Trackside: California, 1950's

A promo from Pentrex: glimpses of UP, SP, and Santa Fe steam and diesels, cab forwards, Alco PA's, Warbonnets, Black Widows, 4-8-4's, passenger and freight action, LAUPT, Cajon Pass, Tehachipi Loop, streetcars, vintage autos . . . what's not to like?

Trackside: At the Throttle

I guess most of us guys wanted to be an engineer at some point in our childhood. I still have my old American Flyer set boxed up; what fun it was to imagine myself in the cab of the locomotive, one hand on the throttle, the other pulling the whistle cord. Well here's what the view from the cab looks like, pretty exciting stuff even in this modern age of diesels and computerized controls. Enjoy.

BTW, the ad reminds me - I always wanted an erector set, never got one though. But that's okay. I figured it out on my own.

Trackside: The Passenger Train

Painting by famed illustrator Hernando Villa for the 1949 Santa Fe Chiefs ad

How lucky I was to be born just in time to have wonderful memories of riding some of the great streamliners, just like young Bobby in this 1954 film. All you guys who came along after I did, you really don't know what you missed out on - it's the only way to travel. Amtrak tries, bless their hearts; but it's just not the same. More like riding a big bus than a train, for several reasons.

There was a sensation and an atmosphere to riding on a streamliner that would be hard to describe. For one thing, believe it or not - people actually dressed up in those days to travel: coat and tie for the men, dresses and high heels for the women. (Somewhere in the back of my mind, I still feel guilty for not wearing my Sunday suit when I get on a plane - sorry, Mom.)

For another thing, it was very comfortable: air conditioning in a time when few people had that at home or school, cushy chairs in the coaches with 3 feet of leg room in front of you, white damask and real silver on the tables in the dining car; getting there was half the fun. So it was a special event, and a special feeling, hard to put into words. You just had to be there. But if you were, it was a delight.

Railroad history is one of my hobbies I haven't had a chance to post much about on this blog up till now, but I'll make a point of doing more with that in future. Meantime, sit back and enjoy the trip here, doing 80 per in safety and comfort through the American landscape.