View source for City of Portland (train)

{{Short description|Named passenger train in the U.S.}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width   = 
| name        = ''City of Portland''
| logo        = 
| logo_width  = 
| image       = UP City of Portland.jpg
| image_width =  
| caption     = "[[Drumhead (sign)|Drumhead]]" logos adorned the ends of the observation cars on the ''City of Portland''.
| type        = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status      = Discontinued
| locale      = [[Northwestern United States]]<br>[[Midwestern United States]]
| predecessor =  
| first       = June, 1935 
| last        = April, 1971
| successor   = ''[[Pioneer (train)|Pioneer]]''
| operator    = 
| formeroperator= 1935-1955: [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and [[Chicago and North Western Railway]]<br>1955-1971: Union Pacific and [[Milwaukee Road]]
| ridership   = 
| start       = [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| stops       = 
| end         = [[Portland, Oregon]]; alternate section to [[Seattle, Washington]]
| distance    = {{convert|2263|mi|km}} (1954)
| journeytime = 
| frequency   =  
| trainnumber = 105 (westbound); 106 (eastbound)
| class       = 
| access      = 
| seating     = Leg rest coaches
| sleeping    = Open sections, roomettes, double bedrooms, drawing rooms and compartments (1954)
| autorack    = 
| catering    = [[Dining car]] 
| observation = [[Lounge car|Club lounge car]]
| entertainment= 
| baggage     = 
| otherfacilities= 
| stock       = 
| gauge       = {{RailGauge|sg}}
| el          = 
| speed       = 
| owners      = 
| routenumber =
| map         =  
}}
The '''''City of Portland''''' was a [[Lists of named passenger trains|named passenger train]] on the [[Union Pacific Railroad]]  between [[Chicago, Illinois]], and [[Portland, Oregon]].  The first trip left Portland on June 6, 1935, using the [[streamliner|streamlined]] [[M-10001]] trainset.  With only one set of equipment, the train left each terminal six times a month.  A broken axle derailed the trip that left Chicago on July 23, 1935, and the repaired train resumed service with the trip leaving Portland on February 6, 1936. In May 1936 it started running five times a month instead of six, allowing more time in Chicago between trips. (In July 1935 it was scheduled to arrive Chicago at 9:30 AM and leave at 6:15 PM the same day.)

It was the first streamliner with sleeping cars and the first streamliner running from Chicago to the Pacific coast; its 39-hour-45-minute schedule became the standard. (In April 1935 the fastest train took 59 hr 20 min Chicago to Portland.)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ISNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UgINAAAAIBAJ&pg=3733,4393066&dq=zephyr&hl=en|title=Most Powerful Diesel Ready for Rail Service|author=Mann, Charles F.A.|date=17 September 1935|publisher=The Meriden Daily Journal|accessdate=28 March 2012}}</ref> The M-10001 was withdrawn in March 1938 and replaced with another articulated trainset, the former ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]'' [[M-10002]]. In July 1941 M-10002 was replaced with a train powered by the [[EMC E3]] set inherited from ''City of Los Angeles'' pulling the former [[M-10004]] cars, with some former M-10001 cars added.  Service was expanded following the war as the train was joined, then replaced, by full-size trains powered by E6 and E7 locomotives.  The train was the first of the 40-hour Coast streamliners to run daily, in February 1947. Starting in October 1955 the [[Milwaukee Road]] was used instead of the Chicago and North Western between Chicago and Omaha; from January 1959 until 1967 the train ran via Denver. The train was discontinued May 1, 1971, with the takeover of Union Pacific's passenger services by [[Amtrak]]. The route roughly follows the trail of the defunct Amtrak route, the ''[[Pioneer (Amtrak)|Pioneer]],'' except that the latter diverted to [[Ogden, Utah]], while the ''City of Portland'' did not enter Utah.<ref>Streamliner Schedules, ''City of Portland,'' July, 1956 schedule http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track7/cityportland195607.html</ref>

In addition to [[baggage car|baggage]], [[coach (rail)|coach]], and [[sleeping car]]s, about 1955 the ''City of Portland'' added an [[Astra Dome]] [[dome car|dome]] coach, dome [[observation car|observation]] lounge and dome [[dining car]] to each consist.  The dome dining cars were unique to Union Pacific and were only operated on this train and the ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]''.

==Major cities served==
Prior to 1955:
*[[Chicago Union Station|Chicago, Union Station]]
*[[Cedar Rapids Union Station|Cedar Rapids, Union Station]]
*[[Omaha Union Station|Omaha, Union Station]]
*[[Boise Union Pacific Depot|Boise, Union Pacific Depot]]
*[[Portland Union Station|Portland, Union Station]]

Following 1955 rerouting via Milwaukee Road:
*Chicago, Union Station
*[[Marion station (Iowa)|Marion station]] (Cedar Rapids via bus connection)
*Omaha, Union Station
*Boise, Union Pacific Depot
*Portland, Union Station

Following 1959 rerouting:
*Chicago, Union Station
*Marion station (Cedar Rapids via bus connection)
*Omaha, Union Station
*Denver, Union Station
*Boise, Union Pacific Depot
*Portland, Union Station

<gallery>
File:City of Portland postcard Union Pacific Railroad.JPG|1939 postcard showing 1935-37 trainset.
File:City of Portland Union Pacific Railroad EMD E6A.JPG|The train headed by an EMD E6A locomotive
File:Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland streamliner.JPG|The train along the Columbia circa 1955
</gallery>
<gallery>
File:Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland Astra Dome dining car.JPG|Dome dining car upper level
File:Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland dining car.JPG|Dome diner lower level
File:Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland Gold Room.JPG|The Gold Room-a private dining room available by reservation
File:Union Pacific Domeliner upper level Astra Dome.JPG|Dome observation car upper level
File:Union Pacific Domeliner Astra Dome lower level.JPG|Dome observation car lower level
File:Union Pacific Domeliner observation car card room.JPG|Observation car room for playing cards
File:Union Pacific Railroad Redwood Lounge 1956.JPG|''The Redwood Lounge'' car carried on the ''City of Portland'' and the ''City of Los Angeles''
File:Union Pacific Pullman car circa 1950s.JPG|Pullman car in day mode
File:Union Pacific Railroad pullman compartment.JPG|Pullman compartment
File:Union Pacific Railroad modern coach car.JPG|Coach car
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Chicago and North Western Railway#Passenger train service|Passenger train service]] on the Chicago and North Western Railway
* [[Union Pacific Railroad#Passenger service|Passenger train service]] on the Union Pacific Railroad

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|City of Portland}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060617232613/http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/138fddcg.asp Passenger trains operating on the eve of Amtrak]

{{UP Passenger}}
{{CNW named trains}}
{{Milwaukee Road named trains}}

[[Category:Passenger trains of the Union Pacific Railroad]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Chicago and North Western Railway]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Milwaukee Road]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1935]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1971]]