Post
Cards
from the Trip
Post
Cards
"Official" Post Cards -- Cards issued by the CZ railroads.
Vista Dome California Zephyr -- Caption on the back reads, "The new
diesel-powered stainless steel CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR between Chicago, Denver,
Salt Lake City and San Francisco features the unique VISTA-DOME cars. This
train operates via the Burlington, Rio Grande, and Western Pacific railroads
through the Colorado Rockies and Feather River Canyon....the Scenic
Way Across America." The postal message reads, "...if you can, come
east be sure and travel on this Calif. Zephyr. I love it. The autumn colors
in the Mts -- beautiful. Also can see snow. It's hard to write when train
is going fast." Postmarked Suttons Bay Mich, Oct. 4, 1949.
Feather River Canyon From a Dome -- Caption on the back reads, "The
new diesel-powered stainless steel CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR between Chicago, Denver,
Salt Lake City and San Francisco features the unique VISTA-DOME cars. This
train operates via the Burlington, Rio Grande, and Western Pacific railroads
through the Colorado Rockies and Feather River Canyon....the Scenic
Way Across America." Postal message reads, "Fri Oct 26, '51 its 5:45
pm. I've eaten a fish dinner. $1.28 & so good. We stopped at Galesburg.
Soon we pass over the miss. Gee, I can't believe I'm on my way west. You
should take a trip on this train." Note the artistic licence: The wires
have been left off the slide fence pole, and the diesels are CB&Q silver!
Postmarked Ottumwa Iowa, Oct. 28, 1951.
The California Zephyr Dome Cars -- This card, which appears
to feature the Rockies, was published both as a general CZ card, as well
as with the Rio Grande logo on the back. Both versions have the same caption,
which reads: "The diesel-powered, stainless steel CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR, daily
between Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, features five
thrilling VISTA-DOME cars. The train operates via the Burlington, Rio Grande,
and Western Pacific railroads through the Colorado Rockies and Feather
River Canyon...the Scenic Way Across America." The postal message reads:
"This is the train I am now riding. Just left Salt Lake City, will travel
all day tomorrow. Love, Ida." Postmarked Grand Junction CO, August 1, 1956.
Spring at Winter Park -- Caption on back reads, "A trip aboard the
luxurious Vista-Dome California Zephyr is filled with thrills as the train
travels for hundreds of miles though the Alpine meadows and awesome canyons
of the colorful Colorado Rockies during daylight hours. Burlington*Rio
Grande*Western Pacific". View shown was a popular one in CZ advertising.
Card is unused.
South Boulder Canyon -- Back reads, "The vista-Dome California Zephyr
threads its way through South Boulder Canyon in the rugged Colorado Rockies...one
of many scenic thrill on the Burlington-Rio Grande-Western Pacific transcontinental
route." Card is unused.
The CZ at Plainview, CO -- Back reads, "The California Zephyr winds
up the east slope of the Colorado Rockies (climbing 4000 feet in 50 miles)
and crosses the Continental Divide by way of world-famous, 6.2 mile-long
Moffat Tunnel. Burlington*Rio Grande*Western Pacific." The message on the
back is a cute one from a young child in
the dome car, probably to his teacher.
The California Zephyr Entering Moffat Tunnel -- Back reads, "Here at
East Portal, Colorado, the westbound CZ darts through 6.2-mile-long Moffat
Tunnel, four thousand feet under James Peak (13,260 feet). From Atlantic
slope to Pacific slope in moments...either direction the Moffat Tunnel,
piercing the Continental Divide, provides easy passage thru the Rocky Mountain
wonderlands. Burlington*Rio Grande*Western Pacifc." Card is unused. (John
Wilson collection)
Pine Cliff, Colorado -- Back reads, "A trip aboard the luxurious Vista-Dome
California Zephyr during the winter months is filled with thrills, as the
train travels for hundreds of miles through the very heart of the mighty
Colorado Rockies during daylight hours. Burlington*Rio Grande*Western Pacific".
No postmark.
CZ in the Winter Rockies -- Back reads, "Winter-time travel on the
Vista-Dome California Zephyr is replete with thrills, as the train crosses
the majestic Colorado Rockies during daylight hours. Burlington*Rio Grande*Western
Pacific". No postmark.
Rounding a Curve in the Feather River Canyon -- Back says, "The California
Zephyr winds through California's famed Feather River Canyon for over 100
unforgettable miles. Upstairs in the streamliner's five Vista-Domes passengers
can look up, look down, look all around at the magnificent scenery. Burlington*Rio
Grande*Western Pacific." From the postal message: "We are enjoying our
ride on this train, had a good trip back on the Santa Fe...." Postmarked
Denver CO, September 8, 1965.
California Zephyr Hugs the Cliffs of the FRC -- This picture is very
similar to one the appeared on the October 1967
WP/CZ timetable. Back caption reads the same as the card above. Postmarked
Erie PA, June 22, 1964.
California Zephyr Crosses the Clio Viaduct -- Back caption reads, "The
Vista-Dome California Zephyr crosses the Sierra Nevada range near the headwaters
of the fabulous Feather River, on its thrill-filled 2500-mile Chicago-San
Francisco journey. Burlington*Rio Grande*Western Pacific" No postmark.
Aftermarket Post Cards -- Cards relating to the CZ, but issued by other publishers.
Exposition Flyer at the Tobin Bridges -- For a few months before
the 1949 inauguration of the CZ, the WP operated its newly delivered equipment
-- both cars and locomotives -- on the
Exposition Flyer, the train
that the CZ would replace. The back caption reads: "Streamliner on Western
Pacific Railroad crosses Feather River on high bridge as highway traffic
travels on the lower bridge in this rugged canyon." Published by Mike Roberts
Color Productions. No post mark.
Vista Dome Monument -- Caption on back reads, "#3774 -- D&RGW Railroad
monument in Glenwood Canyon on U.S. 24 in western Colorado. The monument
marks the locality where the idea of Vista Dome cars was first born in
1944. Color by D&RGWRR". At bottom, "Published by Sanborn Sourvenir
Co. Inc., Denver Colo.," and vertically "Genuine natural Color Made by
DEXTER PRESS Inc., West Nyack NY." Card is unused.
California Zephyr, Burlington Route, Galesburg Illinois -- No back
caption, "Genuine curteich CT Art-Colortone, distributed by Illinois Camera
Shop, Galesburg, Ill. No postmark.
