California zephyr

No.

I've never seen any documentation that shows the CZ being pulled by any steam locomotive from the WP, D&RGW or CB&Q.

Rusty

Probably not, since the Cal Z was a post WWII "diesel era" streamliner. The three railroads, WP, D&RGW, and CB&Q each purchased cars AND diesel units to pull the train between Chicago and Oakland. In fact, each railroad initially purchased EMD "F" units, as the "plan" was to run the various sets of motive straight through. Both the WP and the D&RGW quickly decided that they wanted their OWN motive power on the head eand of the train.

Thus, diesel units were changed out at Denver and Salt Lake City. As a result, CB&Q subsequently assigned "E" class passenger units to the Cal. Z (since the CB&Q had no mountain grades to contend with), and the sets of A-B-A "F" units went into freight service.

I seriously doubt that ANY steam locomotive handled the Cal. Z! 

I never thought so but you never know.

As a point of history, in 1946 I think it was the California Zephyr that either rear ended or was plowed into by ANOTHER Zephyr at my old hometown of Naperville Illinois.  To see the immense damage done by a train traveling at or over 70 mph, look up "Naperville Train Crash" on the 'net.  The force of impact split cars open down the middle.

On MY railroad,Yes.

In real life....

Pulled the CZ,Possibly.In one of my books,the CZ was re-routed over the SP at times due to heavy snows behind SP power and was even pulled by a SP AC-12.

Assisted the CZ,Yes.(Steam was used as helper on the D&RGW)

Highly unlikely, as helpers were added to the FRONT of passenger trains, ESPECIALLY in the state of California.

That was the "Exposition Flyer" wreck, which included many heavyweight passenger cars.

On the DRGW,Yes and there are PHOTOS.

That doesn't surprise me, on the D&RGW. But, "pushing on the rear" of the Cal. Z?  I would sure like to see THOSE photos, as that would have been VERY unusual.

Hot Water. You are right it would be on the front.The photos were showing 2-8-8-2's.I just was using a general term "pusher or helper".In another book on the WP,I remember reading about the CZ having to detour over the SP Donner Pass behind SP power including AC-12's! I would like seeing photos of that!

this is the locomotive that pulled the inaugural run in 1949.

The train in Altamont, California prior to its first run in 1949.

Certainly a spectacular train! Look at all those dome cars.  

I would have loved to have ordered the "full train set" from Atlas O, but after 4 or 5 years of "waiting", I have given up. That sure would have looked great behind my Burlington E7 set, though.

I thought the Rio Grande initially purchased 2 sets of ALCO PA1/PB1  ABA sets and the F units came a year later. These ALCO locos came delivered in the black with gold paint scheme which only lasted about a year.

The D&RGW's PA's were built in 1947.  The CZ cars were built in 1948 and the train was inaugurated in 1949. 

The black scheme lasted until August 1949, five months after the CZ inauguration.  They were repainted silver with an aspen yellow nose.

Image: Lyman E Cox postcard, c. 1972

In 1952 the PA's were repainted in the 5 stripe scheme to match D&RGW's own passenger equipment and renumbered 6001,6002,6003 and 6011,6012,6013.

Rusty

Here's as they look now. I think those PA units would look great as a model in silver. Never saw that before. Don

Well, as we have the Western Pacific and Rio Grande parts of the CZ above, here it is with Burlington power.

And my Lionel version. I have the A-B-A set, and the coaches are all pre-ordered and hopefully will arrive soon now.

Wow, that's a gorgeous engine, Nicole!

Me neither. Very interesting - Rio Grande PAs in silver with yellow noses. First time I've ever heard of these.

how do you keep the drool off of that beauty?

I run my CZ with the WP F units (ABA) and the 21" K-Line passenger cars. Certainly a terrific looking passenger train.

My CZ is pulled by WP ABB F units (powered, powered, unpowered) and a nearly prototypical consist of 15" K-line and Lionel cars (including the elusive silver platter diner and extra K-Line domes renumbered and renamed).  11 cars total.  looks sweet.

wow, what a cool idea.  I will pull mine with my GS64.  You just started a trend!

I have the CBQ F's, RG PA's, and WP F's.  But why not some steam for a change!

A few years ago we took three original private CZ cars for a three day drip. Two of them dome cars. Great food and wine and nice folks. The highlight was a full moon trip across the Sierras. Here's some home movies. Enjoy. Don  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...zMi4Qi_9DUB_vs5FpHKA

Don:

Your typical spectacular video. The food and beverage looked pretty good too.

It seems to me that you could run the Exposition Flyer with the GS64 which is kind of a pre CZ.  These are pictures of the Expo with the first of the CZ cars mixed in.  At the end of it's life the Expo was commonly run with CZ cars before the CZ started operations.  Although I'm accumulating the Atlas CZ train, I find the Exposition Flyer to be more interesting and I may try to pickup some heavyweights to try and model it to some degree.  The Expo Flyer had quite a history in it's few years of service.  It's wreck in Naperville wreck of 1946 is said to have a long lasting effect on passenger train operations in the US.

I don't know if you are a member, but Trainorders.com has a picture of the GS64 heading the Exposition Flyer here (middle picture):   http://www.trainorders.com/dis.../read.php?11,2577063

You can see the CZ cars in these pictures.

I will sit on the sidelines, but I agree with Hot Water about the likelihood of steam rear end helpers on the California Zephyr being remote, if at all.

However, I had an experience with coupling into the rear end of a former California Zephyr observation car.  In the early 1990's ATSF 3751 pulled a 4-day round-trip excursion from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, with layovers at Barstow in both directions.  I was Road Foreman of Engines at Barstow, and, after the train arrived at Barstow, it had to be turned for the morning departure on the Mojave Subdivision.  The 3751 went to the engine terminal, and I rode with the switch engine crew while they turned the train.  The switch engine was a GP30, and the crew was experienced.  We stopped while a Switchman opened the coupler knuckles, and eased ahead.  There was a satisfying clunk as the couplers closed, followed by a brief flash of light and the clinking of glass.  The "diving board" crosswalk on the front platform of the geep had fallen forward when we made the joint, and it broke out the glass and the neon of the California Zephyr tail sign.  I cannot adequately describe the feeling of being the official in charge of destroying one of the truly outstanding features of the Cal Zephyr's former tail car.  The owner took it pretty well, and a substitute sign was used for the rest of the trip; the Cal-Z sign was repaired.  Everybody was in a pretty good mood, as the steam engine had brought a festive atmosphere to the railroad.  So, nobody was disciplined or even yelled at, and I continued to be employed until retirement.

I wonder if a home-road switcher with a folding end crosswalk had ever done the same on the WP, D&RGW, or CB&Q, when the car was still in its original service.

OH, your the one! When we road the observation a few years ago, that's all they talked about.......................just kidding. Don