Black Hawk (Amtrak train)
| Black Hawk (previous route) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||||
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Discontinued | ||||
| First service | February 14, 1974 | ||||
| Last service | September 30, 1981 | ||||
| Former operator(s) | Amtrak | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Chicago, Illinois | ||||
| No. of intermediate stops | 6 | ||||
| End | Dubuque, Iowa | ||||
| Distance travelled | 182 miles (293 km) | ||||
| Average journey time | 4 hours 10 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 370-372 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Unreserved coach | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board cafe | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Chicago Central (CN) | ||||
|
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The Black Hawk is a planned Amtrak route from Chicago, Illinois, to Dubuque, Iowa via Rockford, Illinois. The new service will operate under the Illinois Service umbrella and is expected to begin operation in 2014 or 2015. After departing Union Station in Chicago, the route will follow Canadian National's Chicago Central/Iowa Zone of the Illinois Central Railroad. Amtrak previously operated the Black Hawk over the same route from 1974-1981.
Contents |
History [edit]
Previous operation [edit]
Prior to Amtrak the Illinois Central Railroad operated the Land O'Corn between Chicago and Waterloo, Iowa, discontinuing it in 1967. The first Black Hawk began running on February 14, 1974, using Budd Company rail diesel cars. Conventional diesel locomotives and coaches replaced the RDCs after February 2, 1976. Equipment varied, including ex-Chicago & North Western gallery cars, dome cars, boat-tailed observation cars, full diners, lunch counter diners and ex-ATSF Hi-Level Coaches. Further, power for the Black Hawk also varied on a regular basis with GE P30CHs, EMD SDP40Fs, EMD F40PHs and the occasional Illinois Central Gulf "Geep" filling in for ailing power (an ICG EMD GP10 towed the last RDC consist into Chicago in 1976). Amfleet coaches arrived in November 1976.[1]:251 Service ended on September 30, 1981, after Illinois reduced its appropriations for passenger service.[1]:248
Several Rockford based groups sponsored special charter trips to Chicago events such as Bears, Cubs and Sox games as well as performances of "The Ice Capades" on the Black Hawk. On these trips, the consists could swell to as many as seven to 10 cars. During the RDC days, the usual consist consisted of three RDC's. During the mid to late 70's the consist usually included 3 cars, including a food service car of one type or another. During a good part of the summer of 1977, the Black Hawk ran with a full dining car and dome coaches.
The route used the former Illinois Central Railroad route (then part of the Illinois Central Gulf) between Chicago's Union Station and Bridgeport and the Freeport Subdivision west of Bridgeport.[2]:44
| Black Hawk (new route) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||||
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Proposed | ||||
| Locale | Illinois, Iowa | ||||
| First service | 2014 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Amtrak | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Chicago, Illinois | ||||
| No. of intermediate stops | 7 | ||||
| End | Dubuque, Iowa | ||||
| Distance travelled | 182 miles (293 km) | ||||
| Average journey time | 4 hours 10 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Unreserved coach | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board cafe | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Canadian National Railway | ||||
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Restoration [edit]
In 2007 Amtrak, at the state of Illinois' request, conducted a feasibility study to reinstate the Black Hawk route to Rockford and Dubuque. Initial capital costs ranged from $32 million to $55 million, depending on the route. Once in operation, the service would require roughly $5 million a year in subsidies from the state.[3] On December 10, 2010, IDOT announced the route choice for the resumption of service to begin in 2014 going over mostly Chicago Central railway owned by Canadian National.[4] IDOT confirmed the return of the "Black Hawk" name in 2012.[5] The equipment to be used on the route will be built by Nippon Sharyo at a new plant in Rochelle, Illinois, which is located just 24 miles south of a portion of the proposed route.[6]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-34705-X.
- ^ Solomon, Brian (2004). Amtrak. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-1765-8.
- ^ "Amtrak-Illinois dot feasibility study determines most direct route best for service to Rockford, northwestern Illinois and Dubuque, Iowa". Amtrak. May 16, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
- ^ "Amtrak Black Hawk Service Restoration Status Updates". April 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
- ^ Sweeny, Chuck (May 18, 2012). "Amtrak route for area on target for late 2014, early 2015". Rockford Register-Star. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ^ "Rochelle's Nippon Sharyo train car plant lands $352 mil contract". Retrieved 11-29-12.
