In my opinion, this is not a ''publicity picture'' as the engine is not ''spic 'n' span'' as would be the case for a proper ''annual report'' -type picture. On the other hand, the consist looks like '' for show'' only as all the Zephyrs services linking the Twin Cities & Chicago were AT LEAST double the size of what is shown here.
The combine appears to have a ''sealed ''sticker, unusual as well. A typical Zephyr would have had an RPO. Of note, that short consist has a dome coach and the dome-parlor-observation. Perhaps, this was the short-lived attempt at what became the NorthStar train service.,,,,,All of that would be a moot point as Amtrak was already in operation in May'72...Thanks for sharing this picture,Ted.
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All of the above considered, this would have been a neat little train, especially if the "people-end" of the combine was a buffet lounge offering some level of food service. It COULD be an Amtrak train as a great deal of their equipment was still in "original road" paint in May of '72.
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This passenger train is Burlington Northern's westbound Chicago to the Twin Cities Train No. 7, the westbound Morning Zephyr. It and Burlington Northern's eastbound Train No. 10, the eastbound Afternoon Zephyr, were assigned a baggage-refreshment car and two Vista Dome Coaches. Burlington Northern's westbound Afternoon Zephyr, Train No. 9, and its eastbound Morning Zephyr, Train No.8, were also assigned through cars en route to and from Seattle and Portland in addition to its "Twin Cities Cars". These through cars were transferred in St. Paul Union Depot to and from Burlington Northern's Empire Builder, Train Nos. 31 and 32, operated between the Twin Cities and Seattle-Portland via Havre, also to and from its Northern Coast Limited, Train Nos. 26 & 26, operated between the Twin Cities and Seattle-Portland via Livingston.
This operating arrangement was placed into operation by the Burlington Route during the Fall of 1967, almost three years prior to Burlington Northern. Burlington Route's management decided that it needed to combine its Empire Builder, its North Coast Limited and two of its Zephyrs (Afternoon westbound and Morning eastbound) between Chicago and St. Paul in order to reduce operating costs. At the same time, Burlington Route discontinued parlor car service on all four of its Twin Cities Zephyrs. These Vista Dome Parlor-Observation Cars were placed in storage until Amtrak purchased them from Burlington Northern.
During the Burlington Route's 1968 and 1969 Summers and Burlington Northern 1970 Summer, their combined westbound Afternoon Zephyr, Empire Builder, and North Coast Limited and eastbound combined Morning Zephyr, Empire Builder, and North Coast Limited were very long passenger trains, over 20 or more cars. However, its westbound Morning Zephyr and eastbound Afternoon Zephyr were assigned just three cars, a baggage refreshment car and two Vista Dome Coaches during these summer seasons.
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Here is additional information for this photograph. As of September 1967, the U. S. Post Office Department canceled its Railway Post Office and most of its storage mail contracts with the United States railroads. All of its Railway Post Office and storage mail cars were removed shortly thereafter from Burlington Route's Zephyrs as well as its Empire Builder and North Coast Limited between Chicago and St. Paul.
During Burlington Route's 1967-1968, 1968-1969, and 1969-1970 Winter Seasons (October through May) and also during Burlington Northern's 1970-1971 Winter Season prior to Amtrak, the consists assigned to the combined westbound Afternoon Zephyr, Train No. 9, and eastbound combined Morning Zephyr, Train No. 8, were reduced to 13 or 14 cars. In addition to the two or three "Twin Cities Cars", including a baggage-refreshment car and one or two Vista Dome Coaches, six cars, including two Great Dome Coaches, a dining car, a Great Dome Lounge Car, and two sleeping cars, were transferred in St. Paul to and from the Empire Builder, and five cars, including two Vista Dome Coaches, a Slumbercoach, a "Lounge in the Sky" Vista Dome Sleeping Car, and a "flat-top"sleeping car, were also transferred in St. Paul Union Depot to and from the North Coast Limited. These eleven transferred cars were en route to and from Seattle and Portland. The baggage-refreshment car was assigned, since the Empire Builder's "Ranch Car" and the North Coast Limited's Traveler's Rest " were not assigned between Chicago and St. Paul. Both were in service between St Paul and Seattle, however.
During all of these winter seasons, the westbound Morning Zephyr, Train No. 7, and the eastbound Afternoon Zephyr, Train No. 10, continued to be assigned a baggage-refreshment car, whose coffee shop continued to provide light meals and snacks, and two Vista Dome coaches.
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