posted
Thanks for the post, Joe. I wish I had the chance to take the Super Chief in the 1950s. Might have been asphyxiated from all the smoke, however. Love that travelog music...makes me want to get up and dance around the room.
I also liked the video on the California Zephyr.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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It was amusing that the audio translation into closed captions rendered the name of the train the "Super Cheap."
I wondered about that guy at the full-sized upright typewriter. Did he tote it aboard or did the Chief supply it?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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"bumper to bumper" on the Super, June 1962
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Despite her personal agony, Jessica Savitch was a remarkably intelligent and savvy journalist, far from the stereotype (even today) of the pretty airhead newsreader. My newspaper assigned me to interview her when her memoir (which avoided her messy personal life, which wasn't known at the time) was published, and her thoughtfulness and knowledge were surprising. She simply seemed to be nice folks.
I liked Fahey Flynn, even though he was more of an on-air personality rather than a professional journalist, possibly because he was relatively easy to lipread.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I rode the Super Chief in the "60's" and can attest to its excellence in comfort and fine dining. The Fred Harvey Company, so well known in the Chicago area, was in charge of the menu's and all associated with the dining experience. Their French Toast for breakfast was superior!!!
Yes, the typewriter was part of the service that Santa Fe provided on this train. The personel on board were selected for their personality and previously exhibited diligence in serving the passengers, not by seniority.
The Santa Fe Super Chief was an item of pride that was felt by all employees from the depots to the track workers. I rode the AOE in 2002 and while similar it did not match the Super Chief.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
It was indeed Mr. Williams; and from the Korean War onward. With hindsight, the decision by the roads to acquire the fleet of post-WWII passenger cars they did has got to go down as a business decision with Classic Coke and the Edsel.
Roads that had made the "plunge" into new equipment disproportionate to their Passenger Revenue of course were putting out "optimistic" propaganda through the 50's and even into the '60's. After all, we have to justify the blunder decision we made.
But no question, the train riding community, of which I was far more a member then than I am today, benefitted from the still exemplary services available until, say, about 1965. During Summer 1966, there was a month long airline strike and a fair amount of business returned to the rails - even if that business was by default (as distinct from today where over here the public is choosing to ride trains again). When that strike ended, that business evap[orated as quickly as it came. During 1967, the U S Post Office announced they would no longer use (or use very much) rail as a means to move mail. From that point onward, it became "every man for himself' to get trains off.
But Santa Fe was the one "class act" out there - right to The End.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I enjoyed the video on the Milwaukee Road Olympian Hiawatha. Interesting video with some unintentional humor. When they went through the Superdome car, I think the guy on the right (2:20) was either asleep or in the process of falling asleep. I counted only one guy lighting up a cigarette.
It's too bad there isn't a train, anymore, going along the old NP route. I guess Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha is dead and gone. I wonder if the private rail excursion, "Montana Rockies Rail Tours" along the Montan Rail Link, will ever make a comeback.
That old NP route is sure scenic..especially the Three Forks area of Montana and the Bitterroot Mountains.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
MILW Superdomes were not much in the way of forward vision; and for that matter, neither were Budd's (AMTK 10031).
But what I consider a blatant abuse was a photo that appeared in TRAINS some fifty years ago; the photo showed a guy sitting in the most forward seat of a Budd "short" Dome on the CZ - reading a PAPER.
Budd "short" Domes were "the best out there" for viewing.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
After starting this forum, I got to thinking about my Navy days at Great Lakes back in 1966. I remember seeing the "El Capitan" logo on the front of engines and wondering where that train was headed. Can't seem to find any vintage films.
How about some of you real rail roaders, any real life info on the "El Capitan".
Thanks,
Joe
Posts: 85 | From: Finger Lakes Region of NY | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
"El Capitan" only went CHI-LA; that was as close it got to its namesake in Yosemite.
This was first an all-Coach that ran as an "Advance Super", but by 1958, the two trains were combined with strict segregation between the two classes of service.
For my 1962 "bumper to bumper" ride on the Super, the trains were separate, but that was because for Friday departures from LA, one or two extra Sleepers were added, as there was still an LA-NY crowd to accommodate that would rather spend a weekend aboard trains than fly.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Excellent video's! Gilbert Sir I love them Milwaukee video's! I always liked the humor they would use. Like the guys on the mine car. Ok move ahead more room up front. Just makes you laugh a little. I just wish we had some pride like that where we could see washed units. But wait that would cost the shareholders lol. Ahhh the good old days.
-------------------- Modern day boomer BNSF,IC&E to the CN/J I MOVE freight! Posts: 6 | From: Chi town | Registered: Mar 2012
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posted
Mr. GBN the "El Capitan" name is from the SW USA Spanish theme. Santa Fe named several sites and this train using the SW theme.
The El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, the Alvarado in Albuquerque, the Castenada in Las Vegas, NM and the La Posada at Winslow are examples.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Breakfast in the dome, on the City of Saint Louis bringing Mom and I home from Grandma and Grandpa's in 1967...
The roll of the roof just inside the dome on the lead end, in a 9000 series dome lounge, both in 1963 and 1967...
The flat-top lounge we had for some reason, EB in 1967...
Our open section, and I had the upper berth with berth windows, and that bed is both wider and more comfortable than anything Amtrak has come out with! (Travel and Sleep in Pullman Safety and Comfort)
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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