No better passenger trains in this world than the Union Pacific "Cities" streamliners. My late father drove taxi in Cedar Rapids, IA after he and my Mom were married in 1936 and he regularly took passengers to and from Union Station in downtown Cedar Rapids to catch or those getting off the UP-CNW "Cities" trains. It was quite the big deal in my home state of Iowa when UP switched the Cities trains from traditional Overland Route partner CNW to North Western's arch-rival Milwaukee Road for the Chicago-Omaha segment on 10-30-55. I remember as a young boy watching the Cities trains on the Milwaukee Road in Iowa right up to the very end on the eve of Amtrak and to this day I still miss them so much.
The locomotive is an EMC E6A either LA4 or SF4 which has been renumbered to 994a. These A units were built in the winter of 1940-41. The B unit is an E6B which would have been numbered LA/SF 5 or 6 and delivered semi-permanently coupled as an A-B-B lash-up in ’41. You can see the banner background above the fuel tank on the B unit where either City of Los Angeles or San Francisco would have been printed. What helps a little in dating this is that the car immediately after the twin unit diner is #1517 which was converted from chair car #5206 into a club-lounge configuration in 1947. Beyond that is 4-4-2 Pullman Olvera delivered in 1941 as part of the 9th transcontinental trainset.
I know this is a window into the past, but it looks so classy and modern. The stylish cloths, the dress, the suits, and the Streamliner! Wowee! I wouldn't mind if this was the future civilization we all strive for!
It WAS classy and modern at the time. Today, there is a lot of dirty railroad equipment with fading and peeling paint in many places demonstrating a lack of pride. And to go along with that, travelers in dirty shoes and disheveled clothing also demonstrating a lack of pride.
Notice that the SP steam locomotive reflects the City of Los Angeles as it arrives at the platform. That loco, which will end the day covered in coal soot, has been washed and waxed before going into service.
Wow, totally amazing footage. I liked how the redcap baggage porters totally ignored the coach portion of the train & they all headed to the sleeping cars, in search of more lucrative tips. Heck, I used to do the same thing when I was a redcap baggage porter in Vancouver BC Canada years ago. All joking aside, I always was interested in this joint C&NW/UP CHI-LAX passenger service since I was a boy. Love the cool diesels on head end & passenger equipment, especially the sleeping cars with the tiny upper berth windows in the 'section' type of accommodation. Thanks for posting this film, it is so cool.
1:28-1:32 Note the articulated car pair sharing a heavyweight-era style, three-axle truck. My guess would be a kitchen-diner combination. Anyone know for certain? Thanks for choosing my favorite swing-era composer, Speed Graphic. Smooth!
Reminds me of the time when my Parents took me to Los Angeles Union Station. My Dad took me to the platform where the Santa Fe Super Chief was about to depart. I remember standing next to the locomotives and glaring into the lit up Cab of the lead locomotive with my Dad when the Engineer came over and said to my Dad "if we weren't leaving now, I'd have you bring your son up into the Cab". It was 1965 and Amtrak was still 6 years into the future.
Articulated car at 1:28 would be kitchen/diner. Note door in center of car not normal passenger door. Note at 1:54 normal passenger door with steps coming down. Center door used to load food. Also 5 vents on top of car over kitchen.
@ 3.03 l think l can shed some light upon this gent. I believe it is none other than Kay Kyser, a popular bandleader of the time. Kay appeared in many films. I think Kay noticed the camera, which was probably in a hide, and instinctively 'played up', only to realise "Hey, maybe they're taking stock footage" and awkwardly goes on his way. Loving trains and big band music (and the 40s generally), your channel is my time machine!
Great film! If I had to guess this was filmed in 1949. 994 is the E6 at the head and was jointly owned buy UP, SP and C&NW until December 1948 when the UP took over as sole owner and had it repainted with just their logo.
