C&NW 400 Trains Promo 1939

In 1939, the Chicago & Northwestern introduced sets of new streamlined equipment and E3 diesels to their "400" trains running between the Twin Cities and Chicago. Introduced in 1935, the trains were so named because it was nominally 400 miles between the end points. While searching through the archives, I came across this gem of a promotional film for the new trains, professionally shot on 16mm film. I decided to forego the usual soundtrack construction, opting instead for some period music from the Seeburg background music collection.

[@pacificostudios]

The 400 ran from Minneapolis to Milwaukee via still-existing tracks through Eau Claire, Wyeville, WI, and Adams, WI. Its route was shorter than I-94 is today. It entered Milwaukee on the north side and ran along the lakefront on tracks that were removed after CNW passenger trains were routed into the new Milwaukee station shared with MILW. This film features the crossing of the St. Croix River at Hudson, the run along the Chippewa River, and the climb up Wilson Creek.

[@cris_261]

I'm sold on taking a trip to Chicago on the "Amazing '400.'" Now where's my time machine? Loved the music, too.

[@jessemossberg8108]

A nostalgic look at a younger, perhaps better, America. Only 130 million people in the US then; over 340 million now. Wish I could go back in time. Thanks for posting this beautiful film.

[@chrisstromberg6527]

America has always been great and it always will be!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

About two years and three months later "the greatest generation" would be called upon to fight in Europe and the Pacific. World War II had just begun when this film was made as Germany invaded Poland starting on September 1, 1939.

[@Tom-xe9iq]

Love the music... didn't need yammer. Beautiful train in a pre-WWII America.

[@jeffsmith846]

This had to be one of the modern looking trains in the world in 1939. Thanks for this post. It is beautiful

[@WAL_DC-6B]

According to the book "The 400 Story," by Jim Scribbins, the streamliner "400" as seen here began regular passenger service on September 24, 1939, between the Twin Cities and Chicago with its new, dual Electro-Motive, E3A diesel locomotives and Pullman-Standard, passenger cars. Consequently, this color film was probably shot shortly after that date in late September or early October of 1939. The ten 82-foot-long passenger cars of the "400" were arranged in a standard order of (according to the book): "baggage-taproom-lounge followed by four 56-seat coaches, a 56-seat diner, three 27-seat parlors, and a club observation car with 12 parlor seats, bar and lounge." When the "400" made its introductory tour (prior to regular service) through Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota an estimated 100,000 people came out to witness its passage and tens of thousands of people also stood in line for hours to walk through the streamliner passenger cars when on display in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Minneapolis. In fact, schools near the C&NW right of way dismissed their entire classes to permit the students to view the "amazing 400" swiftly speed by for the first time.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Terrific quality color film of the Chicago & North Western's "400" back in its early diesel days. Thanks for sharing! I used to work for the C&NW back in the 1980s in the Engineering Dept (maintenance-of-way). I met a co-worker whose grandfather was a locomotive engineer on the "400" back in the day. He told me one way North Western, operating department officers would test the engineer's handling of this train was to fill a cup of coffee in the dining car and see if it would slosh out by the way he handled his train stopping, accelerating and going around curves.

[@tedbernstein3809]

Only regret that when growing up in Milwaukee and watching the 400 fly by in the early 60's I never had a chance to ride... it was always in my mind that I would 'some day' but I was only 9. Thank you for this amazing video with the nostalgic music that is part of the dream. Past memories and hopes are so special. Have already watched the vid many times and continue to😇😇😇 dream about a ride on the 400!!!

[@roberttuss5349]

Great video! Awesome train. The rail lines were kept in excellent repair in those days. I write this a week after the horrible freight train derailment in Philistine, Ohio that spilled thousands of tons of poison into the streams and rivers and huge plumes of toxic smoke into the air after local officials decided to use a "controlled burn" to get rid of the vinyl chloride and it exploded in a huge mushroom cloud of black poisonous smoke. I will pray for the people of Philistine.

[@trainman5603]

I lived in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was served by the CNW. I traveled to Milwaukee and returned many times on the Lake Sore trains. I saw the magnificent "400" many times when in Milwaukee. However one of my great regrets was never having ridden it.

[@jackchen7003]

Amtrak is proposing on bringing “The 400” back. Even though it will never be as luxurious as it once was, it would be great to have the route back in service!

[@unpasaro]

EXCELLENT FIND, VERY GOOD FILMING AND GREAT MUSIC

[@mshum538]

While I enjoyed watching these steam generator EMD’s operate it takes me back to the early days of my career learning to operate EMD’s as a Locomotive Engineer but my best memories were listening and learning from the gentlemen who ran “ operated “ the Capitol Limited from the P&LE station in Pittsburgh to “ J Tower” in Willard, Ohio and oh boy would I loved to have had a crack at her, oh and the right-of-ways of today are nothing like they were back then, 40 years of continuous service and 10 years retired, good day, ms~~~

[@terrylmorris55123]

I have always been a fan of the EMD powered CNW 400. When I was a kid in the late 50's/early 60's we would ride our bikes down to a crossing in Lake Elmo MN and watch the 400 and other CNW trains go past on the double main line. The crossing in the video looks very much like the one we would watch from. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[@crazyt.trombone]

Terry I grew up in Lake Elmo some 40 years later and always dreamed of what it was like seeing the CNW and the Omaha Road trains fly by when I would also bike down to my local crossing on Ideal Ave to watch what was by then Union Pacific trains roll by! What an incredible time capsule this is!

