Monon F3A No. 208 with northbound Train 6, the Thoroughbred, in South Chicago, Illinois, June 1965.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
THOROUGHBRED
The Thoroughbred was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway (Monon) between Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky via Monon, Indiana. It operated from 1948 to 1967. The Thoroughbred was the last passenger train operated by the Monon. It was named for the Thoroughbred horse breeds, a nod to the horse racing heritage of Louisville.
Monon F3A No. 207 with northbound Train 6, the Thoroughbred, in Dyer, Indiana, November 26, 1965.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
History
See also: Monon Railroad
Following World War II new Monon president John W. Barriger III embarked on a program to renew the Monon's passenger service, long neglected. The centerpiece of this program was a group of 28 surplus hospital cars originally built by the American Car and Foundry Company (ACF) in 1944–1945 for the U.S. Army. The Monon rebuilt these cars in their shops, creating enough lightweight coaches, parlor-observation cars, dining cars and mail/baggage cars to create three new streamliners: the Chicago-Indianapolis Hoosier and Tippecanoe, and the Chicago-Louisville Thoroughbred.
The Thoroughbred made its first run on February 15, 1948, replacing the Day Express. Monon discontinued the Thoroughbred on September 30, 1967. It was the final passenger service on the Monon, although Amtrak's Hoosier State utilized part of Monon's route between Indianapolis and Chicago.
Monon F3A No. 208 with southbound Train 5, the Thoroughbred, in Dyer, Indiana, February 10, 1963. (Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Monon F3A 208 with Train 6, The Thoroughbred, at South Chicago, IL in June 1965. (Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Route of the Thoroughbred.
(Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. via Wikimedia Commons)
Route
The route length was 324 miles (521 km); the train operated as No. 5 (southbound) and No. 6 (northbound) and used Dearborn Station in Chicago.
A postcard depiction of the Monon Railroad's Thoroughbred.
(Monon Railroad, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Service type: Inter-city rail
Status: Discontinued
Locale: Midwestern United States
Predecessor: Day Express
First service: February 15, 1948
Last service: September 30, 1967
Former operator: Monon Railroad
Route Termini: Chicago, Illinois / Louisville, Kentucky
Distance traveled: 324.1 miles (521.6 km)
Service frequency: Daily
Train numbers: 5 southbound / 6 northbound