I saw some of the NY Central streamliners fly through Peekskill station on the Hudson line in the early 60’s. I remember the gray E8’s with the red herald on the nose
For a transcontinental train many of the passengers appear to be men traveling alone - the 'road warriors' of the day (many for the entire three day/two night trip from Chicago) - rather than the leisure set (retirees, families with kids, etc.) that I would think would the more likely case today. Interesting also the relative lack of carry-on luggage as people either left their bags for the Red Caps to handle or they checked it into a baggage car. Very sharp looking group of travelers!
CALIFORNIA HERE I COME "City of Los Angeles" (Chicago - LA, 1964) UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD I was nursing the worst hangover en route to LA after getting pissy drunk at a Memorial Day party with my Morehouse College classmate and his friends in Chicago. His mom's boyfriend introduced me to rum & Roses Lime Juice and the rest is history. The morning after I managed to climb up to the dome diner for steak & eggs and a stiff Bloody Mary which certainly helped ease the pain. I was only 19 carrying a fake college I.D., but it worked as the "City" charged through the wild wild west leaving Jesse James & his gang of train robbers in a hail of dust and flying ballast. Despite my hangover dome dining was a fabulous experience I shan't ever forget.
"People watching" is usually a pretty entertaining thing. This video sure fits into that category. Long before the age of wearing backwards baseball caps.
My guess is this was filmed while WW II was still in progress. There is a woman in uniform in the first 12 seconds. Women in uniform were among the first to be demobilized after the war. The women hats and hair styles are just too antiquated for the immediate post war years when styles changed rapidly.
![Hollywood, Los Angeles 1930s in color [60fps, Remastered] w/sound design added](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fDy6ETGfPTY/mqdefault.jpg)
No better passenger trains in this world than the Union Pacific "Cities" streamliners. My late father drove taxi in Cedar Rapids, IA after he and my Mom were married in 1936 and he regularly took passengers to and from Union Station in downtown Cedar Rapids to catch or those getting off the UP-CNW "Cities" trains. It was quite the big deal in my home state of Iowa when UP switched the Cities trains from traditional Overland Route partner CNW to North Western's arch-rival Milwaukee Road for the Chicago-Omaha segment on 10-30-55. I remember as a young boy watching the Cities trains on the Milwaukee Road in Iowa right up to the very end on the eve of Amtrak and to this day I still miss them so much.
Born too late to enjoy such a classy and attractive way to travel. Thankfully, there are film and photographs to enjoy.
The locomotive is an EMC E6A either LA4 or SF4 which has been renumbered to 994a. These A units were built in the winter of 1940-41. The B unit is an E6B which would have been numbered LA/SF 5 or 6 and delivered semi-permanently coupled as an A-B-B lash-up in ’41. You can see the banner background above the fuel tank on the B unit where either City of Los Angeles or San Francisco would have been printed. What helps a little in dating this is that the car immediately after the twin unit diner is #1517 which was converted from chair car #5206 into a club-lounge configuration in 1947. Beyond that is 4-4-2 Pullman Olvera delivered in 1941 as part of the 9th transcontinental trainset.
You couldn't get MORE 40's than this! Streamliners. Steam trains. Fashion. AND NO TRASH!! LoL
Thats steam locomotive though, so beautiful
Look at those three tomatoes, they're swell.
I know this is a window into the past, but it looks so classy and modern. The stylish cloths, the dress, the suits, and the Streamliner! Wowee! I wouldn't mind if this was the future civilization we all strive for!
We have really gone backwards as a country. Everyone behaves and looks like uncivilized devils
You're so right!!
It WAS classy and modern at the time. Today, there is a lot of dirty railroad equipment with fading and peeling paint in many places demonstrating a lack of pride. And to go along with that, travelers in dirty shoes and disheveled clothing also demonstrating a lack of pride.
Notice that the SP steam locomotive reflects the City of Los Angeles as it arrives at the platform. That loco, which will end the day covered in coal soot, has been washed and waxed before going into service.
