View source for Blue Bird (train)

{{redirect|City of Decatur|the Illinois Terminal Railroad service|Streamliners (Illinois Terminal Railroad)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Blue Bird''<br />''City of Decatur''
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Wabash Blue Bird.JPG
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = The ''Blue Bird'''s "Vista-Dome" dome parlor-observation car in the 1950s.
| type            = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status          = Discontinued
| locale          = [[Midwest United States]]
| predecessor     = 
| first           = 1938
| last            = April 30, 1971
| successor       = 
| operator        = 
| formeroperator  = [[Wabash Railroad]]<br />[[Norfolk and Western Railway]]
| ridership       = 
| ridership2      = 
| website         = 
| start           = [[Chicago]]
| stops           = 
| end             = [[St. Louis]]
| distance        = {{Convert|285.7|mi|km}}
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = Daily
| trainnumber     = Southwestbound: 21; Northeast bound: 24
| line_used       = 
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = Reclining seat [[Passenger car (rail)#Coach|coaches]]
| sleeping        = 
| autorack        = 
| catering        = [[Dining car]]
| observation     = [[Dome car|dome parlor-lounge]]
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = 
| gauge           = 
| el              = 
| speed           = 
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| map             = {{Blue Bird}}
| map_state       = 
}}
The '''''Blue Bird''''' was a [[streamliner|streamlined]] [[passenger train]] operated by the [[Wabash Railroad]] and its successor the [[Norfolk and Western Railway]] between [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. It operated from 1938 to 1971. Beginning in 1950 it was one of the few Wabash passenger trains to carry a [[dome car]] and the first dome train in regular operation between the two cities. The train was cut back to [[Decatur, Illinois]], in 1968 and renamed '''''City of Decatur'''''. [[Amtrak]] did not retain the ''City of Decatur'', which made its last run on April 30, 1971.

== History ==
The Wabash introduced a heavyweight ''Blue Bird'' on the Chicago–St. Louis run in 1938. The train was painted blue-gold, previously reserved for the Wabash's ''Banner Blue''.<ref name="schafer2000" />{{rp|143}}

The Wabash relaunched the ''Blue Bird'' as a streamlined train on February 26, 1950, with all-new [[Budd Company]] "Vista-Dome" [[dome car]]s and [[E-unit]] [[diesel locomotive]]s from [[Electro-Motive Division]]. The new train carried Wabash's standard blue-gray-white livery.<ref name="schafer2000" />{{rp|144}} The Wabash referred to the ''Blue Bird'' as a "Domeliner" in contemporary advertising.<ref name="rotarian" /> Amenities on the new train included radio and "recorded musical programs"; coach passengers had access to the "Coffee Shop Club".<ref name="og195003" /> The new equipment cost the Wabash {{USD|1500000}}; it was the first dome train to operate between Chicago and St. Louis.<ref name="nyt19500226" />

The [[Norfolk and Western Railway]] leased the Wabash in 1964 but continued to operate the ''Blue Bird''. This changed in 1968 when the N&W truncated the ''Blue Bird'' to [[Decatur, Illinois]], still departing from Chicago.<ref name="schafer1997" />{{rp|150}} This new service was named ''City of Decatur'' and operated until the formation of [[Amtrak]] in 1971.<ref name="sanders" />{{rp|101}}

== Route ==
The ''Blue Bird'' used the Wabash's line between Chicago and St. Louis. In March 1950 northbound #24 departed St. Louis' [[Union Station (St. Louis)|Union Station]] at 8:55 AM and arrived at Chicago's [[Dearborn Station]] at 2:05 PM. The equipment set returned as southbound #21 the same day, departing Chicago at 4:45 PM and arriving in St. Louis at 10:10 PM. Intermediate stops included [[Englewood station (Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad)|Englewood]] in Chicago, [[Forrest, Illinois|Forrest]], [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]], [[Taylorville, Illinois|Taylorville]], [[Litchfield, Illinois|Litchfield]] and [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]] in [[Illinois]], and the Wabash's [[Delmar Boulevard station|Delmar Boulevard]] station in St. Louis itself. At the time two other Wabash trains operated on the route: the ''Banner Blue'', which operated a reverse schedule, and the overnight ''Midnight''.<ref name="og195003" />

== Equipment ==
[[File:Wabash Blue Bird dome car.JPG|thumb|right|Interior of one of the "Vista-Dome" dome coaches on the ''Blue Bird''.]]
The 1950 lightweight [[consist]] included six cars: a baggage-lunch counter-lounge, three "Vista-Dome" dome coaches, a [[dining car]], and a "Vista-Dome" dome parlor-observation car. The [[Budd Company]] manufactured all six cars, although the interior of the parlor-observation car was designed according to [[Pullman Company|Pullman]] Plan #9525. Strong demand led the Wabash to add another dome parlor-lounge in 1952. Pullman-Standard delivered the car, which included the "Blue Bird Room", an eleven-seat private dining room.<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|113}}<ref name="schafer1997" />{{rp|150}}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="nyt19500226">{{cite news | title=RAIL NOTES: NEW TRAIN; Wabash's Streamlind Blue Bird Adds Dome Cars to Chicago-St. Louis Run Lunch Counter | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | first=Ward Allan | last=Howe | date=February 26, 1950 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/02/26/archives/rail-notes-new-train-wabashs-streamlind-blue-bird-adds-dome-cars-to.html}}</ref>
<ref name="og195003">{{Official Guide of the Railways|March|1950|page=252}}</ref>
<ref name="rotarian">{{cite magazine | title=Going Wabash puts you in a Conventioneering mood! | magazine=[[The Rotarian]] |date=April 1954 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3j8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49}}</ref>
<ref name="sanders">{{Sanders-Heartland}}</ref>
<ref name="schafer2000">{{Schafer-More-Classic}}</ref>
<ref name="schafer1997">{{Schafer-Classic}}</ref>
<ref name="wayner">{{Wayner - Car names, numbers, consists}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Blue Bird (train)}}
* [http://streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track4/bluebird195008.html 1950 timetable]

{{Wabash passenger}}
{{NW named trains}}

[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Norfolk and Western Railway]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Wabash Railroad]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Illinois]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Missouri]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1938]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1971]]
[[Category:North American streamliner trains]]