Passenger Trains > PV "Palm Leaf" on #11 Yesterday.

As I watched #11 leave San Jose yesterday I saw the Palm Leaf go by along with the four other PV"S when I suddenly realized what a stupid name. Palm trees don't have leaves, they have fronds. Anyone know why that car was given that name?

frond or frondoso is one of the Spanish words for leaf.

It does make you wonder. I always wondered if they ever ran out of names for a "Creek" series car if there might not be "Stagnant Creek" and "Fetid Creek" cars. :-)

StarlightHog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As I watched #11 leave San Jose yesterday I saw
> the Palm Leaf go by along with the four other PV"S
> when I suddenly realized what a stupid name. Palm
> trees don't have leaves, they have fronds. Anyone
> know why that car was given that name?

I got your train on video at Santa Clara (blocked by Caltrain) and also at San Jose.

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this is why green people are around!

You are correct. Palm trees have fronds.

Palm Leaf is one of 13 ACF 10-Roomette, 6-Bedroom, sleeping cars built in 1951 for Super Chief service.

I believe that railroads (at that time) suggested names for sleeping cars to the Pullman Company. The PCo had a committee to review the names.

I suspect that "Palm" names were selected to create an image of Southern California in the traveler's mind.

I traveled aboard the almost brand-new Palm Lore from Chicago to Pasadena in 1951.

The highlight of the trip was enjoying lunch in the Turquoise Room while traversing Raton Pass.

OCV

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> StarlightHog Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As I watched #11 leave San Jose yesterday I saw
> > the Palm Leaf go by along with the four other
> PV"S
> > when I suddenly realized what a stupid name.
> Palm
> > trees don't have leaves, they have fronds.
> Anyone
> > know why that car was given that name?
>
> I got your train on video at Santa Clara (blocked
> by Caltrain) and also at San Jose.
I noticed the Caltrain at Santa Clara. Very inconsiderate of them to do that. Too bad I couldn't have been on-time, but we lost 25 minutes in SAC because of re-spotting to water those five PV"s. When leaving on #14 last night I heard San Jose Control answering an emergency call from some southbound. From what I gathered, it sounded like they nailed a trespasser south of Broadway but nobody has posted anything about it. I guess trespasser strikes are becoming too common and not thread-worthy anymore.

I see you got one the Superliner Coaches from Bill Clinton's
Run for re election in your video. Good catch



cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> StarlightHog Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As I watched #11 leave San Jose yesterday I saw
> > the Palm Leaf go by along with the four other
> PV"S
> > when I suddenly realized what a stupid name.
> Palm
> > trees don't have leaves, they have fronds.
> Anyone
> > know why that car was given that name?
>
> I got your train on video at Santa Clara (blocked
> by Caltrain) and also at San Jose.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

What is the sign being held by the worker at minute 1:45 of your video?

Whistle board to sound horn to warn of approaching equipment.


Jeff

I see that the "Par R" car is back! Well, not really sure if it's the same car, but at the 2:12 mark in the video, you can see that part of the siding is missing and reveals the Phase III (I think) stripe underneath.

I have fond memories of the "Palm" series as well. While not in a brand new car (that must have been really something!)One trip in particular, I recall in the early 70's I was was returning to Kansas City from Chicago on the early Amtrak S.W. Ltd. The Pleasure Dome, First Class diner "Regals" and "Palms" were still in the consist. After having the "Champagne Dinner" in the dining car, and a few hours in the "Pleasure Dome", I retired to my roomette in the "Palm" 10-6. There was a violent thunderstorm that was lighting up the country side and illuminating the beautiful rolling hills of Northern Missouri. I sat up in bed in my Roomette with the shade up and marveled at how I could watch this display at 90 mph as the train hurried through the storm. The "Palm" 10-6 rode better than a Cadillac or an old heavyweight office car I was on earlier that year.
Hubert