| The Chicago and
North Western’s Fast Mail was considered one of the railroad’s
fastest trains, operating on a hot schedule between Omaha and Chicago.
Although the train carried passengers, its main purpose was to haul
time-sensitive mail and express. The Fast Mail took on even more
importance in late December, when the train would sometimes expand
to twice its normal length to accommodate the large amount of Christmas
mail and packages. Today’s train is entrusted to a Class E
Pacific, known as a powerful and speedy locomotive that could reliably
expedite important cargo to its destination. |
