The Pioneer Zephyr: America's First Diesel-Electric Stainless Steel Streamliner

Swift, stylish and so sophisticated, The Burlington Railroad's God of the West Wind, the Pioneer Zephyr, was a 104-ton, three-car streamlined speedster, setting a record of 13 hours, four minutes on the 1,015-mile run between Chicago and Denver. In April of 1934, the Zephyr posed for its official photo, then went on an exhibition tour that visited 46 cities where nearly half a million people saw it. The Zephyr exceeded 100 mph numerous times in its lifetime, amazing the public and the railroad industry alike. The Pioneer Zephyr spawned many look-alikes on the Burlington, it was the centre of attention in the movie "The Silver Streak", and it eventually was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.