SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF 1950s RAILROAD PROMOTIONAL FILM LUXURY PASSENGER TRAIN MD86574z

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This 1950’s travelogue profiles the Santa Fe Super Chief, the most luxurious way to travel across the country. The film begins by showing how train’s now offer all of the comforts of home. (00:00:20:00) Then, the new flagship of Santa Fe’s fleet is introduced, the Super Chief. (00:00:40:00). Our narrator then cuts to a beautiful actress, who is planning a train trip to Southern California. (00:01:10:00) The narrator convinces her to try the new Super Chief for her trip. The narrator then goes on to cover different features of the train, such as the observation lounge (00:01:50:00), and 100% private rooms such as a roomette for one (00:02:10:00), the new type bedroom (00:02:52:00), and the new Super Chief compartment (00:03:05:00). Drawing rooms are also offered (00:03:27:00). Beautiful footage of buttes is seen at (00:03:21:00), (00:03:38:00) and (00:06:53:00). Next, the Super Chief’s kitchen (00:04:35:00) and dining car (00:05:00:00) are shown. We are then introduced to the main lounge (00:05:32:00) of the pleasure dome car. Here, one can play cards (00:05:38:00), use a writing desk (00:05:47:00), or even go to the barber for a haircut (00:05:58:00). Next, the lower lounge (00:06:07:00) is shown where you can have a cocktail. This is followed by the turquoise room (00:07:06:00), the first and only private dining room on rails! The train then stops at Albuquerque (00:08:10:00) on its way to Los Angeles. Finally, we arrive in California, the Golden State! (00:09:20:00) A vintage shot of the LA train station can be seen at (00:09:42:00). At the conclusion of her trip, the beautiful actress from the beginning of the film tells us she is convinced the Super Chief is not just another train. (00:10:10:00) Then, an animated map of the train’s route from Chicago to Los Angeles is shown. (00:10:35:00)
Various vintage shots of the Super Chief traveling are shown at (00:01:42:00), (00:05:16:00), (00:06:59:00), (00:08:00:00), (00:09:00:00), (00:09:33:00), (00:09:52:00) and (00:11:05:00). A wonderful shot of the train traveling at night is shown as well. (00:04:22:00)
The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It claimed to be "The Train of the Stars" because of the celebrities it carried between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.
The Super Chief (Nos. 17 and 18) was the first Diesel-powered, all-Pullman sleeping car train in America, and it eclipsed the Chief as Santa Fe's standard bearer. The extra-fare ($10) Super Chief left Dearborn Station in Chicago for its first trip on May 12, 1936. Before starting scheduled service in May 1937, the lightweight version of the Super Chief ran 2,227 miles (3,584 km) from Los Angeles over recently upgraded tracks in 36 hours and 49 minutes, averaging 60 mph (97 km/h) overall and reaching 100 mph (160 km/h).
With one set of equipment, the train initially operated once a week from both Chicago and Los Angeles. After more cars had been delivered the Super Chief ran twice weekly beginning in 1938 and daily after 1948. Adding to the train's mystique were its gourmet meals and Hollywood clientele.
Competitors to the Super Chief were the City of Los Angeles on the Chicago and North Western Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad, and (to a lesser extent) the Golden State on the Rock Island and Southern Pacific. The Santa Fe Super Chief was one of the last passenger trains in the United States to carry an all-Pullman consist; only the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited and the Illinois Central's Panama Limited survived longer. The train maintained its high level of service until the end of Santa Fe passenger operations on May 1, 1971.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@JETZcorp]

I like the way the narrator says "Los Angalis"

[@bobwitkowski6410]

People today don't know what they are missing. Films like this are a good reminder.

[@jamesyers1975]

Not missing the smokey cars lol

[@manitoba-op4jx]

@@jamesyers1975 if it were still around that wouldn't be an issue, i'm sure. last time i rode amtrak there were no smoking signs and they weren't too happy with vapes, either.

[@vintagethrifter2114]

Only if you had the money. If you could afford the Super Chief, you rode the Greyhound on rails like everyone else.

