NOTE: The eastbound Western Star operates combined with the Afternoon Zephyr between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago.

NOTE: The Portland section of the Western Star operates combined with the Portland section of the Mainstreeter between Pasco, WA and Portland, OR.

NOTE for Glacier Park and Belton stations: Western Star only stops daily during park season, Mid-June through Mid-September.

(Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Notes)


Burlington Lines
To and From the Pacific Northwest

EQUIPMENT.

WESTERN STAR.
(Sleeping Cars ready for occupancy in Chicago at 8:45 p.m.)

Car Nos.
Pullman Sleeping Cars Westbound Eastbound
Chicago-Seattle.
16 Duplex Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms.
 273
 283
16 Duplex Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms.
 274 284
Lounge Car
St. Paul-Seattle. (Effective June 11-September 11.)
Coffee Shop
St. Paul-Seattle. (Effective June 11-September 11.)
Dining Car
St. Paul-Seattle.
Reclining seat Chair Cars—Unreserved
Chicago-St. Paul.
St. Paul-Seattle.
Spokane-Portland.
Reserved Chair Cars—No Seat Charge
Chicago to Seattle. (Operates June 10 to Sept. 8.)
 302 ...
Seattle to St. Paul. (Operates June 10 to Sept. 8.)
 ... 402

NOTE: The eastbound Western Star makes connection at Minneapolis with Afternoon Zephyr Train 24, departing 2:50 p.m., for Chicago. Pullman passengers wishing to use overnight train service to Chicago may remain in sleepers which will be parked for occupancy at St. Paul, and handled to Chicago on Train 48. Coach passengers wishing to use overnight train service to Chicago transfer at St. Paul to coach accommodations on Train 48, leaving St. Paul 10:15 p.m., arriving Chicago 6:40 a.m.


(Great Northern Notes)


GREAT NORTHERN
STREAMLINED WESTERN STAR • ONLY TRAIN SERVING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

THE WESTERN STAR
CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, WILLMAR, NEW ROCKFORD,
GLACIER PARK, SPOKANE, SEATTLE AND PORTLAND
with direct connections at HAVRE for GREAT FALLS

RADIO—COACH PORTER SERVICE

MODERN STREAMLINED EQUIPMENT

Type of Car. Car No. Between Accommodations.
West
and
North		 East
and
South
Reclining Seat Coach. .... .... Chicago-St. Paul-Seattle 60 Seats.
Day-Nite Reclining Seat Coaches. .... .... St. Paul-Seattle 48 Seats—Leg rests.
  301 401 St. Paul-Seattle 48 Seats—Leg rests. All Seats Reserved.
(No Seat Charge).
  302 402 Chicago-Seattle 48 Seats—Leg rests.
Coach. .... .... St. Paul-Great Falls 48 Seats—Leg rests.
Coffee Shop/Car. (June 11 to September 11.) .... .... St. Paul-Seattle Meals-Beverages.
Dining Car (Dinner by Reservation). .... .... St. Paul-Seattle  
Pullman Sleeping Cars. 274 284 Chicago-Seattle (June 15 to Sept. 11) 16 Duplex Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms.
  273 283 Chicago-Seattle 16 Duplex Roomettes, 4 Double Bedrooms.
De Luxe Lounge Observation (Beverages).
(June 11 to September 11.)
 .... .... St. Paul-Seattle For Pullman Passengers.

The Eastbound Western Star makes immediate connections at Minneapolis with C. B. & Q. Afternoon Zephyr for Chicago. Passengers desiring to use overnight train service from Twin Cities to Chicago may transfer at either Minneapolis or St. Paul to C. B. & Q. Train 48, The Black Hawk.

(Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. Notes)

EQUIPMENT

All regularly assigned cars are completely Air-Conditioned.

S. P. and S. No. 3-4, G. N. No. 27-28—The Western Star—All classes of tickets honored. Between Spokane and St. Paul—Standard sleeping car. Between Portland and Spokane, de luxe coaches. Between Spokane and Chicago—Day-Night coach with leg rests. Between Spokane and St. Paul, dining lounge car service.

NOTE—No. 3 will stop at any station to discharge revenue passengers from east of Spokane; also at any station west of Pasco to discharge revenue passengers from Spokane; also at any station east of Pasco to receive revenue passengers for Vancouver and Portland. No. 4 will stop at any station to receive revenue passengers destined east of Spokane; also at any station west of Pasco to receive revenue passengers for Spokane; also at any station east of Pasco to discharge revenue passengers from Portland or Vancouver. Stops to receive passengers made only upon advance arrangements through agent. Stops to discharge passengers made upon application to conductor. [There are 2 stations between Vancouver and Portland; 25 stations between Vancouver and Pasco, and 14 stations between Pasco and Spokane which are not shown in this timetable.]

Original timetable information copyright ©1966 by National Railway Publication Company.  It is believed that the noncommercial use of this out-of-print material to document the history of the North American passenger train constitutes Fair Use under U.S. copyright law.

The Burlington Route, Great Northern, and Spokane, Portland & Seattle heralds are licensed marks owned by BNSF Railway Company. C. B. & Q. herald obtained from S.S.S.M.R.E. Great Northern herald obtained from BNSF Railway. S. P. & S. herald obtained from Terry Solberger's Railroad Heralds.

All comments, original material and page design copyright ©2006-2012 by Eric H. Bowen. Page created 4/29/2012. Minor correction 5/9/2012; there are no through cars from Portland to the east so that service should be shown as a connection and not as a continuing section for consistency.

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LEGEND

Time:

A - A.M.

D - Train stops only to discharge passengers

F - Conditional (Flag) stop

I  - Customs/Immigration inspection stop

M - Meal stop

N - Not a passenger stop

P - P.M.

R - Train stops only to receive passengers


Services:

A - Auto loading/unloading facilities (as freight)

B - Checked baggage is handled

C - Coupon station (Ticket office)

I  - International border inspection station

M - Food service available

P - Telephone station

R - Rental cars available

T - Telegraph station

X - Checked baggage NOT handled

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