The California Zephyr had been inaugurated with great fanfare on March 20, 1949.


From the pages of the Official Guide, August 1950

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR heraldDenver & Rio Grande Western RR heraldWestern Pacific RR herald

The California Zephyr

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Denver & Rio Grande Western
Western Pacific Railroad
June, 1950

17 Train Number 18
Daily Miles (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy) Services Daily
3 30P Dp 0 Chicago, IL (Union Station) (CT) C B R Ar 1 30P
R 4 06P 38 Aurora, IL C D12 44P
5 45P Ar 162 Galesburg, IL C Dp 10 58A
5 50P Dp Ar 10 53A
6 35P 206 Burlington, IA C 10 07A
7 46P Ar 280 Ottumwa, IA C Dp 8 55A
7 48P Dp Ar 8 53A
9 42P Ar 393 Creston, IA C Dp 7 02A
9 45P Dp Ar 6 58A
F10 30P 443 Red Oak, IA C
11 45P Ar 496 Omaha, NE C R Dp 5 00A
11 59P Dp Ar 4 55A
1 04A Ar 551 Lincoln, NE C R Dp 3 55A
1 19A Dp Ar 3 40A
2 49A Ar 648 Hastings, NE C Dp 2 09A
2 52A Dp Ar 2 06A
4 49A Ar 779 McCook, NE (CT) C Dp 12 14A
3 55A Dp McCook, NE (MT) Ar 11 09P
922 Akron, CO C 9 13P
8 20A Ar 1034 Denver, CO (MT) C B R Dp 7 15P
(Denver and Rio Grande Western)
8 40A Dp 1034.0 Denver, CO (Union Sta.) (MT) C B Ar 7 00P
N 1083.6 East Portal (Moffat Tunnel) N
12 35P Ar 1163.3 Bond, CO C 3 12P
12 38P Dp 3 09P
2 01P 1219.0 Glenwood Springs, CO C B 1 35P
3 48P Ar 1308.5 Grand Junction, CO C B Dp 11 53A
3 58P Dp Ar 11 46A
7 21P 1485.4 Helper, UT C 8 36A
9 21P 1560.1 Provo, UT C 6 32A
10 20P Ar 1604.0 Salt Lake City, UT (MT) C B Dp 5 40A
(Western Pacific Railroad)
10 40P Dp 1604 Salt Lake City, UT (MT) C B Ar 5 20A
1 55A Ar 1867 Elko, NV (PT) C Dp 11 17P
1 57A Dp Ar 11 15P
4 01A Ar 2000 Winnemucca, NV C Dp 9 12P
4 08A Dp Ar 9 05P
5 38A 2094 Gerlach, NV C 7 33P
6 42A 2160 Herlong, CA C 6 26P
7 39A Ar 2211 Portola, CA C Dp 5 30P
7 42A Dp Ar 5 27P
11 02A Ar 2327 Oroville, CA C B Dp 2 14P
11 05A Dp Ar 2 11P
11 38A 2353 Marysville, CA C B 1 39P
12 28P 2393 Sacramento, CA C B 12 50P
1 34P Ar 2438 Stockton, CA C B Dp 11 53A
1 37P Dp Ar 11 51A
4 00P 2525 Oakland, CA (3d & Wash.) C B 9 44A
4 15P Ar 2528 Oakland Pier, CA (PT) C B Dp 9 30A
4 30P Dp Ar 9 20A
4 50P Ar 2532 San Francisco, CA (via ferry) (PT) C B Dp 9 00A

Train 17 (Chicago-San Francisco): 28 stops, 50:20, 50.3 MPHTrain 18 (San Francisco-Chicago): 28 stops, 50:30, 50.1 MPH


(Burlington Route Notes)


Completely Air-Conditioned.
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR (via Moffat Tunnel)

WESTBOUND - No. 17

Vista-Dome Observation-Lounge

Chicago to San Francisco - 1 Drawing-room (with shower bath), 3 Double Bedroom. Car CZ-10.


Standard Sleeping Cars

Chicago to San Francisco - 16 Sections. Car CZ-12.
10 Roomette, 6 Double Bedroom. Car CZ-14-15.

New York to San Francisco - 10 Roomette, 6 Double Bedroom (See Note.) Car CZ-11.


Vista-Dome Buffet-Lounge
(Lounge for all passengers; Dome for sleeping car passengers.)

Chicago to San Francisco.


Dining Car - For all meals.


Vista-Dome Chair Coaches

Chicago to San Francisco. Car CZ-20-21-22.


EASTBOUND - No. 18

Vista-Dome Observation-Lounge

San Francisco to Chicago - 1 Drawing-room (with shower bath), 3 Double Bedroom. Car CZ-10.


Standard Sleeping Cars

San Francisco to Chicago - 16 Sections. Car CZ-12.
10 Roomette, 6 Double Bedroom. Car CZ-14-15.