[@trainman5603]

I have been to Lake Elmo!

[@intercityrailpal]

The high revenue was in the extra FARE PALOURS AND THE NIGHT TRAIN WITH MAIL AND EXPRESS. Most people in coach had cheap short distance tickets. At the lowest fares. I rode the 400 to Mexico City in the 1973. Every ticket taxed on the 400 to build highways and airports.

[@bjkclips]

Thank you for posting. I grew up in Hudson - very cool to see video of the 400 traveling the St Croix river valley, over the swing bridge, and pass the old Omaha Road station.

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

Love the C&NW as I grew up in Des Plaines in the 60's & 70's. C&NW had a train yard there where they parked some of the trains at night. Used to ride the train to downtown Chicago and enjoyed watching the freight trains as well. Thanks for posting this outstanding video from 1939 !!!

[@rorythomas1176]

Looks like it starts out near UofM and then makes its way under the 3rd street bridge in St Paul. Very cool!

[@gailyncookMilwRR]

I'm so happy you shared this "GEM" on your channel for the whole world to enjoy. It's one of those rare videos you can watch many times. When I watched this I kept thinking about a friend of mine, Lloyd A. Keyser. Mr. Keyser, spent his whole life working for the C&NW in various capacity. He also wrote a four volume book set, with Phil Borleske which I'm very proud to have read and own. Their words of history and photographs are priceless! I would recommend any history and railroad buff, if you find his four volume book set buy them you will enjoy every page. The four books cover years 1941 through 1995

[@ckronenwetter6012]

I thought that the C&NW ran lefthanded but here it seems to be running on the right side ? Loved seeing the Eau Claire station arrival. I arrived there many times to visit relatives. 1938 Milwaukee was a treat to see also.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

The Chicago & North Western's subsidiary, the "Omaha Road" (Chicago, St Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway) ran on the right-hand track in double-track territory, and this includes their portion of the "Twin Cities 400" trackage starting at Wyeville, WI and heading west to the Twin Cities. Apparently much of this film of the "400" was shot on the CStPM&O.

[@jeffbittner7223]

Great film mixing up the east bound and west bound trains kept my attention. 2 railroad car ferries passing in Milwaukee.

[@Isochest]

Speedos are rare on european trains . The fastest I've travelled is 137mph between Lisbon and Setubal in Portugal. This was an electric train capable of 250km/h. The first mainline diesels in the UK appeared in 1947 for the LMS

[@Eolafan1008]

Those were so very much simpler times…I can’t help but cringe at what horrors were coming a few months later for those in Europe and a few years later for the rest of our world.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

WWII in Europe had already begun with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.

[@angeloavanti2538]

They were beautiful train sets.

[@privatedetective6516]

Great music too. If only we could turn back the years.

[@davrober48]

This was great , those early 400's with the E3 's where beautiful The music was perfect for this time frame . Iv ridden the Peninsula 400 many time from Chicago to Escanaba and back in the day and yet I have one question. How did a Minn 400 train arrive in Milwaukee lakefront heading north when it was heading to Chicago , the other way. LOL yeah Im picking on it a little bit.Must be the editing.. real flick

[@adventureseeker9800]

Wow! Simpler times then, simpler times. ❤ I know I would have enjoyed it more had the music not caused me to nod off. That is some powerful elevator music. Nap! I need a nap! 😌

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

These films from this time are just great

[@plumbing54]

Awesome video!

[@tommythomason6187]

Beautiful train w/E7s back-to-back, and good quality film & nice scenery.

[@Greatdome99]

E3s

[@tommythomason6187]

@@Greatdome99 They look sleek.

[@whiteknightcat]

The E7's weren't marketed until 1945. Also note the distinctive "shovel nose" of the early E's vs the "bulldog nose" of the E7 thru E9 models.

[@oldguy3251]

Notice that some of the road bed had been oiled for dust control.

[@davidw5266]

This is a wonderful video! Thank you for finding and sharing it.

[@terryboyer1342]

Looks great. Where can I get a ticket?

[@daylightman8459]

Ask your local travel agent or ticket clerk at any of the 400’s lineside stations! (JK the C&NW doesn’t exist anymore)

[@tombarnes7196]

Enjoyed the film. Thanks for sharing!

[@shak0009]

Wow amazing find and thank you so much for posting this, loved every minute of it. I can't believe they actually had a speedo in the car for passenger to see, how fun? I recently went on a Amtrak trip and used my phones app to measure the speed and at some points we hit 80mph and I thought that was crazy fast for a modern train, I can't believe they were doing that plus back then? I dont understand the part where they had the signal to NOT proceed but did anyways? Keep up the fantastic work !

