In mid-summer, 1966, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy train number 10, the Denver Zephyr, remains the most successful passenger operation to and from Denver, beating out even Union Pacific’s feet of City trains. Budd-built and completely re-equipped in 1955, the DZ features full dining car service, a clutch of Vista domes including the popular Chuckwagon dome-coffee shop, parlor car seating in the observation lounge, and two slumbercoaches, offering private sleeping accommodations with washstands and toilets at near-coach prices. Here on July 1 a little after 4 o’clock, the first section pulls out of Denver Union Station behind E9A 9944 to begin its 16-hour, 1034-mile dash to Chicago. After the May, 1971 Amtrak takeover, the Denver Zephyr will be retained, but never with Burlington’s elan or attention to detail, and within a few years the name though not the service will be quietly dropped from the timetable.
Huge Album that Includes over 2,000+ photos of classic passenger trains across America & Canada before and during the time of Amtrak. More Images will be Added Everyday.