San Francisco to New York - 10 Roomette, 6 Double Bedroom (See Note.) Car CZ-11.


Vista-Dome Buffet-Lounge
(Lounge for all passengers; Dome for sleeping car passengers.)

San Francisco to Chicago.


Dining Car - For all meals.


Vista-Dome Chair Coaches

San Francisco to Chicago. Car CZ-20-21-22.


Note: New York-San Francisco sleeping car operates between New York and Chicago via Pennsylvania R.R. one day and New York Central the next.

ALL SPACE on the California Zephyrs—both COACH and PULLMAN—is reserved and SPECIFICALLY assigned in advance, reservations for trips under 400 miles not being made prior to date of departure. Coach seat reservations westbound from Chicago must be claimed at train gate by 3:25 p.m. Dome seats are not reserved. Checked baggage is carried only for through movement between Chicago and Denver or beyond and not to or from intermediate points. Banana messenger, caretaker and circus tickets not honored. No extra fare on any Burlington train.

(Denver & Rio Grande Western Notes)


PASSENGER TRAIN EQUIPMENT
WESTBOUND

Train No. 17 - THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR.
(Stainless Steel, Streamlined, Diesel Power)
via Moffat Tunnel Route.

Vista Dome, Observation Lounge, Standard Sleeper (1 Drawing-room, 3 Double Bedrooms) [CZ-10] Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.

Standard Sleeper (6 Double Bedrooms, 10 Roomettes) [CZ-11] New York to San Francisco, via N.Y.C. 19 and P.R.R. 1 alternate days to Chicago, thence C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.

Standard Sleeper (16 Sections) [CZ-12] Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.

Standard Sleepers (6 Double Bedrooms, 10 Roomettes) [CZ-14 and CZ-15] (2 Cars)  Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.

Vista Dome Chair Cars [CZ-20, CZ-21 and CZ-22] (3 Cars) Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.

Vista Dome Buffet Lounge, Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P. (Lounge for all passengers; Vista Dome for sleeping car passengers.) (Buffet and sandwich service 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

Diner, Chicago to San Francisco, via C. B. & Q.-D. & R. G. W.-W. P.


EASTBOUND

Train No. 18 - THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR.
(Stainless Steel, Streamlined, Diesel Power)
via Moffat Tunnel Route.

Vista Dome, Observation Lounge, Standard Sleeper (1 Drawing-room, 3 Double Bedrooms) [CZ-10] San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q.

Standard Sleeper (6 Double Bedrooms, 10 Roomettes) [CZ-11] San Francisco to New York, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q. to Chicago, thence via N.Y.C. 22 and P.R.R. 70 on alternate days from Chicago.

Standard Sleeper (16 Sections) [CZ-12] San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q.

Standard Sleepers (6 Double Bedrooms, 10 Roomettes) [CZ-14 and CZ-15] (2 Cars) San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q.

Vista Dome Chair Cars [CZ-20, CZ-21 and CZ-22] (3 Cars) San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q.

Vista Dome Buffet Lounge, San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q. (Lounge for all passengers; Vista Dome for sleeping car passengers.) (Buffet and sandwich service 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

Diner, San Francisco to Chicago, via W. P.-D. & R. G. W.-C. B. & Q.


All space on the California Zephyr - both coach and Pullman - is reserved and specifically assigned in advance. Dome seats are not reserved. Checked baggage will be handled on the California Zephyr to or from Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, Colo., but not to or from other intermediate points between Denver and Salt Lake City. No extra fare.

(Western Pacific Notes)


Trains arrive and depart from Southern Pacific Oakland Pier. Passengers are carried across San Francisco Bay between Oakland Pier and Ferry Building, San Francisco, on Southern Pacific ferryboats, no charge for this service being made to holders of rail tickets reading to San Francisco or points beyond.

All space, both chair car and sleeping car, on the California Zephyr is reserved and specifically assigned in advance. Dome seats are not reserved.

Trains 17 and 18 will handle checked baggage only at San Francisco, Oakland Pier, Oakland, Stockton, Sacramento, Marysville, Oroville and Salt Lake City.

EQUIPMENT

TRAINS 17 AND 18 - THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR. No Extra Fare.

Vista Dome Club Observation Car...Between Chicago and San Francisco (has 3 Bedrooms, 1 Drawing-room).

Standard Sleepers...Between Chicago and San Francisco (Roomettes, Bedrooms, Sections).

Standard Sleeper...Between New York and San Francisco (Roomettes, Bedrooms).

Vista Dome Buffet-Club Car...Between Chicago and San Francisco.

Vista Dome Chair Cars...Between Chicago and San Francisco. All seats reserved.

Dining Car Service.



A California Zephyr promotional film. The reference to passengers being transported into San Francisco via motor bus dates it to the very late 1950s or early 1960s; as late as April of 1958 the Western Pacific's pages in the Official Guide still state that passengers would be transported across the bay on Southern Pacific ferryboats.