[@espeescotty]

They were showing the steps of a semaphore signal. When the blade was straight up (1), the train had a clear track, and that's what we saw -- the train proceeding as normal. Then as the train entered the next block (2), the blade dropped to the horizontal which then means "Stop" to any following train. Then as the train moved further into the next block (3) several miles ahead, the blade moves to proceed with caution. The next step (4) shows the blade at the vertical again, which again means proceed as normal. That is when the train is far enough ahead for following trains to operate at normal posted speed.

[@fmnut]

@@espeescotty I think the previous commenter was possibly confused by the shape of the CNW style semaphore arm.

[@davefrompa5334]

From 1935 to 1939, this train consisted of old fashioned looking heavy weight cars, pulled by a conventional looking steam locomotive, at top speeds approaching 100 mph, comparable to Diesel speeds (of course Diesels are cleaner, as well as easier and cheaper to operate) In 1948, an Interstate Commerce Commision ruling limited trains without cab signals or automatic train control to less than 80 mph. Most railroads decided not to invest in this upgrade since passenger trains were already losing out big to cars and planes. Freight was always the main money maker. If you want to see good action footage of the steam hauled 400 at speed, check out 1930's Midwest Steam Trains and Streamliners in Action (on You Tube) at about the 12:40 mark. There's good color footage of both the steam and Diesel-powered 400's starting at 20:11.

[@airminnesota]

I'm not 100% certain, but at 1:36 it looks like the train is going under White Bear Avenue, and the bridge off in the distance was for streetcars going to Mahtomedi and Stillwater.

[@jameswhitmore3706]

I love this video - thanks so much for sharing it! 😊

[@JJAG4282]

Me was watching it just like you

[@Bob.W.]

I'd ride it to Cubs and White Sox games.

[@RugbyJunction]

Neat to see the Eau Claire and Milwaukee depots in a video format instead of just photos. It is a little odd that the 400 at Milwaukee was going northbound when this video is supposed to document a southbound journey, but I digress. Operating the little orange flame thrower contraption at 7:16 looks like an insanely unhealthy way to make a living!

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

I also noticed the northbound arriving in Milwaukee from Minneapolis😀. Oops.

[@Arzuna.EDITZ.]

nice music,although I do love all the choo-choo songs written in the 20thC- and I heard a few train chords played by the piano…

[@nickniedermann9204]

Try shaking the bottle applicator for 2 to 3 minutes to build up a static charge before shaking it onto the glue. Then, once it is applied, use the small vacuum to help get the grass to stand up. Hold the vacuum a couple of inches or less above the freshly applied grass. Repeat that process 2 to 3 times as it dries. The instructions mention this step.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Was this comment intended for another video?

[@nickniedermann9204]

@@WAL_DC-6B Yes, my apologies. I'm not sure how that happened.

[@richardking2762]

The trip is from Minneapolis to Chicago. Eastbound according to the timetable. In the Milwaukee shot the train is traveling westbound.

[@topekasub]

I noticed that too!

[@andrewdfw7389]

The original schedule put the eastbound '400' into Milwaukee at 7:40 PM. That would have been well after dark in late September, 1939, when this film was produced. Color motion picture film of the day didn't perform well in low light settings. So, to show the Milwaukee station stop in daylight, the scheduled westbound '400' is seen as it arrives there at 4:00 PM.

[@Charlie_714]

V I N T A G E⭐️

[@Chescat124]

Ah yes, the good days

[@drummachine434]

Just think, there's a chance that half of these tracks u see in the video are either abandoned and or turned into trails

[@davidw5266]

In Minneapolis and Milwaukee, some of the route traversed by the 400 has been converted to trails. However, the vast majority of the route is still intact and is currently owned by and operated by Union Pacific. In the Chicago area, Metra commuter trains operate on the Union Pacific North Line which was the route over which the 400 entered and exited Chicago.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

@@davidw5266 In a manner of speaking, half of the tracks, if not more, are indeed gone as much of the former Twin Cities "400" line is now single tracked.

[@randolphgoodmann4188]

Which Seaburg songs did you use in this video? I love them!

[@fmnut]

Seeburg 1000 background music part 1

[@userlg8]

Лепота!

[@Greatdome99]

Not only 400 miles, but "400 miles in 400 minutes," hence the name.

[@0759trainz]

What's the name of the first song?

[@Robbi496]

But the song "Fanny" is from the 1950's? otherwise a great video!

[@topekasub]

Curious as to the location of that final segment where it is curving along that body of water. Wisconsin river?

[@WAL_DC-6B]

My guess would be the St. Croix River somewhere west of Hudson, WI (note the "400" is running on the right-hand side as used by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaho Railroad versus the left-hand side as used by the parent company, Chicago & North Western Railway).

[@jamielacourse7578]

Great music. Absolutely great. Love art deco as well.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

And "streamline moderne."

[@buster178]

Swayze express