The Union Pacific's City of Las Vegas Aerotrain at Cajon Pass, ca. 1956.
(Union Pacific Railroad Publicity photo, Public domain, W. Lenheim Collection)
CITY OF LAS VEGAS
The City of Las Vegas was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Union Pacific Railroad between Las Vegas, Nevada and Los Angeles, California. It operated from 1956 to 1968. It was one of several trains to operate with the experimental General Motors Aerotrain, although this experiment was short-lived. After 1961 the train was known as the Las Vegas Holiday Special.
History
The Union Pacific introduced the City of Las Vegas on December 18, 1956. The service initially used General Motors' experimental Aerotrain trainset, but the Union Pacific ended their lease within a year due to maintenance and performance problems including needing a helper engine to climb Cajon Pass. The train continued with standard streamlined cars in UP's Armour Yellow paint, leaving Los Angeles in the morning and returning in the evening.
On September 24, 1961, the name was changed to Las Vegas Holiday Special, when the consist and frequency were reduced. Service ended altogether on June 15, 1968.
The City of Las Vegas Aerotrain, 1956. Click to enlarge.
(Union Pacific, GM-EMD, Publicity photo, Public domain, W. Lenheim Collection)
Equipment
Main article: Aerotrain (GM)
The GM Aerotrain included nine cars: three 40-seat coaches, a bar-lounge, a "Chuck Wagon" buffet, three more 40-seat coaches, a 36-seat coach. The Union Pacific replaced the Aerotrain with conventional equipment on September 15, 1957. The new eight-car consist included a mail car, two 48-seat coaches, a lunch counter-dinette, a "Pub" buffet-lounge, and three more 48-seat coaches. These cars were drawn from a variety of sources. The coaches were built by Pullman-Standard in 1942 for the San Francisco Overland Limited. The lunch-counter dinette was part of a set of four (numbered 4000–4003) built by American Car and Foundry for the City of St. Louis in 1951. The dinette portion seated 16 while the counter area seated 21 along a 42-foot (13 m)-long countertop. The "Pub" was originally coach No. 5201, part of a set of twelve (5200-5211) built by Pullman-Standard for the Challenger in 1937.
Sample consist
September 15, 1957
No. 5728 Mail car
No. 5360 coach (48 seats)
No. 5339 coach (48 seats)
No. 4000 lunch counter-dinette
No. 1502 "Pub" buffet-lounge
No. 5353 coach (48 seats)
No. 5352 coach (48 seats)
No. 5332 coach (48 seats)
The new Art-Deco passenger depot of the Union Pacific in Las Vegas is the world's first first completely air-conditioned, streamlined passenger station. Click to enlarge. (Desert Souvenir Supply, C.T. Art Colortone, W. Lenheim Collection)
Here's the station with the added lighted Union Pacific shield with Streamliners and Challengers neon lights. Click to enlarge. (Desert Souvenir Supply, C.T. Art Colortone, W. Lenheim Collection)
Once a passenger arrived in Las Vegas, they could take the old Pioneer Train at the Frontier Village of the Last Frontier Hotel, and enjoy the nearby museum as well. Click to enlarge. (Desert Souvenir Supply, C.T. Art Colortone, W. Lenheim Collection)
Overview
Service type: Inter-city rail
Status: Discontinued
Locale: Western United States
First service: December 18, 1956
Last service: June 15, 1968
Former operator: Union Pacific Railroad
Route Termini: Los Angeles, California / Las Vegas, Nevada
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)