California Zephyr
Having just arrived in Galesburg, Illinois, Train No. Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. 5 — the California Zephyr, led by GE Genesis P42DC locomotives #132 and #167 — "cools its heels" for a few minutes before continuing west on September 27, 2004. GE Genesis (officially Trademarked GENESIS) is a series of passenger Locomotives produced by GE Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of General Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
Info
Type	Inter-city rail
System	Amtrak
Terminals	Chicago, Illinois – Emeryville, California
Operation
Opened	1949
Owner	(track)
Operator(s)	Amtrak
Technical
Line length	2,438 miles (3,923 km)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)

The California Zephyr is a 2,438-mile (3,924-km) passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Western United States. Inter-city rail services are express Train passenger services which cover longer distances than Commuter trains Africa Inter-city services are reasonably The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County California, in the United States. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track ( Permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[1] It runs from Chicago, Illinois in the east to Emeryville, California in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County California, in the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. This route is one of the longest and most scenic routes run by Amtrak, with views of both the upper Colorado River valley in the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. ^[1]

Prior to the formation of Amtrak, the California Zephyr (the CZ, or "Silver Lady") was a passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) and Western Pacific Railroad (WP). The Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, generally referred to as the Rio Grande, became the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in 1920 and is today a Fallen The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I Railroad in the United States. The CB&Q, D&RGW and WP inaugurated "The most talked about train in America" on March 19, 1949. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It was purposely scheduled so that the train passed through the most spectacular scenery in the daylight.

The original CZ ceased operations in 1970. However, the D&RGW continued to operate its own passenger train service, named the Rio Grande Zephyr, between Salt Lake City and Denver using the original equipment until 1983. The Rio Grande Zephyr was a Passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW or Rio Grande between Denver Colorado

Since 1983, the California Zephyr name has been applied to a Chicago-San Francisco Amtrak service, which operates daily and is a hybrid route between the route of the original CZ and the route of its former rival, the City of San Francisco. The City of San Francisco was a streamlined Passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad

The original California Zephyr

Amtrak California Zephyr route[2]

Legend Distance Station 0 Chicago 28 mi (45 km) Naperville 104 mi (167 km) Princeton 162 mi (261 km) Galesburg Illinois/Iowa border 205 mi (330 km) Burlington 233 mi (375 km) Mount Pleasant 279 mi (449 km) Ottumwa 359 mi (578 km) Osceola 392 mi (631 km) Creston Iowa/Nebraska border 500 mi (805 km) Omaha 555 mi (893 km) Lincoln 652 mi (1,049 km) Hastings 706 mi (1,136 km) Holdrege 783 mi (1,260 km) McCook Nebraska/Colorado border 960 mi (1,545 km) Fort Morgan 1,038 mi (1,670 km) Denver Union Station 1,100 mi (1,770 km) Fraser-Winter Park 1,113 mi (1,791 km) Granby 1,223 mi (1,968 km) Glenwood Springs 1,311 mi (2,110 km) Grand Junction Colorado/Utah border 1,417 mi (2,280 km) Green River 1,488 mi (2,395 km) Helper 1,563 mi (2,515 km) Provo 1,608 mi (2,588 km) Salt Lake City Utah/Nevada border 1,871 mi (3,011 km) Elko 2,013 mi (3,240 km) Winnemucca 2,199 mi (3,539 km) Sparks 2,202 mi (3,544 km) Reno Nevada/California border 2,237 mi (3,600 km) Truckee 2,301 mi (3,703 km) Colfax 2,336 mi (3,759 km) Roseville 2,353 mi (3,787 km) Sacramento Valley Station 2,367 mi (3,809 km) Davis Railroad Depot 2,411 mi (3,880 km) Martinez Station 2,438 mi (3,923 km) Emeryville Station

