PREFERRED BY MANY. To reach Springfield, I used the Amtrak Lincoln Service. It offers the same frequency of train service the GM&O offered in 1964, although with somewhat more convenient times and intervals.

Loadings were rather heavy in both directions.

Amtrak Lincoln Service 305, Wednesday, 12 March 2008. Genesis P42 diesel 24, Amclub-dinette 48169, Horizon short-distance coaches 54524-54531-54503. Temperature about 40 degrees, clear skies, dry rail. Leave Chicago 5.15:01, Summit 5.35:41-5.36:30, signal checks east of Joliet, Joliet 6.04:02-6.06:05, stop opposite Raceway Pizza west of Joliet 6.20:55-6.24:43, Dwight 6.54:39-6.55:15, Pontiac 7.10:33-7.11:12, meet 304 in siding west of Pontiac, Bloomington 7.37:00-7.41:33 (entire rear coach emptied at Bloomington), Lincoln 8.09:35-8.10:02, arrive Springfield 8.36:58. Train able to leave Springfield on time.

The GM&O advertised "preferred by most" as their direct Chicago to St. Louis line had competition from the Wabash to St. Louis and from the Illinois Central to Springfield. The Illinois Central sold their last ticket on the Governor's Special on April 30, 1971. The station has since been restored, including a new clock tower, as a visitor's center across the street from the Lincoln Presidential Library.


Most of the people on the platform were waiting for the train to Chicago, although some were awaiting the Texas train that was due shortly. The station is close enough to the capitol for the agents of influence to book a business class seat and walk over.


Amtrak Lincoln Service 304, Thursday 13 March 2008. Genesis diesels 62-36, Amclub-dinette 48185, Horizon short-distance coaches 54518-54512-54510. Temperature about 50 degrees, overcast skies, dry rail. Leave Springfield 5.31:20, meet 321 in siding east of Springfield, Lincoln 5.58:52-5.59:44, Bloomington 6.28:05-6.31:13, a few Illinois State spring breakers getting an early start, Pontiac 6.57:20-6.57:55, meet 305 in siding east of Pontiac, restrictive signals west of Dwight, Dwight 7.13:36-7.14:42, Joliet 7.54:04-7.55:44, Summit 8.22:44-8.23:35, arrive Chicago Track 24 8.52:08.

At Chicago, Hiawatha 342 turned up on time at 9.00, a little unusual for a train that regularly turns in an 85 minute performance. The crew might have had occasion to handle the train a bit less aggressively. In the rake is the Wheel of Fortune car, advertising National Train Day. May 10.


On the markers, two of the Charter Wire private cars.