Originally operated by CB&Q, D&RGW and WP, The
California Zephyr was considered to be the pinnacle of design,
comfort and luxury of the late 1940s. Its inaugural run on March 12,
1949, attended by politicians, hollywood stars, and corporate
executives, spared no expense. The Zephyr presented each inaugural
female passenger with an exotic corsage of silver and orange orchids
flown in from Hilo, Hawaii.
Marketed to families as "a vacation unto itself", luxury is
obviously an important part of the Zephyr's lasting allure. Each car
was adorned with intricate oil paintings, carved linoleum and etched
glass. Radio service was also provided throughout the train with an
allowance of thirty-four different broadcasting stations. Various
lighting elements were meticulously designed for optimal ambiance
and comfort; fluorescent lighting was provided in all common spaces
and incandescent reading lamps were installed in each roomette and
over each seat, as well as in restrooms, vestibules and passageways.
The dome lighting's intensity was specifically designed to decrease
as you ascended -- not only to create an air of elegance -- but also
to allow glare-free night viewing by the passengers. Elevating the
notion of travel luxury were the famed "Zephyrettes", specially
selected train hostesses that filled mostly any role to help make
the trip both memorable and relaxing – from babysitting to
organizing social activities.
Throughout its twenty-one year run, the California Zephyr ran with
cars of mixed ownership split between the three railroads. This
mixed consist depended mostly on what cars were available at the
terminals rather than the railroad it was operating on at the time.
Its final run was completed on March 22, 1970. Today, the stainless
steel cars of the original California Zephyr are extremely popular
with private collectors and several operate in charter service
through Amtrak, including two cars offered in this run: "The Silver
Lariat" and "The Silver Rapids."
