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baz (41 posts)
Aug-19-01, 00:41 AM (EST) "What train is California Zephyr?" I wrode this train from San Franciso to Chicago a few years ago )I'm an Aussie).Exactly what kind of train is it? I remember it had 2 decks in the passenger cars - and the engine kind of looks matched to the cars.Thanks Barry Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: What train is California Zephyr... Gandalf Aug-19-01 1 RE: What train is California Zephyr... milwaukeefan Aug-19-01 2 RE: What train is California Zephyr... jhender501 Aug-19-01 3 RE: What train is California Zephyr... Gandalf Aug-19-01 4 RE: What train is California Zephyr... jhender501 Aug-19-01 5 RE: What train is California Zephyr... baz Aug-19-01 6 RE: What train is California Zephyr... milwaukeefan Aug-19-01 7 RE: What train is California Zephyr... baz Aug-20-01 9 RE: What train is California Zephyr... tomg Aug-19-01 8 RE: What train is California Zephyr... milwaukeefan Aug-20-01 10 RE: What train is California Zephyr... jhender501 Aug-22-01 11 RE: What train is California Zephyr... milwaukeefan Aug-22-01 12 RE: What train is California Zephyr... jhender501 Aug-22-01 13 RE: What train is California Zephyr... Gandalf Aug-22-01 14 RE: What train is California Zephyr... jhender501 Aug-22-01 15

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Gandalf (40 posts)
Aug-19-01, 01:12 AM (EST) 1. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" The California Zephyr is Amtrak's Transcontinental train from San Fransisco to Chicago. Today, it is a Superliner train. When I lived in Salt Lake City about 12 years ago, the consist was quite impressive, sinc the train was combined with Amtrak's Pioneer from Chicago to Seattle and THe Desert Wind from Chicago to LA. In those days, there were at least 3 f40's at the head endfollowed by 3 Material handling cars and two Heritage Baggage cars. 2 or three sleepers, then Sightseer Lounge and Diner and 2 to 3 coaches finished out the San Francisco portion. 2coaches and a sleeper for LA and most nights 1 coach and 1 sleeper for Seattle. The Seattle and LA cars were cut out in Salt Lake and headed out about 10 and 20 minutes respectively behind the Zephyr. In the morning, all three trains arrived within 1/2 hour (on the timetable, at least) and were combined and sent on to Denver and Chicago.THe "real" California Zephyr wasrun by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR., The Denver and Rio Grande Western RR, and the Western Pacific RR. over what some believe is the most scenic railroute in the world. Using stainless steel cars and mostly F and E unit locos, it was truly a beutifull train.Amtrak's Zephyr runs through the rocky mountains, but instead of crossing the Sierra Nevada in Feather River canyon on the Western Pacific (Now Union Pacific) as the original CZ , it uses the historic Donner Pass route of the Southern Pacific. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
milwaukeefan (175 posts)
Aug-19-01, 10:50 AM (EST) 2. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" Because Donner is faster. Also, he mu8st have seen it after about 1995 when P40s were on it because he said the engines matched the cars somewhat. F40s dont match ANYTHING!!!!! there the ugliest passenger engines EVER! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jhender501 (56 posts)
Aug-19-01, 11:09 AM (EST) 3. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?"
Wasn't this train originally the San Francisco Zephyr and the
cut outs made in Ogden? The train went north of Denver to
Greely, Cheyenne, and various Wyoming points..when The Rio
Grande Zephyr folded, Amtrak went their route to Salt Lake.
I know I rode the SF Zephyr, Denver-SF (Oakland) a few times.Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Gandalf (40 posts)
Aug-19-01, 01:34 PM (EST) 4. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" Yes, Amtrak changed the name when Rio Grande gave up the "Rio Grande Zephyr" which it ran using original CZ equipment till 1983.
Amtrak then moved the "San Francisco Zephyr" off the Union Pacific and on to the DRGW..."Through the Rockies, not around them". Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jhender501 (56 posts)
Aug-19-01, 03:14 PM (EST) 5. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?"
