{{Short description|Passenger train}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = Copper Country Limited | color = | logo = | logo_width = | image = Copper Country Limited (24173081762).jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = The ''Copper Country Limited'' in Calumet, Michigan, during a snowstorm in 1967 | type = | status = | locale = | predecessor = | first = {{start date|1907|03}} | last = {{end date|1968|03|07}} | successor = | operator = | formeroperator = Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway | ridership = | ridership2 = | website = | start = Chicago, Illinois | stops = 36 | end = Calumet, Michigan | distance = {{convert|424|mi}} | journeytime = | frequency = Daily | trainnumber = | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | sleeping = | autorack = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = | gauge = | el = | speed = | owners = | routenumber = 9/10 | maintenance = | sharing = | map = {{Copper Country Limited}} | map_state = collapsed }}

The '''''Copper Country Limited''''' was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (the "Milwaukee Road") and the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway (DSS&A) between Chicago, Illinois and Calumet, Michigan, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It operated from 1907 to 1968.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Adam Burns |title="Copper Country Limited" (Train): Timetable, Schedule, Route |url=https://www.american-rails.com/copper-country.html |website=American-Rails.com |access-date=4 September 2021 |language=en-US |date=2007}}</ref>

==History== [[File:More Copper Country Limited Photos (27482497891).jpg|thumb|left|The Copper Country Limited crossing the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in 1967]] According to historian Jim Scribbins the name "Copper Country Limited" was first used in March 1907 to describe an existing Chicago–Champion, Michigan–Calumet service which had run since 1899. The DSS&A handled the train north of Champion. The train operated overnight in both directions.<ref name="scribbins" />{{rp|41}}

With the arrival of the ''Chippewa-Hiawatha'' on the Milwaukee Division during May 1938, the ''Copper Country Limited'' took a back seat on the Milwaukee Road's trains to Upper Michigan. During 1958, the through Sault Ste. Marie sleeper was discontinued entirely after several cutbacks leaving only the sleeper to Calumet. As ridership continued to slide the Milwaukee offered the sleeper only three days a week beginning in the spring of 1964. During its final years, the ''Copper Country'' carried only a few cars. Its existence persisted almost entirely because of the lucrative U.S. mail contracts that kept many similar trains running across the country. The ''Copper Country Limited'' lost its mail car in October 1967. With little reason to keep it and few riders remaining, the train made its last runs on March 7, 1968. <ref name="american-rails">{{cite web|url=http://www.american-rails.com/copper-country.html|title=The Copper Country Limited|publisher=american-rails.com|accessdate=2014-06-22}}</ref>

==Timetable== The summer of 1967 timetable shows the northbound ''Copper Country Limited'' leaving Chicago at 7:25&nbsp;p.m., arriving at Milwaukee at 8:50&nbsp;p.m., leaving Milwaukee at 9:20 p.m, stopping at Green Bay from 12:20&nbsp;a.m. to 12:55&nbsp;a.m. and arriving at Champion, Michigan at 6:45&nbsp;a.m. On Soo Line Railroad tracks, the ''Copper Country Limited'' left Champion at 7:20&nbsp;a.m. and arrived in Calumet, Mich. at 10:05&nbsp;a.m. The train made 31 stops in the 424 miles between Chicago and Calumet. The southbound ''Copper Country Limited'' left Calumet at 5&nbsp;p.m., stopped at Champion from 7:40 to 7:50&nbsp;p.m., Green Bay from 1:15 to 1:45&nbsp;a.m., Milwaukee from 5:15 to 6:05&nbsp;a.m. and arrived at Chicago at 7:45&nbsp;a.m. The route had 31 stops between Calumet and Chicago.<ref>{{Official Guide of the Railways|July|1967}}</ref>{{rp|508; 649}}

==Equipment== In steam days, the ''Copper Country Limited'' was hauled by non-streamlined Pacific 4-6-2 steam locomotives. In 1952, diesel locomotives took over and classes included EMD FP7, EMD E7A and EMD E9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.american-rails.com/copper-country.html |title=The Copper Country Limited |publisher=American-rails.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-15}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="scribbins">{{Scribbins-Remembered}}</ref> }}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231115/http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Pictures/Photos/016-020/Photo020D.htm The Copper Country Limited at Calumet in 1966] * [http://www.american-rails.com/copper-country.html More photos of the Copper Country Limited]

{{Milwaukee Road named trains}} {{SOO named trains}}

Category:Passenger trains of the Milwaukee Road Category:Railway services introduced in 1907 Category:Railway services discontinued in 1968 Category:Soo Line Railroad Category:Passenger rail transportation in Illinois Category:Passenger rail transportation in Michigan Category:Passenger rail transportation in Wisconsin