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It seems to be kind of dead, of late, on the Rail Forum. I thought it could be a good time for posting this travelogue on the Western Pacific Calif. Zephyr, the "Vista Dome Adventure", from the 1950's.
The segment in the dining car was interesting. The variety of great food and the one scene of having a fresh mountain trout deboned, by the waiter, could bring tears to one's eye when thinking of the status of food and service, nowadays, on Amtrak. Also note that the lounge-observation car was available at all hours for refreshments.
I only counted one smoker in a vista dome car.
I also liked the segment showing traveling along the Feather River Canyon. I noticed that the old train schedule had a stop in Portola, Calif. Portola is an interesting little town, home of the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Richard, Thanks for that look at what rail travel was like before Amtrak. Hard to believe we have progressed to food in a box meals.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Mr. Palmland: I think we both miss the old dining car meals. You mentioned the L&N dining car, I remember the dining car on the SF Chief. Great meals!
Rich: If the old WP Calif. Zephyr schedule was adopted by Amtrak's Calif. Zephyr, it would provide interesting material for one of your route guides.
Gerlach, Herlong, Portola, Oroville, Marysville, Sac, Stockton, & Oakland. A lot of twists and turns. I think Gerlach was a UP switching station and Herlong an army ammunitions storage facility.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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In the Summer of 2008, I had the good fortune to ride the Zephyr (#6) on a detour via the Feather River Canyon. It was fantastic ! Amtrak hasn't done that again to my knowledge, but if they ever do, don't miss it.
More recently, I took #6 from Sacramento to Denver on Sept. 2. It ran right on time the whole way, until Denver, and then lost about an hour waiting to enter the BNSF yard. They said that a switch (remotely controlled from Omaha) was not responding. The food on the trip was very good, especially the "Land and Sea" (steak plus a seafood cake), with a creme brulee for desert. The sleeping car attendant (Reggie) was terrific. Stayed at the Crawford Hotel in Denver Union Station - excellent, but pricey. Took the new RTD A line out to the airport.
Posts: 133 | From: Canaan, CT | Registered: Dec 2004
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