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It's hard for me to say as I never experienced a hostess on any of the trains I have taken. I would rather see the return of the Chief of On Board Services Position. I think staff morale was better and things ran smoother when that position existed.
What exactly would a hostess do anyhow?
Posts: 171 | From: Aurora, Illinois | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
I'd like to see the Chief of On Board Services position return. That would go a long way to bringing consistency to the product/services being offered. I saw what had been a great Zephyr trip go down the tubes when the Chief had to leave the train with a seriously ill crewmember in the Nevada desert. The "inmates took over the asylum" the rest of the way.
Frank in cloudy, cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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I only remember one hostess from one trip in 1974. I don't recall she added anything special to the trip, except for starting up an old reel to reel video tape player to watch American Graffiti in an overcrowded lounge.
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The Chief of Onboard Services is needed as long as he/she is given the authority to oversee the service staff and does so! As well as accomodate passengers with specific problems. Although I've heard stories that some were very ineffective with surly service attendants and assisting passengers.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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the hostesses actually did pretty much what the car attendents do today. I know years ago they had to be registered nurses. Also when I was a child I traveled back and forth between D C and L A by myself. I was always put in the care of the hostess who took me to the diner,etc. I would love to have the Chiefs back. The good ones were very knowledgeable about the areas and would give short talks over the PA.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Way back -- in the 50's, 60's and early 70's -- there were "Zephyrettes" on the California Zephyr, and "Stewardess-Nurses" on the Super Chief and El Cap (even after they were combined). The "Stewardess-Nurses" on the ATSF had to be registered nurses. The "Zephyrettes" mostly took care of families with small children, made dinner reservations and did general public relations. A good source of information is Rich Luckin's videos of "California Zephyr" and "Super Chief," which contain interviews with former hostesses.
I think the climate has changed in 35 years, and the Chief OBS is much more appropriate, as an authority figure. The hostesses were always accountable to the Conductor.
Posts: 87 | From: Snowmass, CO USA | Registered: Jun 2003
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I agree about bringing back the Chiefs of On-Board Service. Most of the ones I have experienced were very helpful and accomodating, especially about making alternate arrangements for people on very very late trains. The conductor has enough to do already; we need the On-Board Chiefs to do what the conductor cannot do.
Concerning hostesses, many years ago, when I lived in Michigan, they had a (state-funded, I believe???) "hostess" on the old Blue Water Ltd. Typically she would not be seen until the last 15-20 minutes going into Chicago, and all she did then was pass out timetables and information on connections.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I remember those hostesses well from 1970, 71, 72. I was engaged to one (Theresa) who worked on the Silver Service trains first for the Seabord Airline RR and then for Amtrak. She was gracious, ran games, bingo, gave fashion shows, gave out newspapers, magazines, showed movies, etc. A delight! Too bad they fired the hostesses. Theresa then went to Delta and became a flight attendant.
Posts: 35 | From: Palatka, FL | Registered: Aug 2005
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