Flambeau 400
The Flambeau 400 was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Chicago and [North Western Transportation Company|Chicago and North Western Railway] between Chicago, Illinois, and Ashland, Wisconsin on Lake Superior, via Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was originally a special service in the summer time.
History
Beginning in 1935, the Flambeau transported the new American middle class to its new leisure time in the Laurentian [Mixed Forest Province|North Woods] of Wisconsin. The Flambeau operated over basically the same route as later trains did except for bypassing Green Bay to run via Hortonville and Eland. By 1937 the route changed to operate via Green Bay. In July 1949 the Flambeau was integrated with the Shoreland 400 and the Valley 400, running as one train between Chicago and Green Bay and as separate trains beyond Green Bay. Northbound trains ran via Fond du Lac and southbound trains via Manitowoc.In 1950 the train received a new name, Flambeau 400, in reference to the C&NW's popular Twin Cities 400, named for making the approximately 400 mile run from Chicago to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 400 minutes, and Flambeau, the French word for a torch. In 1958 the Flambeau 400 and Peninsula 400 received bilevel equipment. Serving the north woods of Wisconsin, it saw heavy tourist traffic, but by May 1968, it was losing thousands of dollars for the North Western. In 1969 the Flambeau became an unnamed Chicago-Green Bay train with seasonal service to Ashland.
The last Flambeau 400 rolled out of the North Woods on January 5, 1971. Amtrak did not include Green Bay and Ashland in its initial route structure.