A return to the days when Zephyrs ruled the rails

Lucas Countyans had front-row seats during late May, 1934, when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad introduced what became known as the Pioneer Zephyr --- the first diesel-powered streamliner in the United States and the first to enter commercial service.

The powerful trainset stopped as it rolled through Chariton on Saturday, May 19, attracting 2,000 visitors; then roared back through on Saturday, May 26, as it set a new land speed record, a breathtaking 13 hours and 5 minutes, for a trip between Denver and Chicago.

Here's how The Chariton Leader of May 22 reported the first visit:

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More than 2,000 persons Saturday inspected the Burlington Zephyr, new streamline flyer, during its hour stop here in the late afternoon en route to Denver, Colo.

Approximately 15 Chariton people rode from Albia to Chariton on the motor train and at one time were traveling at a speed of 90 miles per hour. Others rode from Chariton to Osceola.

The crowd at the station here was said to be the largest of any between Ottumwa and Creston.

Although it was scheduled to pass through Chariton on the way to Denver, definite information that it would stop here was not received until Friday.

While the train spent an hour at the Burlington depot to allow the large crowd to file through the two passenger coaches, the American  Legion Junior Band played a concert.

The Zephyr will pass through Chariton again between noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday on an attempted record non-stop run from Denver to Chicago. The fire siren will be sounded 15 minutes before it is due to pass through here  in order that Lucas county residents may see the record attempt.

The actual running time in the dawn-to-dusk jaunt is expected to be about 15 hours. The average scheduled speed will approximate 70 miles per hour.

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And here's how The Leader of May 29 reported upon the Zephyr's return trip across the Midwest:

Hundreds of Lucas county residents, grouped along every Burlington railway crossing from Lucas east to Russell, Saturday, saw the Zephyr flash over the rails on a record-breaking nonstop run to Chicago.

The new streamlined motor train took off from Denver at 6:04 a.m. and zoomed into Chicago at 7:09 p.m. to set in 13 hours and 5 minutes a world's record.

Expecting to see the Zephyr whiz by with bullet speed, the many persons who watched it from vantage points within Chariton were disappointed as it slowed down for the constant curves that the rails follow through here. On the straight stretch between Chariton and Russell, however, the onlookers were thrilled as the train hit an estimated speed of 90 miles per hour.

The Zephyr crossed Iowa, 274 miles, in three hours and 32 minutes, averaging 73.3 miles per hour. It passed through Chariton near 3 p.m. and was at Melrose about nine minutes later and in Ottumwa at 3:43 p.m.

Between Villisca and Corning the Zephyr was traveling at 92 miles per hour, but from Osceola to Melrose dropped to an  average of 72.

Burlington employees guarded every crossing in Lucas county, and along the entire route to Chicago more than 2,000 men were posted.