Beginning in 1935, the Flambeau transported the new American middle class to its new leisure time in the 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.

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.

Amtrak did not include Green Bay and Ashland in its initial route structure.

Two units usually ran as far as Green Bay, where one would lay over with the dining car for the return trip.