[@charleshettrick2408]

My grandmother took me on the Super Chief when I was 9. What a thrill and what a train! Nothing anywhere like it today. We boarded mid morning. A half hour later I was in the dome. Except dinner, there I was till 12:30AM. Back early next AM to watch sunrise in Colorado. What a spectacle against my first ever view of the Rockies as we split the green semaphores and their arms swung to red as the dome silently sped on. Then we snaked through the canyons, the dry washes, Raton, Lamy and into Albuquerque. Departing that great station, the Santa Fe had enormous shops. My head almost unscrewed trying to soak in all the shop activity as we glided by. Pity it's almost all gone. My grandmother was well known among the Santa Fe family. Her husband had worked on the railroad since 1909. She had worked on and off for the ATSF since 1910. So we got extra special treatment. Plus, my grandmother insisted we treat the porters with extra care and extra tips. She said they were union and deserved our allegiance. It was years later I found grandmother was a huge labor organizer in the 1920s.

[@laserbeam002]

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.

[@pkramerable]

Thank you for sharing these memories, and hooray for your grandmother. Union YES!

[@voxer99]

Approximately what year would that have been?

[@youchris67]

Your grandmother was an awesome liberal for that time! Bravo to her!

[@gilbertzimmerman2173]

This was shortly after the end of WWII and the sky was the limit for the United States! All was well. Thank you!

[@ssherwood7245]

When you realize that a train in 1950 was faster and better than a US train in 2022.

[@RivetGardener]

And better in more ways than imaginable.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

You can definitely blame the faster part on the Naperville train crash.

[@chewybunz]

The Super Chief only shaved FOUR hours off the Southwest Chief's service between LA and Chicago, despite the Super's advantage of dedicated tracks.

[@Mrcharles.]

Automobile lobbyists and Americans love for the car, killed any chances of building high speed rail in the United States.

[@LinnyUwU]

​@@Mrcharles.Brightline??

[@artjs9]

When I was six my father took me to Union station. When we got to the platform my father lifted me up to the cab of the Super Chief. Inside the engineer showed me the how the controls worked. A great memory for me...

[@michaelward9880]

Man, that's THE way to travel! Beds, great food, drink, haircuts, private restrooms, scenery....... I wish time travel was possible?

[@chewybunz]

Amtrak still offers that, more or less.

[@wesmcgee1648]

I rode a passenger train in 1969 with my grandmother from Louisiana to Chicago. I loved the dining car and the observation deck on top. I remember my grandmother befriended another old lady who turned out to be a Titanic survivor!

[@andyrob3259]

Geez that looked fantastic. And they say we've progressed. I'd do that over any plane trip.

[@JF-lt5zc]

Sadly, Amtrak is nowhere as nice and is outrageously expensive.

[@Cal90208]

@@JF-lt5zc Well when the public doesn't like supporting it they don't have much of a choice, it's a miracle we still have Amtrak at all.

[@JF-lt5zc]

@@Cal90208 I guess my point is, if they want to stay competitive against air and personal vehicle travel, they need to incentivize people to want to go with them. It takes many hours or even days to get from point A to point B by train. If they had roomier rooms and better food it would be worth it to more people. But instead its cramped quarters, lousy food, and twice to triple the cost of flying. It's a hard sell...

[@Cal90208]

@@JF-lt5zc The food on western trains is diner quality which isn’t bad by any means, but it could be better of course. The rooms are actually very similar to the size of the ones on the Chief, and many who have tried both prefer amtraks. They’re pretty good for public transportation and a lot roomier than any plane

[@MikeSmithEnterprises]

@@Cal90208 The condition of today's cross-country Amtrak trains is nowhere near that of the Super Chief.

[@Evelynshere]

It was a memorable experience...I took those rides for granted

[@jimlogan2329]

Well, this video cheered me up on a drab, cold day in Scotland.

[@munteacher]

My greatest memory of the Super Chief was sitting up in the dome at 9 years of age. A porter was walking down the length of the train with chimes, sounding out the call that the dining car was now opened. I asked the porter if I could try the chimes. He handed them to me and I got the tune perfectly right off the bat! Good times.

[@alcopower5710]

Awesome memory

[@dinocracchiolo996]

It is hard to believe a time like that actually existed in America. Thank you for preserving America history.

[@patrickvillers6454]

Back in the day when we were the wonderland the rest of the world was in awe at what we could do and achieve.

[@richmanwisco]

You took that from a railroad promotional film for a train service that only existed for a few years and couldn't compete with the rapidly growing airline industry?

[@jsat5609]

@@richmanwisco Cynic.

[@mackdog3270]

Even today, two days from Chicago to LA is pretty awesome. You couldn't do that distance by car in the same time, unless you're an insomniac.

