N Scale North American Passenger Cars |
HomeN Scale Passenger Cars |
The California Zephyr |
Established as a "cruise train," the California Zephyr initiated service on March 20, 1949, heading eastbound to Chicago. In the first years, the CZ, as it came to be known, was the main transportation between Chicago and San Francisco, covering the 2,532 miles in just over two days, traveling "the scenic way across America."
The scheduling of the CZ purposefully put it in the magnificent landscape of the Rocky Mountains and Feather River during daylight hours, much to the delight of passengers. With its breathtaking scenery outside and excellent service inside, the CZ was "the most talked about train in the country."