City of Las Vegas
Encyclopedia
The City of Las Vegas was a named passenger train operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
between Las Vegas, Nevada
and Los Angeles, California
beginning December 18, 1956. Train Nos. 115 and 116 initially utilized General Motors' experimental Aerotrain
unitized trainset, but the Union Pacific terminated their lease within a year due to maintenance and performance issues including requiring a helper engine to cross the Cajon Pass
. Service on the line continued with standard streamlined equipment painted in UP's Armour Yellow livery.
On September 24, 1961 the name was changed to the Las Vegas Holiday Special, when both the consist and schedule were reduced. Service was discontinued altogether on June 15, 1968.
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
between Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
beginning December 18, 1956. Train Nos. 115 and 116 initially utilized General Motors' experimental Aerotrain
Aerotrain (GM)
The Aerotrain was a streamlined trainset introduced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in the mid-1950s. Like all of GM's body designs of this mid-century era, this train was first brought to life in GM's Styling Section. Chuck Jordan was in charge of designing the Aerotrain as Chief...
unitized trainset, but the Union Pacific terminated their lease within a year due to maintenance and performance issues including requiring a helper engine to cross the Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass is a moderate-elevation mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault...
. Service on the line continued with standard streamlined equipment painted in UP's Armour Yellow livery.
On September 24, 1961 the name was changed to the Las Vegas Holiday Special, when both the consist and schedule were reduced. Service was discontinued altogether on June 15, 1968.
See also
- Passenger train service on the Union Pacific Railroad