Burlington Zephyr Record Run

On May 26, 1934, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad's Pioneer Zephyr covered 1,015 miles from Denver to Chicago in 13 hours 5 minutes, averaging 77 mph. Powered by a 660-hp General Motors two-stroke diesel, the articulated three-car train featured lightweight stainless steel construction and Budd Company shot-welded technology. Aboard were 72 passengers including railroad officials and journalists. The run shattered the previous steam record and captured national headlines, sparking the Streamliner Era. The Zephyr's success directly influenced the design of the California Zephyr and countless other diesel trains. Today the restored train resides at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, symbolizing the shift from steam to diesel.