Before Amtrak operated a train with this name, the California Zephyr was operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad from Chicago to Denver, Colorado, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Western Pacific Railroad from Salt Lake City to Oakland, California. Union Station is a Chicago Train station that opened in 1925 replacing an earlier 1881 station and is now the only Intercity rail terminal in Chicago The Naperville Amtrak station is a train station in Naperville, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Princeton Amtrak station is a train station located at 107 Bicentennial Drive in Princeton Illinois. The Galesburg Amtrak station is a train station in Galesburg, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. The Burlington Amtrak station is a train station in Burlington, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Mount Pleasant Amtrak station is a train station in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger The Ottumwa Amtrak station is a train station in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Osceola Amtrak station is a train station in Osceola, Iowa, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Creston Station is an unstaffed Amtrak Train station in Creston Iowa. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and The Omaha Amtrak station is a train station in Omaha, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Lincoln Amtrak station is a train station in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Hastings Amtrak station is a train station in Hastings, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Holdrege Amtrak station is a train station in Holdrege, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The McCook Amtrak station is a train station in McCook, Nebraska, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The Fort Morgan Amtrak station is a train station in Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Union Station is Denver Colorado, USA 's historic train station at 17th and Wynkoop in the LoDo Fraser-Winter Park is a Train station in Fraser Colorado. It is served by Amtrak 's California Zephyr train Granby is a Train station in Granby Colorado. It is served by Amtrak 's California Zephyr train Glenwood Springs is a Train station in Glenwood Springs Colorado. Grand Junction is a Train station in Grand Junction Colorado. The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Green River is a Train station in Green River Utah. It is served by Amtrak 's California Zephyr train The Helper Amtrak station is a train station in Helper, Utah, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Provo Amtrak station is a train station in Provo, Utah, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub hosts Amtrak passenger rail Greyhound bus and Utah Transit Authority 's FrontRunner Commuter rail The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. The Elko Station is an unstaffed Train station in Elko Nevada. The Winnemucca Amtrak station is a train station in Winnemucca, Nevada, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Sparks Amtrak station is a train station in Sparks, Nevada, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system The Reno Amtrak station is a train station in Reno, Nevada, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Truckee Amtrak station is a train station in Truckee, California, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Amtrak 's Colfax Station is in Colfax California. It is unstaffed The Roseville Amtrak Station is located at 201 Pacific Street in Roseville, California, United States. Sacramento Valley Rail Station (SAC is an Amtrak and Amtrak California train station which serves the city of Sacramento California. The Davisville (now Davis Railroad Depot was built by the California Pacific Railroad between August 24, 1868, and November 15, 1868 Martinez Station is a rail station in Martinez, California, the county seat of Contra Costa County. The Emeryville Amtrak station is an Amtrak station in Emeryville California that replaced the older Amtrak 16th Street Station in Oakland. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U Trains ran with cars of mixed ownership; cars cycled in and out of the consists for service, repairs, and varying passenger loads with the seasons.

The first train was christened in San Francisco by Eleanor Parker while California Lieutenant Governor Goodwin Knight, Mayor of San Francisco Leland Cutler, and WP President Harry A. Eleanor Jean Parker (born June 26, 1922) is an American film and television actress California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Goodwin Jess Knight ( December 9, 1896  &ndash May 22, 1970) known as "Goodie Knight" was a U Mitchell looked on. For the inaugural run in 1949, every female passenger on the train was given a corsage of "silver" and orange orchids that were specially flown in from Hilo, Hawaii. Hilo (ˈhiːlo is a coastal town in the State of Hawai{{okina}}i. The women who worked as car hostesses on this train were known as "Zephyrettes. "

The train traversed the route's 2,525 miles (4,064 km) in 2½ days.

Equipment used

The passenger cars used when the train was inaugurated in 1949 were as follows:

• Baggage
• Vista-Dome chair car
• Vista-Dome chair car (Conductor's Car)
• Vista-Dome chair car
• Vista-Dome dormitory-buffet-lounge car
• Sleeper (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
• Sleeper (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
• Diner (48 seats)
• Sleeper (16 sections)
• Sleeper (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms) — this was a run-through car to New York City
• Vista-Dome dormitory-buffet-lounge-observation (1 drawing room, 3 double bedrooms)

The forward section of the first Vista-Dome car was partitioned off and reserved for women and children only. A baggage car (US terminology or luggage van (UK terminology is a type of Rail transport passenger car. A dome car is a type of Railway passenger car that has a glass Dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around A Railway coach &mdash also known especially in the UK, as a railway carriage &mdash is a passenger car designed for the conveyance of passengers A lounge car (sometimes referred to as a buffet lounge, buffet car or club car is a type of passenger car on a train where riders can purchase food and drinks The sleeping car or sleeper is a railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another primarily for the purpose of making A dining car (American English or restaurant car (British English also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a The City of New York An observation car/carriage/coach (often abbreviated to simply observation) is a type of Railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train There was a door in the corridor under the dome just behind the women's restroom that provided access to the reserved section. Early on however, this reserved section was opened up to all passengers and the door and partitions were removed. Like the train's operation, ownership of the cars was split between the three railroads almost evenly across all car types. Each car was owned by a single railroad, but the ownership of the cars on any specific day's run of the train depended more on what equipment was available at the terminals than whose railroad the train was operating over at the time.