[@mackdog3270]

@MusicMaster1987 I tend to think in trucking time :) It's an odd coincidence, but I live about 25 miles from Kennewick and I went to college in Portland.

[@HiroNguy]

I go NJ to Arizona in 2 days. And I stick around the speed limit. Maybe you need a more comfortable car.

[@pacz8114]

​@@HiroNguy Phoenix to Camden is 2,300 miles. To make it within 48 hrs you'd have to have an itinerary similar to the following: drive 18hr, sleep 6, drive another 18, which would put you at 42hr. It's doubtful anyone can drive two consecutive 18hr shifts (devoid of chemical help).

[@HiroNguy]

@@pacz8114 When I drove trucks and had to abide by DOT rules a crosscountry PRK to NYSR was a 4 day trip solo. Obviously with a codriver the wheels are turning more in one day which is why there are so many transport companies that prefer driver teams. When I did motorcycle road trips the most I covered in one day was 700 miles but more typical would be 500 miles. In a comfy car my schedule is 20+ hours in motion, stopping only for fuel, and then off for 12. That's how I do NYC metro area to Phoenix in 2.5 days. And the only chemical aid I've ever taken on these trips is caffeine. Now, the old timers at the transport company I drove for, they told all kinds of stories about the bad old days of the 1970s and '80s. There were so many bad crashes due to that kind of stuff that it's no wonder people got fed up with it and let loose the powers of big government on that industry.

[@plasmaboy2265]

6:50 that’s so awesome they featured pyramid rock outside of Gallup

[@user-zg2mb8yc4k]

dang it i was born to late for this. it looks awesome.

[@michaelfisher7170]

My jaw just about fell open when I saw the clip of the family being served their meal in the dining car. That food was piled ON! I've never travelled Amtrak, though I still hope to take one of their routes in the future. I know from friends who have done so that the kind of meal shown in this video is a thing of the past. BTW...it made me grin an evil grin to learn the observation car was called the "Pleasure Dome." No wonder the trip was popular. ;)

[@edsmith6504]

The good folks over at Mystery Science Theatre 3000 would have us rolling on the floor with laughter! Especially the part at the end when she introduces her new friend at the station (he looks less than thrilled). Then off to the car where he looks equally enthused about picking her up. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that ride home!

[@yuckyool]

"Oh honey, that was Jim. We spent several hours in the 'Pleasure Dome' together."

[@JackieontheTrunk]

"We did so many tunnels!"

[@RivetGardener]

@@yuckyool "Where nobody is a stranger"

[@vlepore760]

The guy stalked her during the entire trip!😅😅

[@huskerhank9896]

All the way on the Santa Fe...and she comes off with a huge smile on her face. If she's smart she will use that shower to rid herself of any unwanted odors.

[@dlanodsknib]

Brought back memories. I travelled on this train in June 1958. Now, instead of superb railways we have the shemozzle of travel in aeroplanes. Pity America hasn't gone in for very fast trains.

[@shyman9023]

We could do it, but liberals have to buy votes wasting money.

[@Mrcharles.]

I blame the automobile lobbyists and americas love for the car that killed any chances of building any high speed rail in the United States.

[@henerygreen578]

dude gets jilted in the end.......LOL!!!!!

[@billboettcher1673]

While this was the pinnacle of travel at the time, remember this was also first class travel for the wealthy. Not everyone traveled this way

[@azmike1]

Yeah I watched this.

[@jeffmcdonald4225]

I took the Santa Fe from Kansas to California. I still remember it. I was only 4 years old. It inspired my parents to move to California in the late 50s. I rode trains a lot. I really miss it!

[@robertheidler5315]

What a unique idea! Making travel a positive experience for the traveler! Today it’s more like a cattle car, whether you are taking a train or a plane. Those truly were the “good old days!”

[@yuckyool]

Actually, the Amtrak Chief (that takes a very similar route over a similar schedule) offers roommette and bedroom accommodations as well. Fares for those accommodations, adj. for inflation, aren't that different. We are taking multiple long-distance trains for our "cruise across America" in June.

[@richmanwisco]

You think that it was affordable for any but the wealthy at the time?

