ITEM E504

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An Entertaining History of America’s Most Celebrated Train Route

By John Kelly

America’s most talked-about train, the California Zephyr was inaugurated March 20, 1949, book-ended by the world-class skylines of Chicago and San Francisco. Operated in partnership over three railroads—Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Denver & Rio Grande, and Western Pacific—the train was designed in Art Deco style and built of shotwelded stainless-steel by the Budd Co.

The California Zephyr incorporated the best of the Zephyr fleet including Vista-Dome coaches and Vista-Dome observation cars. Powered by General Motors diesel locomotives, the western-themed “land-cruise” train traveled 2,532 miles on its journey from Chicago, traversing the spectacular Colorado Rockies via the 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel and California's magnificent Feather River Canyon—by daylight in both directions. Vintage equipment diagrams include California Zephyr baggage car, Vista-Dome coach, Vista-Dome buffet-dormitory car, dining car, bedroom-cabin car and Vista-Dome bedroom-buffet-lounge-observation car. Other highlights feature original trip reports by”Zephyrett” hostesses, travel brochures, timetables, dining car menus and full-color photo gallery of the stunning California Zephyr.

Softbound, 128 pages, 150 photos, 8.5'' x 11''