Generally positioned as the second Vista Dome coach was the car referred to as the "Conductor's Car". This car was like the other Vista Dome coaches, except in the B end, was a small booth with a bench seat and desk for the Conductor's use.

In 1952 an additional Pullman sleeper (6 double bedrooms - 5 compartments) was added to regular service on this train. With the new cars delivered that year, cars arriving in Chicago on the California Zephyr were made available for use on the Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr for an overnight round trip to Lincoln, Nebraska. The Ak-Sar-Ben Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad as "Burlington Route" train No The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the When the cars returned from Lincoln the next day, they were placed back in the westbound California Zephyr's consist for the next train out of Chicago that afternoon.

"Zephyrettes"

The California Zephyr was marketed (especially to families) as ". . . a vacation unto itself. " Train hostesses, while not new to the industry in the late 1940s, were nevertheless elevated to a new level on the CZ in the form of the "Zephyrette. " The "Zephyrettes" functioned as social directors, tour guides, babysitters, nurses—in short, they filled just about any role required to ensure that the passengers had a memorable trip. A pool of approximately twelve women was assigned at any given time to the CZ in this capacity. In 1983 Amtrak revived the California Zephyr and invited one of the original "Zephyrettes" to host the first trip. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971

A pair of the Western Pacific's Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs), operating as replacements for the discontinued Royal Gorge (trains No. For other meanings of RDC, see RDC (disambiguation. The Budd Rail Diesel Car or RDC is a self-propelled diesel-hydraulic 1 and 2) [1] between September 17, 1950 and October 2, 1960 also picked up the nickname "Zephyrette. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "

Amtrak era

As ridership fell during the 1960s, the Western Pacific repeatedly petitioned the ICC to drop its section of the train west of Salt Lake City without success. The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I Railroad in the United States. The Interstate Commerce Commission (or ICC) was a Regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 which was signed On February 13, 1970, the ICC released an order stating that "operation of the train [on the Western Pacific] was no longer required". Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The train's final operation was made on March 22, 1970, with a westbound train terminating at Oakland, California. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The California Zephyr had operated for 21 years and 2 days. East of Salt Lake City, the train was reduced from a daily to a tri-weekly schedule, operating as California Service on the Burlington and as the Rio Grande Zephyr on the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande Zephyr was a Passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW or Rio Grande between Denver Colorado The Rio Grande portion of the train was extended beyond Salt Lake to Ogden, Utah, allowing Nevada and California passengers to connect to the Southern Pacific Railroad's City of San Francisco passenger train. Ogden is a city in and the County seat of Weber County, Utah, United States. The City of San Francisco was a streamlined Passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad This arrangement existed until the creation of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar.

With the establishment of Amtrak in 1971, the new system began operating its San Francisco Zephyr over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy route to Denver, and Union Pacific's "Overland Route" through Wyoming instead of Colorado, then over the Southern Pacific tracks west of Ogden, Utah.

The Rio Grande railroad initially opted out of Amtrak and continued to operate its section of the former California Zephyr as the Rio Grande Zephyr. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 The Rio Grande Zephyr was a Passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW or Rio Grande between Denver Colorado In 1983 the Rio Grande Railroad reversed its decision and joined Amtrak.

