The "Silver Lady"

The California Zephyr ran between Chicago, IL and Oakland, CA.  This modern, streamlined train was operated by three railroads: the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Denver & Rio Grande Western; and Western Pacific.  The CZ was one of the first trains designed around the new Vista-Dome cars.  Each train typically had five domes.  The CZ was launched on March 20^th 1949, when Western Pacific train 17 left Oakland.  The Silver Hostel, today owned by the FRRS, was the lounge car on that first CZ.

The CZ's route covered 2,525 miles and took about 2 ½ days to complete.  Since the competing train in the same market, the City of San Francisco, benefited from a faster line, the CZ's schedule was designed to place it in the scenic grandeur of the Feather River Canyon and Rocky Mountains during daylight, showcasing the breath-taking views.  This innovation pioneered the "cruise train" concept, still a vital idea in today's long-distance passenger service.

In 1950, the WP took delivery of additional diesel locomotives to supplement its original fleet.  One of these engines, Western Pacific 805A, survives today in the FRRS collection.

The heyday of the "Silver Lady" was the 1950's.  By 1962, the train began to show signs of becoming a financial liability. Travel by rail was on a downward spiral as airlines and highways offered faster or cheaper transportation.  By 1969, the WP claimed losses for the CZ exceeded 1.5 million dollars per year.  The final run occurred on March 22, 1970, when a westbound train terminated at Oakland, 21 years and 2 days after the first one left.

For more information, visit the CZ Virtual Museum.