Train Arrival Board

We’ve seen a few photographs that Jack Delano recorded at the Chicago Union Station back in January of 1943. One featured a beautiful scene of sun rays penetrating the main concourse of the station, the other depicting an overall view of that space.

This image zooms in on that information counter in the latter photograph, and shows the train arrival board. It’s an interesting combination of neon and chalk board, with the train arrival times and comments updated continually. We’ve all read about the pride the railroads had in running trains on time back in the day. Looking over the arrivals times below shows something a bit lackluster. Perhaps it’s simply a result of the sheer volume of the war time traffic.

Train Arrivals at Chicago Union Station

2 thoughts on “Train Arrival Board

  1. Ready that board, it says that the “Builder” which I am taking to mean the “Empire Builder” was due at 8:40 but was expected at 3:50 PM, that is way late, Bill Williams would be having a fit if he saw that!

    • George, you’re likely right about the Empire Builder. The CB&Q handled Great Northern Railway’s flagship between Chicago and Minneapolis. The GN (in addition to Bill) would not be happy with this CB&Q late arrival at Chicago.
      -Jack

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