Wow, that is a great book! I know, it is my general response to books, but this book is a goldmine of info on how the respective CB&Q, D&RGW and WP handled the train, how the train was staffed, great pics of the train in action, the human element of the train's service, the scenery it traversed, from inside the domes, the inception, the demise and final runs of the California Zephyr. It also had some good Rio Grande Zephyr footage as well. the book seems to concentrate on WP, but there's plenty of CB&Q and D&RGW coverage as well. A very comprehensive book for any fan of 18-8 stainless. There's even shots of the cars in the erection bays at Budd's assembly plant! Shots at Big Ten, Rocky Siding, Tunnel 3, Tunnel 26, 28, and East Portal Moffat Tunnel, Bond, Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyon & Springs, the desert and Ruby Canyon, Soldier Summit route, PA-1's in all 3 paint schemes, F3's, F7's, and F9's for both CZ & RGZ . Great photos by Steinheimer, Benson, Kindig, Dorn, and many more. A must-have addition to any streamliner fan's library!
I finished reading this book this week--What a great account of what it took to make the CZ great! The diner/sleeper services, the porters, the Zephyrettes, the food, the route! Everything is covered, with a heavy WP emphasis, although all 3 carriers are covered. The hearings and all the proceedings to discontinue the train are covered in excruciating detail. The sad ending to the train is not the end of the book, however. The RGZ is covered as well. A fitting tribute to the "most talked-about train in the country!" This is a must have book!
Now, you gotta get the book: Never On Wednesday. The First Decade of the Rio Grande Zephyr Richard Loveman Mel Patrick Bought my second copy at Mile High RailFair last Saturday. The Readable copy!! My other copy, from the estate of Jackson C Thode, is still factory sealed! Another interesting read, is Call The Big Hook. Samuel A Dougherty Longtime employee of the DRGW. Steam to diesel eras. Also found at RailFair last week!
I have Never on Wednesday--I love it as well! Maybe you could post a book review on this other book you noted?
I got my first copy of Never on Wednesday about 25 years ago. It was what started my love of the Grande:thumbs_up:
A hardback, all color look at the California Zephyr. Including the early Amtrak days. Also includes coverage of other Rio Grande trains - Yampa Valley Mail, The Prospector, The Royal Gorge, and the Mountaineer. Again, another Must Have for ones collection!
Zephyrs thru the Rockies, by Edmundson and Goodheart. The book covers the last days of the RGZ, then the a small section on all the Rio Grande passenger trains, including the California Zephyr, and the majority of the book covers the RGZ from Denver to SLC with photo's covering the entire life of the train from 1971-1983. The last section covers a few pages of the first days of Amtrak over the Rockies. The book is all color and a must have!
Never On Wednesday Definitely. If you're a Rio Grande fan, get this beautiful book! It's getting rare and harder to find. --Bryan