[@yuckyool]

@@richmanwisco Valid question and it's all relative. They showed a number of different kinds of sleeping accommodations (as there are on AmTrak). And Santa Fe (and Union Pacific and other passenger trains) also accommodated coach passengers . . . as AmTrak does . . at a much lower cost. Not unlike cruises, which is a luxury good . . .available at different price points . . . that caters to various middle-income folks (super-wealthy have their own yachts).

[@NickKaminski1980]

My Dad used to work for the Santa Fe in the early '60s out of Corwith yard, Chicago. Occasionally, he'd pull the coach yard job (head end brakeman) at Dearborn St. station, where they would pull the Super Chief into the train shed with their switch engine after the road power was cut off at the service tracks. He got a kick out of the kids marveling at the locomotive as they passed by, not knowing it only pulled them a half mile and not all the way from Los Angeles.

[@kathleenevans1201]

I miss those days. 😢

[@Cobra-ky9bt]

Route of the Zephyrs is my old stomping grounds, but I always had an affinity for the Chief. Great video.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for being a sub! Become a channel member kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXWliGami8abi6c

[@davenone7312]

And don't forget your Porter, Rufus "Yessum Boss" Washington!

[@whitedovetail]

This is one mode of travel that I think should be brought back. I live in Texas and I would love to be able to travel west at a nice leisurely pace in total comfort. I rode the train system in Europe 2 different times and really enjoyed it. Plus the cost was very reasonable. And no, I have no desire to travel at 200 mph or higher in a train. Like I said, a nice leisurely pace in total comfort. I love this films!

[@richmanwisco]

How much do you want to pay for it?

[@macadelic2492]

So nostalgic

[@johnp139]

Ahhh, the days when California was actually a nice place.

[@shyman9023]

5% illegals instead of 50%.

[@fyremanbill]

Just thinking the same thing. Man I miss those days!

[@markjosephbudgieridgard]

Wow that was excellent no one does these promotional films quite like the USA.... Everyone is so smiley and immaculately turned out.... Great stuff 👍

[@keithdukes5990]

Yes, America at it's Zenith!!! 👍😊 Unfortunately that is not longer the case as it slides further & further away from those days!!!😒😔😞

[@keithdukes5990]

Ahhhh, You're a Racist then!🧐🤔

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Peri - you've done it again!! FABULOUS video!!!

[@ronaldfazekas6492]

It breaks your heart to see this film--I was lucky enough to take the Zephyr out of Denver--just before it was cancelled--the last long-distance non-Amtrak train--still using the old equipment similar to that in the film

[@derrickwong5337]

Marvelous!! Santa Fe Super Chief history of Chicago to Los Angeles like future of Amtrak Southwest Chief in 52 years.

[@saw1898]

So cool! I want to travel back in time and take that same train.

[@rexremedy1733]

Thats nice. Luxury travel or no travel! That has always been my motto.

[@jamesroets800]

I remember seeing the Super Chief when we were traveling. I wanted to be an engineer - I thought that would be so cool.

[@stevenk9094]

Road this train several times and remember timing the train between Dodge City KS and Trinidad CO and it would run 100mph+ through most of that territory especially LaJunta to Trinidad where I timed it at 105mph. We've lost so much in the US.

[@YoshiAngemon]

Daffy "I could sure go for some liquid refreshment. (Walks up to cupboard) Say, lady, where do you keep your glasses?" Melissa "They're in the cupboard. " (Daffy opens the cupboard to see the Super Chief rushing towards the camera, he closes it)

[@randygravel2057]

Took this route last month. We had a 1.5 hr stop in Albuquerque. Conductor said “I advise you use the buddy system, this IS Albuquerque” after getting out I knew why.

[@bboucharde]

Randy, You NAILED it! So true.

[@shyman9023]

Heck, thats the whole country now. With all the illegals roaming around and the wide open Biden border. Just waiting for a suitcase nuke or dirty bomb to go off.

[@bboucharde]

@@shyman9023 Hyman, I share your concerns. However, there are massive differences in crime rates among US cities. Albuquerque suffers from much higher robbery, assault, and homicide rates than the US national average.

[@shyman9023]

@@bboucharde Well, I'm about 20 miles north of Baltimore and I don't go there at all.

[@bboucharde]

@@shyman9023 Hyman, I am not surprised. Central Baltimore has some bad crime statistics, compared to the suburban ring. By some measures, however, Albuquerque is still worse.

[@zodszoo]

Thanks, big fan of the train videos!

[@stephenspilker9334]

dinner in the diner nothing could be finer. i love traveling by train and the dining car is a favorite place for me.

