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The ''Zephyr Rocket'' was an overnight passenger train operated jointly by the 
The trains, with coaches and sleeping cars, started operating on January 7, 1941. They also carried round-end observation cars with the train's name emblazoned on the rear for several years.
The train was named by combining the nicknames of the operating railroads' passenger train fleets: The passenger trains of the Burlington Route were called ''Zephyrs'', while those of the Rock Island Lines were called ''Rockets'', hence ''Zephyr Rocket''.
In 1964 the train was still earning money above its direct costs, at least for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. In 1967 the train, by then coaches-only, was discontinued, with the last trains departing on April 8 and arriving at their respective end points the following morning.
Reinstatement of direct passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and St. Louis is infeasible on the original route, as a key part of it, between Burlington and Cedar Rapids, was abandoned when the Rock Island ceased operations in 1980. Portions of this section have been converted to bicycle/hiking trails. Although service could be run on an alternative routing (e.g. via ''
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...
("Burlington Route") and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RW, sometimes called ''Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway'') was an American Class I railroad. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.
At the end ...
("Rock Island Lines") between Saint Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which ...
and the Twin Cities
Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...
of Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
and Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, with major intermediate stops in Burlington
Burlington may refer to:
Places Canada Geography
* Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador
* Burlington, Nova Scotia
* Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington"
* Burlington, Prince Edward Island
* Burlington Bay, no ...
, Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids () is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and northeast of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city. ...
, and Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census the population was 67,314, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. The city is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls ...
. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy carried the train between St. Louis and Burlington, while the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific carried it between Burlington and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Motive power and equipment were pooled and traveled the entire distance without change.
The trains, with coaches and sleeping cars, started operating on January 7, 1941. They also carried round-end observation cars with the train's name emblazoned on the rear for several years.
The train was named by combining the nicknames of the operating railroads' passenger train fleets: The passenger trains of the Burlington Route were called ''Zephyrs'', while those of the Rock Island Lines were called ''Rockets'', hence ''Zephyr Rocket''.
In 1964 the train was still earning money above its direct costs, at least for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. In 1967 the train, by then coaches-only, was discontinued, with the last trains departing on April 8 and arriving at their respective end points the following morning.
Reinstatement of direct passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and St. Louis is infeasible on the original route, as a key part of it, between Burlington and Cedar Rapids, was abandoned when the Rock Island ceased operations in 1980. Portions of this section have been converted to bicycle/hiking trails. Although service could be run on an alternative routing (e.g. via ''Twin Star Rocket
The ''Twin Star Rocket'' was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Introduced on January 14, 1945, it was the only new streamlined train permitted to enter service in World War II by the U.S. governmen ...
'' route; or by combining ''Zephyr Rocket'' and ''Twin Star Rocket
The ''Twin Star Rocket'' was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Introduced on January 14, 1945, it was the only new streamlined train permitted to enter service in World War II by the U.S. governmen ...
'' routes).
References
Named passenger trains of the United States Night trains of the United States Passenger rail transportation in Minnesota Passenger rail transportation in Iowa Passenger rail transportation in Missouri Passenger trains of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Passenger trains of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Railway services discontinued in 1967 Railway services introduced in 1941 {{US-rail-transport-stub