It really is a beautiful trip through the Rockies...I've taken
it from Chicago (well, started in Boston on the Lake Shore Limited) a couple of times. But, I also enjoyed the trip
through Wyoming..that was quite scenic. Winter time
on the CZ is quite pretty, and the view through the Glenwood
Canyon is breathtaking.
Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
baz (41 posts)
Aug-19-01, 03:44 PM (EST) 6. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" > Also,
>he must have seen it
>after about 1995 when P40s
>were on it because he
>said the engines matched the
>cars somewhatyes -- I took this train in 1996 - and as I said, the engine seemd to "match " the double deck passenger cars.I would like to "create" this train sometime in MSTS -- so it seems what I am looking for is a P40 diesel ?? and some superliner cars??Thanks Barry Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
milwaukeefan (175 posts)
Aug-19-01, 10:06 PM (EST) 7. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" Now its probably got P42s which look alot like P40s, which are made by GE. they are already in the game, as are the superliners, but they are horrible and should not be used... make new ones. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
baz (41 posts)
Aug-20-01, 03:03 AM (EST) 9. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" > Now its probably got P42s
>which look alot like P40s,
>which are made by GE.
>they are already in the
>game, as are the superliners,
>but they are horrible and
>should not be used... make
>new ones. P40s are already included in MSTS -- and the double deck Superliners.????Where abouts ?? Barry
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tomg (13 posts)
Aug-19-01, 11:04 PM (EST) 8. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" F40PH being ugly? Thats a pretty interesting comment considering all the new engines look like dustbusters. I miss the F40PH's, send then other things back to the east coast. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
milwaukeefan (175 posts)
Aug-20-01, 01:38 PM (EST) 10. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" DAH! what is with you people? F40s arent even passenger engines!!!! they are GP40s with the styling of F45s. They didnt want to do any research and design to make a new engine because when amtrak was formed it was thought that it would flop, which it will in about a year since it obviously with not reach self sufficiency. F40s dont even match any piece of amtrak equipment ever except other F40s and SDP40Fs!!!!!! Mabye you dont think this but I think it ooks pretty ugly when I see the tall angled lines of an F40 pulling the rounded metroliners which are about 42-3 feet shorter! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jhender501 (56 posts)
Aug-22-01, 10:42 AM (EST) 11. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?"
One thing I've always wondered..each time I've ridden either
the SF Zephyr, or the California Zephyr..why is it when the
train enters SP trackage, an SP engine is tacked on to the
front..is that to help with the trip over the Sierras, or some
SP requirement. (I seem to recall the engine was added on in
SLC (or Ogden in the SF Z days)
Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
milwaukeefan (175 posts)
Aug-22-01, 11:11 AM (EST) 12. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" Mabye it has to do with signals. I used to see pig trains through Delaware coming of the R F% P in Virgina that had to have a R F & P engine on them because of the cab signals required in RF&P territory. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jhender501 (56 posts)
Aug-22-01, 01:51 PM (EST) 13. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?"
Ah, well that makes sense..I also noticed while listening
to a scanner, that the train was referred to as "SP #5" versus
Amtrak train 5, but I guess that's understandable being on
SP track.
Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Gandalf (40 posts)
Aug-22-01, 02:55 PM (EST) 14. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?" Well, when I used to watch the trains, the CZ(Amtrak) left SLC on WP or UP tracks, and changed to SP in Elko. The only extra equipment I ever saw were DRGW units on the front end comming in to SLC, and an occassional UP unit if there were problems with any of the other locos in the consists...but then that was 10 years ago. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jhender501 (56 posts)
Aug-22-01, 03:59 PM (EST) 15. "RE: What train is California Zephyr?"
Well, I could be wrong as to when/where the SP engine was
tacked on..the Ogden and then Salt Lake City stops were
quite late night/early morning and who knows what I saw
when I'd wake up there. It's been 5-6 yrs since
I've ridden out that way.
Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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