Passenger Trains > "I christen thee the California Zephyr" 68 years ago today!

March 19, 1949, 3 complete brand new California Zephyrs were in Chicago, and three complete brand new California Zephyrs  waited in the San Francisco Bay area. One Zephyr was in San Francisco in front of the Pier 3 Building and the Ferry Building, there was a reviewing stand and about a thousand people. Edward Budd, Jr.. the car manufacturer was there. Western Pacific's president Harry Mitchell was present. Warner Brothers young movie starlet Eleanor Parker swung a bottle of local champagne against Western Pacific diesel engine #802's F-3 nose and said "I christen thee the California Zephyr". The next day #17 and 18 would start service.

Ret. Navy Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, IL

my birthday present

The best way to enjoy Feather River Canyon in those days!
They also served a really great chocolate milkshake.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/17 09:34 by MojaveBill.

We rode Oakland to Chicago in July 1949,. Had a bedroom for my parents and me---$300.
C

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

Here is a thought, Amtrak has run it's California Zephyr for thirteen more years than the original CZ ran. Alas, its the only CZ I have ever known.
Cheers,
Nick

Check that math again. It's 68 years. Lol

Posted from iPhone

alan2955 Wrote:
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> Check that math again. It's 68 years. Lol
>
> Posted from iPhone

The Western Pacific/Rio Grande/Burlington threw in the towell around 1970. Amtrak started up the service as the San Fransisco Zephyr until around 1983 when Claytor finally got it on the Moffat tunnel route. So there's about a 13 year gap between original service and Amtrak's continued service.                                               

CarolVoss Wrote:
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> We rode Oakland to Chicago in July 1949,. Had a
> bedroom for my parents and me---$300.
> C 
     Geez, Carol, I wonder if we were on the same train?  We, my Dad and I, were up front, in the first coach, heading for, among other stops, the Chicago Railroad's Fair.  AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

And I rode Sacramento to Chicago in September 1969 in a roomette.   I still consider this Circle Trip around the USA my greatest train trip ever.   Capitol Limited -> North Coast Limited -> Seattle to Portland Pool Train -> Cascade -> California Zephyr -> Broadway Limited -> NEC corridor train from Philly to D.C.

jp1822 Wrote:
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> The Western Pacific/Rio Grande/Burlington threw in
> the towell around 1970. Amtrak started up the
> service as the San Fransisco Zephyr until around
> 1983 when Claytor finally got it on the Moffat
> tunnel route. So there's about a 13 year gap
> between original service and Amtrak's
> continued service.

No. The WP gave up the ghost ... the Burlington and Rio Grande were willing to continue.

Regards,
Burlington John