In July 1983, Amtrak ceased operation of the San Francisco Zephyr and launched operation of a new California Zephyr over the CB&Q and Rio Grande legs of the original train route. West of Salt Lake City, the route operates on the Western Pacific track to Wells, Nevada. Wells is a town in Elko County, in northeast Nevada in the western United States. From Wells to Winnemucca the CZ can operate on either the Western Pacific track or the Southern Pacific as directed by the modern owner of both tracks, the Union Pacific Railroad. Winnemucca (Win-ah-muc-ah is the County seat of Humboldt County in the U ^[3] West of Winnemucca the modern California Zephyr follows the route of the former City of San Francisco on SP track. The City of San Francisco was a streamlined Passenger train operated jointly by the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad

Timeline

Train No. 17, the California Zephyr, passes east of Derby, Colorado on July 15, 1951. Derby is a Census-designated place (CDP in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January

• March 12, 1949: Public exhibition of equipment that will be used on the California Zephyr begins in Oakland, California. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U The exhibition travels through along the WP portion of the train's route to Salt Lake City, Utah before returning to San Francisco, California the following week for the inauguration. Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city
• March 19, 1949: The inauguration ceremony for the California Zephyr is held in front of the Pier 3 Ferry building in San Francisco. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This is the only time the train is moved into San Francisco, proper; the ceremony is attended by Pacific Opera Company soprano Evelyn Corvello (who sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the ceremony), San Francisco Mayor Leland Cutler, Western Pacific President Harry A. " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America Mitchell, California Lieutenant Governor Goodwin Knight and Warner Brothers actress Eleanor Parker (who officially christened the train with a bottle of champagne). Goodwin Jess Knight ( December 9, 1896  &ndash May 22, 1970) known as "Goodie Knight" was a U Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Eleanor Jean Parker (born June 26, 1922) is an American film and television actress
• March 20, 1949: The first eastbound California Zephyr leaves San Francisco, California bound for Chicago, Illinois at 9:20 am. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.
• March 1, 1955: The eastbound California Zephyr, while traveling through Ruby Canyon, sees its first on-train birth as Peter Zars is born. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Ruby Canyon is a roughly 25 mile (40 km Canyon on the Colorado River located on the Colorado - Utah border in the western United States
• February 13, 1970: The Interstate Commerce Commission approves the discontinuation of the California Zephyr. Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Interstate Commerce Commission (or ICC) was a Regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 which was signed
• March 22, 1970: The last westbound California Zephyr through to the west coast leaves Chicago; the train terminates in Oakland. Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A remnant of the California Zephyr continues to operate Chicago to Ogden, Utah on the CB&Q and D&RGW on a tri-weekly schedule, with a cross platform transfer in Ogden to the City of San Francisco for through passengers to Oakland.
• 1983: The California Zephyr returns to service when the D&RGW agrees to join Amtrak.
• October 29, 2000: Service on Amtrak's California Zephyr is upgraded to daily. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Route description

Heading westward from Chicago, there are many small towns along the right-of-way as the train crosses the great plains towards Denver. The Great Plains are the broad expanse of Prairie and Steppe which lie east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada

The scenery changes dramatically at Denver as the train climbs the Rocky Mountains. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. After crossing the Continental Divide via the Moffat Tunnel, the tracks follow the Colorado River for several hours. A continental divide is a line of elevated Terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that Water falling on one side of the line eventually The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad/ water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. The Colorado River (' Aha Kwahwat in Mojave) is a River in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately Passengers can see the transition from a narrow, whitewater river (popular with rafters, who habitually moon the train as it passes) to a much wider stream past Glenwood Canyon and Grand Junction. Mooning is the act of displaying one's bare Buttocks by removing clothing e Glenwood Canyon is a rugged scenic 125 mile (21 km gorge on the Colorado River in western Colorado in the United States. The City of Grand Junction is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, The train finally departs the now much larger Colorado River after exiting Ruby Canyon which is also where the train enters Utah. Ruby Canyon is a roughly 25 mile (40 km Canyon on the Colorado River located on the Colorado - Utah border in the western United States The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States.

In Utah, the train follows the southern rim of the Book Cliffs to their end near Helper. The Book Cliffs Range is a Mountain range in western Colorado and eastern Utah. Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and 7 miles northwest of the city of Price. The train then crosses the Wasatch Mountains, cresting at Soldier Summit. The Wasatch Range is a Mountain range that stretches about from the Utah- Idaho border south through central Utah in the western United States Soldier Summit is the name of both a Mountain pass in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and a Ghost town located at the summit After passing the Wasatch the train arrives at the Wasatch Front where most of the population of Utah is located. The Wasatch Front is an Urban area in the north-central part of the U

Once the train reaches Salt Lake City the train loosely follows Interstate 80 until the terminus of the train in California. Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U Interstate 80 (I-80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States (after I-90) Both the freeway and railroad pass along the south shore of the Great Salt Lake and across the Bonneville Salt Flats towards Nevada. Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the US state of Utah, is the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere the fourth-largest terminal The Bonneville Salt Flats are a 159 square mile (412 km² Salt flat in northwestern Utah.