[@santafewarbonnetproductions]

SANTA FE ALL THE WAY!!!

[@unclebob6728]

thank you!

[@glhx2112]

Made that run via AMTRAK back in 1996. Actually spent the night in the dome from Somewhere in Colorado to Kansas City.

[@alcopower5710]

Simply outstanding 👍👍

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks a lot 😊 People like you who "get it" are the reason we do what we do! Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Santa Fe - all the way

[@mr.goodpliers6988]

Cool old footage

[@justcurious4754]

1950 was the beginning of the end for any meaningful travel of this sort. 1950 started the golden age of air travel. It’s also interesting to note that many of the 1950’s room features, new at the time, are still in use today. And come on, I can’t be the only one that noticed the dichotomy between the passengers and crew in this piece.

[@hoofie2002]

When I went to the US on holiday in 2005 from the UK all the hotel staff in Florida were African American. That made me feel really embarrassed as you don't see that obvious racial disparity in Britain.

[@dwightpowell6673]

@@hoofie2002 they had a job which is good.They don't hire us for luxury hotels.

[@coloradostrong8285]

@Amos Copp Well...they were.

[@coloradostrong8285]

@@hoofie2002 GOOD.

[@chewybunz]

The 1960s were the golden age of air travel, actually.

[@danf321]

If you ever get to Napa Valley, schedule a trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Same locomotive, Dome cars and 5-star meals while you take the train through vineyards.

[@COIcultist]

When and over what period of time did the pronunciation of Los Angeles change!

[@user-nw8xm5zp3p]

👍

[@robertnessful]

I grew up in Southern California and my understanding is that the hard G was a railroad thing. Supposedly, it was easier for passengers to understand announcements by conductors and station agents over the sound of the trains. They did this for a few Spanish place names, for example Santa Ana was "Santee Anna."

[@johnvrabec9747]

Lots of TV shows in the 50s like Perry Mason had some people pronounce it that way.

[@J_Calvin_Hobbes]

👍

[@georgewilson1184]

I like that diesel locomotive

[@billbright1755]

I can see clearly now, 1972, Johnny Nash. Song reminds me of Super Chief.

[@laserbeam002]

I bet Amtrak doesn't have anything like this today.

[@bsteven885]

Yeah, the bedrooms are most certainly NOT the same... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWibk5mff6mqjaM

[@SkySim]

Now you can take the Amtrak Southwest Chief.

[@A350flyernyc]

@@SkySim the southwest chief, while having the same accommodations in theory, doesn’t hold a candle to this train.

[@mjrodriguez8670]

The Santa Fe Super Chief was created and designed NOT for the general public, but for millionaires, movie and radio stars and businessmen. Only higher-income passengers could ride this luxury, extra-fare passenger train!

[@vlepore760]

I don’t get the guy dumping his wife To have dinner with the stalker dude in the Turquoise room!😂

[@rexremedy1733]

I hope to see you again fellow travellers!

[@jeffreycoulter4095]

I wish I could have traveled by train, like the super chief.

[@hoofie2002]

Still can in Australia and Canada and in the US but in the first two they are luxury trains and not cheap.

[@HoboHeaven]

And today? 2 hrs Flight? But Train is much more Fun.

[@chewybunz]

At least three hours by air.

[@cvcoco]

The good old days. Today, you wont even get a bag of peanuts unless you bring it yourself. Look how everyone is dressed up and nice manners, not like the Southwest videos! I wish Amtrak could be supported better and we bring this back, i never want to fly again.

[@richmanwisco]

You know that was a staged promotional film, right? For a style of travel accessible to only the wealthy, right?

[@cvcoco]

​@@richmanwisco I know it was a promo film and I also knew someone was going to say it. But in those times, look at street films, people were better dressed, better mannered. I rode trains as a kid and there werent half-naked, foulmouthed drunks making travel difficult like in the airline vids in YT. Things HAVE changed. I notice that car and train travel has picked up a lot, people dont like flying like they did once. I wish that Trump supported Amtrak more to upgrade and attract more people, and to even build high speed trains. Anyway, in the end its not the train or the plane, its the people and their personal class has declined in US. Everything has declined, our speech, dress, manners, edu level, ways. There was a time it was better, why is it worse today?

[@edculle]

Sign me up! It really sounds like a fun way to travel. Of course the trip takes longer but isn't moving people by train less polluting than by airplane?

