Denver Zephyr Parlor Observations

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

A really good photo of the parlor-obs is that publicity classic that superimposed the DZ on the Chicago-Aurora three-track main in front of Colorado's Front Range.

[Deggesty]

Mmmmmh!

[rcdrye]

daveklepper

From your memory, was the configuration you described maintained?

These were blunt-end obs cars.   But were they built with the rear diaprhagm?

I was a lowly coach passenger so I didn't get the interior view. They were put into an Amtrak series for dome-observations that included other Burlington dome-parlor-observation cars, so I think the answer to the configuration question is yes. The cars as built had diaphragm with a stainless steel plate so they were always capable of mid-train operation.

A nice view of the of the car Silver Veranda in as-built condition (1963)

http://rr-fallenflags.org/cbq/cbq-silver-jpa.jpg

 

[daveklepper]

From your memory, was the configuration you described maintained?

These were blunt-end obs cars.   But were they built with the rear diaprhagm?

[rcdrye]

The search for the 1956 DZ cars Silver Veranda and Silver Chateau hasn't yielded a floor plan yet, but Dubin's "Some Classic Trains" states that the 10 parlor seats and drawing room were forward, with the "Colorado Room" under the dome and a lounge area in the rear.  When I rode the train several times in the late 1960s the cars were operated midtrain next to the diner.