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Kozzie-- As to your question, here's an area that hasn't been covered. In the US southwest (which I understand has a lot in common with parts of Oz), comprising TX, LA, NM, OK, AR, AZ : Classiest: anything Santa Fe (including the secondary schedules) was a class act right up to the end. Not much else was, until you went north into UP territory. Worst (by far): SP's Sunset with the Russellburger (vending machine) car and little else, and for this they charged extra fare! Second worst: anything MP or T&P Jenks-era. A diner lounge serving fried chicken for $8 US in 1967! You could buy it in most restaurants in TX for 98 cents, including salad, potato and drink. Agents weren't allowed to write connecting tickets, because somebody might buy them. I'd mention SP again, but they didn't have anything else. Best old-timer: Katy/Frisco's Texas Special (St. Louis-San Antonio) before about 1956 when Katy really began to get into financial trouble. Great service, classy train. And possibly the brightest (arguable, of course) paint job between the Coast Daylight and the City of New Orleans: stainless with bright red roofs, ends, and window panels, and maroon side sills. All red lettering. And shadow-striped heavyweights, through sleepers from numerous roads at various times (including Pennsylvania, B&O and GM&O), and a Pullman obs sleeper (rare in our part of the country). Earliest Rock-n-roll festival on wheels: The FW&D Sam Houston Zephyr ripping along at 90+ on the 90 lb. between North Zulch and Houston. They issued 100 mph slow orders for this train, just like the Twins and the Hiawathas up north. 250 miles in 4 hours flat. Try that, Amtrak. Best recycling job: FW&D/C&S (Burlington subsidiaries) Texas Zephyr (Dallas-Denver) between 1956 and 1963-4 with the original articulated Denver Zephyr trainsets, E5A/B, train name on the locos and letterboards, and a genuine neon tailsign on the observation car. This was also a class act while it lasted. What they replaced it with was almost as bad as the Sunset, but at least they kept the observation-lounge-diner off the original 1940 version (Silver Bowl or Silver Tray) north of Fort Worth. Great place to see freight cars, converted troop sleepers and baggage and Pullman pool cars from just about anywhere. You knew the streamlined stuff was really bad when the silver-painted heavyweights rode better, sat better, had functioning toilets and HVAC, and were actually clean. Also generally good while it lasted: KCS Southern Belle-a real effort made to offer good service, but the train went through nowhere with few intermediate markets. Great color scheme--black cars above red and yellow stripes with silver roofs. Came off when they killed the RPOs. And also pre-Jenks MP & T&P. Most eclectic (OK, so I expanded the area south a little bit): The Aguila Azteca (Aztec Eagle) on the NdeM that my wife and I rode in 1977 from Nuevo Laredo- Mexico City and back, in a Pullman all the way, for $75 US total! Train had everything, including segundas packed to the roofs, primeras also packed to the roofs, an ex C&O "Chessie" divided coach running as a primera especial coach, a Swiss diner (comedor) and several Pullmans (dormitorios) from various sources (all clean with working HVAC and good car attendants), and an in-service caboose on the rear of the northbound. And for those who never experienced it, here is a description of life on the NdeM in those days: Clase Segunda (2nd class)--no restrooms Clase Primera (1st class)--restrooms but no toilet paper therein Clase Primera Especial (special 1st class)--restrooms but no toilet paper therein, but there is an attendant to dole out toilet paper Seriously, we had a Pullman compartment in a Swiss sleeper that did have toilet paper, but the restroom light didn't work, so had to do one's business either in the dark or with the door partially open. Food was generally good, edible and cheap, practiced my Spanish w/ the rear brakeman, who wanted to practice his English. Down in the mountains we had a company of Mexican troops riding the vestibules (they were protecting the mail from banditos-the train still had an in-service RPO)-really nice guys. It was considered easy duty and thus assigned as a reward for good work. Went into Buenavista when it was literally filled with trains, including the all Pullman Guadalajara train in 2 sections, if I recall right, and guys dispensing hot coffee out on the high platforms to passengers through the open segunda/primera coach windows from pumped-up air packs worn on their backs, like something from outer space. Generally a great trip. Parts were definitely third-world. All gone now.
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