The Humboldt River provides the path across most of Nevada. The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. However, before the train reaches the Humbolt river, it crosses through 2 mountain ranges, tunneling under the Pequop Mountains. The Pequop Mountains are located in eastern Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. Like all rivers in the Great Basin the Humboldt does not reach the ocean, but terminates in the desert. The Great Basin is a large arid region of the western United States. On the other side of this desert valley is the Truckee River which provides the train's path to Reno and up the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The Truckee River is a River 140 miles (225 km long in northern California and northern Nevada in the United States. The Sierra Nevada ( Spanish for "Snowy Range" is a Mountain range located in the U

In California, the train crests the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass and descends following a ridge between the American and Yuba Rivers. Donner Pass (el 7085 ft / 2160 m is a high Mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west American River ( Río de los Americanos in the Mexican period located in the US state of California, has a prominent place in United States history for The Yuba River is an important River in California and a major Tributary of the Feather River, which is a tributary of the Sacramento River Eventually, the California Zephyr reaches the lowland areas of the California Central Valley. The Central Valley is a large flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U The trip terminates in Emeryville, a suburb of Oakland, where a free shuttle bus connects passengers to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County California, in the United States. Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U Passengers continuing to San Francisco transfer from the train to a Thruway Motorcoach which will take passengers to downtown San Francisco. Thruway Motorcoach is Amtrak's system of Amtrak-owned intercity coaches locally contracted transit buses through-ticketed local bus routes and taxi services to

The original California Zephyr used the Feather River Route as its path through the Sierra Nevadas. The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. The rails are still in use for freight; however, anyone wishing to see this portion of the original route must now use State Route 70 which runs parallel to the old Western Pacific track. State Route 70 (SR 70 is a State highway in the US state of California.

Communities served

The regular station stops of the 1949-1970 edition of the California Zephyr included the following communities, listed from east to west:

• Chicago, Illinois
• Galesburg, Illinois
• Burlington, Iowa
• Ottumwa, Iowa
• Mount Pleasant, Iowa
• Osceola, Iowa
• Creston, Iowa
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Lincoln, Nebraska
• Hastings, Nebraska
• McCook, Nebraska
• Denver, Colorado (where the train was handed off from the CB&Q to the DRGW)
• Glenwood Springs, Colorado
• Grand Junction, Colorado
• Helper, Utah
• Provo, Utah
• Salt Lake City, Utah (where the train was handed off from the DRGW to the WP)
• Elko, Nevada
• Winnemucca, Nevada
• Portola, California
• Oroville, California
• Marysville, California
• Sacramento, California
• Stockton, California
• Oakland, California
• San Francisco, California

Preservation and surviving equipment

Former California Zephyr dome car in service with the Inland Lakes Railway -- Mount Dora, Florida. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. Burlington is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. Ottumwa (pronounced əˈtʌmwə "Uh-tuhm-wa" is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. Mount Pleasant is a city in Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4659 at the 2000 census Creston is a city in and the County seat of Union County, Iowa, United States. The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the Hastings is a city in and the County seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States The City of Glenwood Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and the most populous city of Garfield County, Colorado The City of Grand Junction is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and 7 miles northwest of the city of Price. Provo is a city in and the County seat Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 16980 at the 2000 census. Winnemucca (Win-ah-muc-ah is the County seat of Humboldt County in the U Portola is a city in Plumas County, California, United States. Oroville is the County seat of Butte County California. The city-limits Population was 13004 at the 2000 census; and as of 2007 the population Marysville is the County seat of Yuba County, California, United States. Stockton is a City in California and the seat of San Joaquin County (the fifth largest agricultural county in the United States Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Mount Dora is a US city in Lake County, Florida. As of July 1 2006 the U

The high quality Budd built cars of the "California Zephyr" have proven to be popular with private car owners. Today, several former CZ cars operate in private charter service on Amtrak, including dome-observation car "Silver Solarium", dome-coach "Silver Lariat", sleepers "Silver Rapids" and "Silver Quail" and a dome-lounge now known as the "Sierra Hotel".

