Talk:California Zephyr

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To-do
list

Pending tasks for California Zephyr:

 (purge cache –  edit this list)
  • Add the historic CZ logo
  • Add more details to the Amtrak CZ history and timeline
  • Discuss the Zephyrettes (maybe a separate page???)
  • Add more discussion of the Vista Dome cars
  • Add details on the trains' typical consists
See also Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/Todo

Contents

[edit] Sightseeing

How about a section about the train's sightseeing value? From west to east: from SF, CA to Elko, NV; from Helper, UT to Denver, CO and from Omaha, NE to Chicago, IL are sections generally under daylight. I think the Helper to Denver section is the most magnificient part of the trip. Are there any other good sightseeing spots you have to travel at night?

How's the east to west trip? -- Toytoy 14:38, Jun 16, 2005 (UTC)

If the train is on time (ha ha) the sections over Soldier Summit, Utah and the Palasade Canyon (between Battle Mountain and Elko Nevada) are kinda neet. But on several runs the train is late enough such that those are in the day time. There is also one spot just west of Salt Lake City (key word one spot) where from the tracks you have a great view of the Great Salt Lake. But I've never caught this in the day on the train, only when I've made the trek by car.
Davemeistermoab 14:53, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Midwest/Southwest?

It says that the Zephyr runs in the Southwest. Is the Bay Area in the Southwest? ςפקιДИτς 03:18, September 4, 2005 (UTC)

That depends on your definition of northern California. After growing up in Los Angeles, I don't think of the San Francisco Bay Area as southwest (for me, it's just the West), but if you include all of California as part of the southwest, then yes. slambo 17:08, September 4, 2005 (UTC)
Here's the wiki answer: Southwestern United States.--Lordkinbote 04:46, September 7, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lounge car pictured is from Prospector, not CZ

The lounge car pictured in this article does not appear to be a CZ lounge in either the pre or post Cable Car configuration, but is more likely from the Prospector, an overnight Denver-Salt Lake City train. In fact, I suspect the picture is of the lounge portion of the diner-lounge that ran on that train.

User:Sjlevine34 11:38, June 2, 2006

Interesting, what makes you say that? Information regarding the photo can be found here [1] please WP:Cite. --Lordkinbote 20:20, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pictures

I don't want to be so arrogant to put a link to my own images on this page, but if you are interested it may be intersting to add http://www.flickr.com/photos/prasenberg/tags/californiazephyr/ to the external links. This is a large set of images from my recent trip on the Zephyr. It might give readers an impression on what the scenery is like. Prasenberg 09:47, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use image discussion

There is discussion about the possible deletion of the current lead photograph for fair use restrictions. Please join the discussion. Slambo (Speak) 20:54, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Financial Arangements

Would someone add a section on how the three original railroads handled the finances of the train?

How did they split the take? How did they properly divide the equipment? etc . . .

Thanks

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.178.88.168 (talk) 04:04, 3 April 2007 (UTC).

I saw a documentary show on RFDTV two weeks ago (as part of the stations "Trains and Locomotives" programming) about the California Zephyr (last week the show was about the Daylight series of trains, and this week was the development of the 4-4-0). In it they mentioned that the equipment ownership was split according to the percent of mileage that each of the three railroads operated when the service was inaugurated. I imagine that revenues were similarly split. I haven't added it myself because I didn't think fast enough when the show aired to record it so we could have a reliable reference and I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere in my reference collection yet. Slambo (Speak) 11:05, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Amtrak Stations

Q: Links to Amtrak Stations that don't really exist have been re-added to the station stops section of the article. They have were added earlier and removed. Do they belong?

I would argue no. For example the Amtrak Depots in Green River, Utah, Winnemucca and Elko Nevada, etc. aren't depots at all. Really just railroad sidings where they open the doors. No buildings, no staff, nothing. At least the stop at Elko has a covered bench in case it's raining... but the stop at Green River and Elko truely have nothing. Davemeistermoab 03:09, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Scenery

The article mentions about the spectacular scenery but gives little example. The history section is excellent though. Does anyone know which side is best to see the scenery if travelling from east to west? LordHarris 17:03, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

There is of course scenery in all directions, but sitting on the north side of the train will get you the best views on two of the route's most spectacular segments -- the ascent of the Front Range west of Denver, and the crossing of Donner Pass in California. Pitamakan 17:37, 23 July 2007 (UTC)
It's hard to give examples of "the best scenery" and conform to wikipedia's NPOV policy. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I'm actually surprised no one has tagged the scenic claims as they are now with a "citation re quested". Although Amtrak claims the CZ is one of their most scenic routes in their own literature, so a source wouldn't be difficult. I've never had a problem. There's been enough empty seats on the train to move to the other side if something looks more interesting on the other there. Davemeistermoab 00:03, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pruning is in order for this article?

IMO this article is starting to get "scattered". By that I mean I count 4 different places where the article mentions the current iteration of the CZ follows "almost" the same route as the original. Similarly the D&RG operating a descendant train is mentioned in 2 different places, with almost identical wording. This is a pet peeve of mine. Anybody mind if I do some pruning? Davemeistermoab 19:46, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Caption for Photo

Having just arrived in Galesburg, Illinois, Train No. 5 — the California Zephyr, led by GE Genesis P42DC locomotives #132 and #167 — "cools its heels" for a few minutes before continuing west on September 27, 2004.

What is "cools its heels" supposed to mean? Is it running late, and will soon be running even later? Is it early, and waiting to get back on time? Is this a scheduled wait? Or does the railroad slang term "cools its heels" refer to something specific?

Slang should be avoided in encyclopedic articles. 66.234.220.195 (talk) 20:27, 11 February 2008 (UTC)