What was America's finest Passenger Train?

[Anonymous]

Hey Rock that Texas Special was a pretty train.
I will cast my vote for the Southerner.

[Anonymous]

1. Santa Fe Super Chief
2. The Texas Special
3. California Zephyr

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Best in the West would be the Super Chief, even after it was combined with the El Capitan.

Best in the East would have been the 20th Century Limited, even with the coaches it inherited in 1958 from the Commodore Vanderbilt.

David P. Morgan wrote a delightfully opinionated article in TRAINS in 1964 or 1965 titled "The Perfect Passenger Train" which combined an interesting variety of equipment, crew and route.

[passengerfan]

PA's never a regular assignment for CITY OF LOS ANGELES try LOS ANGELES LIMITED. A-B-A sets of PA's power for postwar AT&SF CHIEF regular assignment. A-B-B sets of PA's regular assignment for SP SHASTA DAYLIGHT after EMD E-7 A-B-B failed to maintain hot schedule. SP regularly assigned PA's to CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO between Ogden and Oakland pier. PA's also choice of power for CASCADE heavier train than SHASTA DAYLIGHT. SP E-Units found regular assignment out of Los Angeles on SUNSET LIMITED and GOLDEN STATE the former east as far as El Paso and the latter east as far Tucumcari where Rock Island E units were assigned to the GOLDEN STATE. East of EL Paso the The TN&O assigned PA's to SUNSET LIMITED east of El Paso initially A-B sets. Hope this helps trainjunky29 and doesn't burst his bubble.

[Anonymous]

City of Los Angeles, pulled by PA's.

[Anonymous]

That's why I hate IKE even thoguht their were buttons saying I Like IKE I stunk as a horse

DOGGY
GO CUBS

[Anonymous]

they were all great trains it's to bad they will never return thanks to president eisenhower when created to build our highways that is now congested and falling apart. and to the airlines who took travel away from passenger trains. and now look at the airlines ,and still having problem, making huge concessions to the workers while the C.E.O gets rich and begging congress more money to ppull out of bankrupcy protection. while congress sill let AMTRAK .survive with enough monet to survive because some in congress say that passenger are a waste of tax payers money.

[wallyworld]

The Super Chief

[Anonymous]

ooops! the D&RGW train was the California Zephyr - mind starts to go late at night.

[Anonymous]

Even though I worked for the D&RGW for 10 years and when it comes to good service and the best daylight scenery in America it was great, but my vote goes to the Super Chief. Trips on it in 1959, 1961 and one last time a year before Amtrak and all three rides were excellent as to timekeeping, service, meals and crew attitude. Also had a very enjoyable trip in 1961 on the Broadway Limited.

[Wdlgln005]

Best in the West: D&RGW Zephyr
Best in the Northwest: Empire Builder

[Anonymous]

I think the California Zeypher was the 2nd Best

DOGGY
GO CUBS

[passengerfan]

Best in the West AT&SF SUPER CHIEF
Best in the East PRR BROADWAY LIMITED
Second Best in the West CPR CANADIAN
Second Best in the East NYC TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED
Third Best In the West CB&Q-D&RGW-WP CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
Third Best in the East PRR-RF&P-ACL-FEC FLORIDA SPECIAL

All postwar and all traveling first class.

[Anonymous]

What do you think was America's finest Passenger Train?

DOGGY
GO CUBS