Five museums currently hold equipment once used on the CZ. The Illinois Railway Museum owns several Burlington locomotives that were used to pull the train on occasion. The Illinois Railway Museum ( IRM) is the largest railroad museum in the United States and is located in Union Illinois, northwest of Chicago The Colorado Railroad Museum has two Rio Grande locomotives that also saw CZ and later Rio Grande Zephyr service. The Colorado Railroad Museum is a Non-profit railroad museum located at the foot of North Table Mountain near Golden, Colorado. The Rio Grande Zephyr was a Passenger train operated by Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW or Rio Grande between Denver Colorado

The Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Florida owns two former Western Pacific Railroad CZ cars: baggage car "Silver Stag" and dome-observation car "Silver Crescent". Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I Railroad in the United States.

The largest collection of preserved equipment can be found in Portola, California at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum. Portola is a city in Plumas County, California, United States. The Western Pacific Railroad Museum (WPRM at Portola formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum prior to January 1 2006, is a Heritage railway One locomotive and four cars are currently preserved there as part of the museum's Zephyr Project restoration program. The Western Pacific Railroad Museum (WPRM at Portola formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum prior to January 1 2006, is a Heritage railway Western Pacific 805-A is the last intact locomotive built specifically for the CZ. Western Pacific 805-A is a Diesel-electric railroad Locomotive built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors The cars are dome-lounge "Silver Hostel", dome-coaches "Silver Lodge" and "Silver Rifle" (on long term loan from the Golden Gate Railroad Museum) and the "Silver Plate", which is the last intact dining car left from the train's fleet. The Golden Gate Railroad Museum is a non-profit railroad museum in California that is dedicated to the preservation of steam and passenger railroad equipment as well

Replicas

A non-functional replica of the California Zephyr is located at Disney's California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, California. Disney's California Adventure Park (commonly referred to by its initials DCA) is a Theme park in Anaheim California, adjacent to Disneyland Park The train serves as the location of Baker's Field Bakery and Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream counter service cafes at the Sunshine Plaza main entrance area of the park.

Gallery

Two California Zephyr express trains meet at a railroad siding (Grizzly) in Garfield County, Colorado beside the Colorado River on March 21, 1949. Garfield County is the eighth most extensive and the twelfth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The Colorado River (' Aha Kwahwat in Mojave) is a River in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Denver and Rio Grande Western locomotives and passenger cars travel in opposite directions on parallel tracks. Placards on the dome cars read "Silver Hostel" and "Silver Pony. " The "Silver Hostel" is today preserved and under restoration at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.

"Drumhead" logos such as this often adorned the ends of observation cars on the California Zephyr. The term drumhead refers to a type of removable sign that was prevalent on North American railroads of the first half of the 20th century

This cover of a pre-inaugural brochure for the California Zephyr features a cutaway view of the train's famed "Vista Domes. "

California Zephyr railcar located at the Amtrak station in Maricopa, Arizona the railcar reads "Silver Horizon". The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Maricopa is a City in Pinal County, Arizona, United States, thirty miles south of Phoenix in the Gila River Valley

References

• Kisor, Henry (1995). Zephyr: Tracking A Dream Across America. HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1558504776.  
• Schafer, Mike and Joe Welsh (1997). Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon. MBI Publishing Co. , St. Paul, MN. ISBN 0-7603-1371-7.  
• Wayner, Robert J. , ed. (1972). Car names, numbers and consists. Wayner Publications, New York, NY.  
• The Zephyrettes. California Zephyr Virtual Museum. Retrieved on May 28, 2006.

See also

• CB&Q Denver Zephyr

External links

• Amtrak - California Zephyr
• California Zephyr Virtual Museum
• California Zephyr History
• California Zephyr Museum Online
• Western Pacific Railroad Museum - owns several pieces of CZ rolling stock
• California Zephyr restoration effort
• California Zephyr's 1949 schedule
• "Amtrak's California Zephyr: The Way West" August 11, 2005 article by Dan Zukowski, author of Why America Needs Amtrak: The Fight to Save Our Trains. The Denver Zephyr was a Passenger train operated by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Chicago Illinois, and Denver Colorado Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Cars of the California Zephyr
• Consist Information for the California Zephyr
• "The History Behind the California Zephyr" article by David Lotz.
• The California Zephyr — Trains 17 & 18
• The "Zephyrettes" — Trains 1 & 2