[@bluefj-wc3vz]

Other than the second hand smoke, that was an unbelievably nice train.

[@rexoliver7780]

Fine-I will drive !

[@Retired88M]

Maybe it’s because I grew up in a smoker’s house that I didn’t mind it but in the fifties, sixties and most of the seventies smoking was allowed everywhere even in hospitals. But I think when the AMA outlawed smoking in all public places and the tobacco companies started losing revenue they added more nicotine to keep people hooked but in return made them smell really bad. Back in the sixties the smell of a freshly lit Lucky Strike or a Marlboro was a real nice aroma. Nowadays keep me away. Haven’t lit one up for 22 years after smoking for 33

[@bluefj-wc3vz]

Lol, oh I hear ya. Started smoking when we were probably 13 growing up in early 70’s. Everyone smoked everywhere back then. Quit 20 years ago. Just funny when you see these old films and such how everyone just chain smoked. 😂

[@dennisbehselich3747]

@@rexoliver7780 good stay in your car

[@rexoliver7780]

Didn’t they have non smoking cars for non smokers at that time?

[@wanderlust451]

Stock reports, wow!

[@manhoot]

Gee this sure was swell

[@W7DSY]

I've traveled by Amtrak Bedroom several times in the past 20 years, and they don't hold a patch to the Super Chief or any other trains of that era. The bedrooms are cramped, and the meals are so-so. Still, they are better than nothing.

[@richmanwisco]

Would you pay double for that level of luxury? Turns out not many did back the day, either. Which is why we don't see trains like this any more.

[@MikeSmithEnterprises]

@@richmanwisco That's not exactly true. Airline travel in the 60's and 70's was LUXURIOUS. So, it was far better than what the railroads were offering. Today, airline travel is the pits. I do everything I can to avoid it. I have often wondered if a "Super Chief"-quality train departed twice/day from Chicago to LA how it would do.

[@chewybunz]

The Amtrak bedrooms are no smaller than in the past. There's only so much space on a train.

[@W7DSY]

@@chewybunz I was not referring to Amtrak bedrooms. The Super Chief was a Santa Fe train.

[@chewybunz]

@@W7DSY I think you misunderstood. I meant that the Amtrak bedrooms were not necessarily smaller than those of the Chief. Trains are cramped, period.

[@mackpines]

The Super Chief was in my mind the second best train ride in the country. Nothing tops Western Pacific's California Zephyr.

[@RivetGardener]

I've always wanted to ride the Empire Builder the whole way. How does it compare. Never rode a sleeper rr before unfortunately.

[@Super_Chief]

Took the combined Super Chief/El Capitan from Pasadena to Chicago in 1964. They might as well have put a hook in my mouth and pulled on that pole, because they have had me hooked ever since! 😉

[@brendaraleigh8053]

Get rid of the smokes in 62 dad back from west has H o scale super cheaf train and oval track for the Kids! Great fun!

[@Retired88M]

I remember being able to smoke on a train. 1983 exactly on the Crescent both north and south either in the restroom lounge, between cars in the vestibule or in the lounge car. Back when i was a smoker

[@NickKaminski1980]

The last passenger train I rode on that had smoking was the Coast Starlight in 1992, in a section of the observation car only. It was also the last time I saw a bathroom direct flush toilet that opened up onto the tracks instead of a holding tank.

[@Retired88M]

@@NickKaminski1980 that’s how the toilets were on the Crescent I could just imagine what the underside of the cars looked and smelled like when arriving in either New Orleans or NYC

[@newdefsys]

The actress is Virginia Leith

[@phreshone1]

Just think, with that level of service, you too could get to LA in 2 days for 4 grand one way

[@dknowles60]

not near 4k

[@scottkasper6378]

That is one good lookin dame

[@dfgall]

Silver streak

[@michaeltaylor-lo4xx]

Anyone recognise who the actress is? Awesome scenery. A really interesting film.

[@bas1010]

I was wondering too, she looks so familiar!

[@JCELP]

I’m thinking that’s Virginia Leith.

[@williamstrecker1548]

I checked Google and that was Virginia Leith. Good detective work.😊

[@johnvrabec9747]

I thought was her. Good sleuthing. Her voice gave her away.

[@Garlic227]

Super Chief, She was a Grand Passenger train Diesel

[@MtnBoar]

I’m hoping they bring back decent rail cars Roanoke has sat idle for much to long.

[@r.jclark4641]

1:06 "Los Angle-os"

[@Paul-in-Missouri]

Great film, but why did they call the private dining room the "Turquoise Room" when it is pastel rose colored?

[@alternateself1244]

Turquoise is a huge thing in NM. and Santa Fe is also a place there... Probably just another NM/culture reference.

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

There was a large turquoise medallion on one of the walls.

[@Oliver-kv2mm]

Interesting everyone dressed to the 9s, no sweatpants or flip flops.

[@pieluvr7362]

Super Chief passes by my home everyday

[@coreliving63]

Does anyone know if these discontinued train cars can be purchased anywhere?

[@WaybackTECH]

2 tickets please!

[@mattkramer4132]

I’m pretty sure at the 4:20 mark, the nighttime shot looks a Lionel O gauge toy train instead of the real thing.😂. The radius on the turn is just too sharp for a real locomotive to navigate.

[@StuartAxe]

Yeah you're right. That's been a secret for 60 years.. ;-)

[@petulantfrenzy5532]

1950's styling was cool. Looking good was more important than safety. That's the America I'd like to try out again.

[@BillyAlabama]

I note that there is not a speck of turquoise in the Turquoise Room.

[@edwardwinner1301]

I wish good passenger train travel could come back again

[@UnionPacific1997]

Then don't live in the suburbs

[@Shaddowbanned]

I'm sorry that I missed it.

[@pbear6251]

it would have been nice to have a better copy of this vdeo and way better sound than what is here

[@NemoBlank]

Virginia Leith was about 25 when she appeared here. I wonder if this was what got her the big break?

[@monolight1327]

I see smoking was encouraged on The Super Chief lol

[@johnvrabec9747]

Everyone smoked back then. It was unusual to see nonsmokers. I was the only one in my family other than my Grandma and Aunt that didn't smoke.

[@peterunnels3311]

Does anyone know if the narrator is Don Wilson of Jack Benny fame?

[@kevinhoward9593]

I bet that drawing room cost about a months pay in the 60s. According to the 1968 Fare table The Super Chief Drawing Room was $101.95 which is $831.17 today. I think an Amtrak ticket between Chicago and LA in a sleeper is about that for even the smallest roomette.

[@MikeSmithEnterprises]

But compare that $831 against air fare + hotel + rental car.

[@kevinhoward9593]

@@MikeSmithEnterprises my point is that it was expensive to take the train.

[@whaheydelee]

Seems like a very cool thing to do, like the Trans-Canada Railway. Was it a requirement that every dude had to smoke two packs of butts every day?

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Everybody smoked back then LOL

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Is that Virginia Leith? From "The Brain that Wouldn't Die?"

[@williamstrecker1548]

Yes it is.

[@chewybunz]

Curious that there's no mention of movie stars riding the Chief, but perhaps the powers that be in Hollywood asked the Santa Fe to downplay that for privacy reasons.

[@jayjay60]

I love how Hugh Hefner Light keeps pestering and hitting on Train Girl in every scene. Then when they get to Los Angle Leez her boyfriend picks her up and Hugh's body language says "Who the Hell is this?"

[@erickrobertson7089]

Americans are short sighted as a people. Once we had miles of aging track which eventually got pulled up. It connected nearly every small to medium sized and up town with its neighbor. Now we can't spend enough money on commuter rail.

[@richmanwisco]

Free market capitalism at work. That's what this country is all about.

[@erickrobertson7089]

@@richmanwisco Except that... *Commuter rail is massively subsidized. *Initial land and right of way was granted to the railroads by the US government. *The Interstate system became the preferred mode of transportation of people and freight over rail. We can't forget about air travel either. Both I'm sure have received some subsidy in one form or another. *Of all of AmTrak's routes that I know of, only one is actually profitable. I get your drift but I really don't think Free Market Capitalism has existed for awhile. I could be wrong but everything seems to be regulated (regulation not necessarily being a bad thing) and contracts or success in business seems to be more networking and influence then talent or skill. Your point is taken though.

[@1978garfield]

@@richmanwisco It was the US government that taxed the railroads on all their equipment, trackage, land & stations while building airports, radar and air traffic control with tax payer money. Also the government set the rates and fares the railroads could charge and forced them to keep routes that lost money. That doesn't sound like "free market capitalism" to me.