Wow, totally amazing footage. I liked how the redcap baggage porters totally ignored the coach portion of the train & they all headed to the sleeping cars, in search of more lucrative tips. Heck, I used to do the same thing when I was a redcap baggage porter in Vancouver BC Canada years ago. All joking aside, I always was interested in this joint C&NW/UP CHI-LAX passenger service since I was a boy. Love the cool diesels on head end & passenger equipment, especially the sleeping cars with the tiny upper berth windows in the 'section' type of accommodation. Thanks for posting this film, it is so cool.
1:28-1:32 Note the articulated car pair sharing a heavyweight-era style, three-axle truck. My guess would be a kitchen-diner combination. Anyone know for certain?
Thanks for choosing my favorite swing-era composer, Speed Graphic. Smooth!
Classier times back then at Union Station
MORE! I NEED MORE!
Fantastic as usual!
I'm on a one-a-week schedule. Stay tuned! Plenty more to come!
@@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo thank you for doing this! I will note the third locomotive is not a E2b but rather an F3b.
@@SpeedGraphicFilmVideo ó,very good!!!
Whoops! I missed that! I'll update the description.
Reminds me of the time when my Parents took me to Los Angeles Union Station. My Dad took me to the platform where the Santa Fe Super Chief was about to depart. I remember standing next to the locomotives and glaring into the lit up Cab of the lead locomotive with my Dad when the Engineer came over and said to my Dad "if we weren't leaving now, I'd have you bring your son up into the Cab". It was 1965 and Amtrak was still 6 years into the future.
Articulated car at 1:28 would be kitchen/diner. Note door in center of car not normal passenger door. Note at 1:54 normal passenger door with steps coming down. Center door used to load food. Also 5 vents on top of car over kitchen.
@ 3.03 l think l can shed some light upon this gent. I believe it is none other than Kay Kyser, a popular bandleader of the time. Kay appeared in many films. I think Kay noticed the camera, which was probably in a hide, and instinctively 'played up', only to realise "Hey, maybe they're taking stock footage" and awkwardly goes on his way. Loving trains and big band music (and the 40s generally), your channel is my time machine!
Wow, he sure looks like him! What a great observation.
Beautiful footage!! Excellent choice of music!!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!
Did you see the gams on those doll's!
Great film! If I had to guess this was filmed in 1949. 994 is the E6 at the head and was jointly owned buy UP, SP and C&NW until December 1948 when the UP took over as sole owner and had it repainted with just their logo.
I would say it is 1942 as there is a Army woman in uniform and the E6 was built from 1940 til 1942 if I am not mistaken.
I saw some of the NY Central streamliners fly through Peekskill station on the Hudson line in the early 60’s. I remember the gray E8’s with the red herald on the nose
Guy at 3:02 was living it up in the limelight😂
I love the locomotive and streamliner itself! Awesome video!
Lots of men in hats.
For a transcontinental train many of the passengers appear to be men traveling alone - the 'road warriors' of the day (many for the entire three day/two night trip from Chicago) - rather than the leisure set (retirees, families with kids, etc.) that I would think would the more likely case today. Interesting also the relative lack of carry-on luggage as people either left their bags for the Red Caps to handle or they checked it into a baggage car. Very sharp looking group of travelers!
Having lived in SoCal for many years I can't imagine any time of year when it would be comfortable wearing such heavy clothing.
Yes! At 3:21 we see a woman carrying a baby wrapped up like she is heading into a midwestern blizzard!! Beautiful film!
CALIFORNIA HERE I COME
"City of Los Angeles" (Chicago - LA, 1964)
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
I was nursing the worst hangover en route to LA after getting pissy drunk at a Memorial Day party with my Morehouse College classmate and his friends in Chicago. His mom's boyfriend introduced me to rum & Roses Lime Juice and the rest is history.
The morning after I managed to climb up to the dome diner for steak & eggs and a stiff Bloody Mary which certainly helped ease the pain. I was only 19 carrying a fake college I.D., but it worked as the "City" charged through the wild wild west leaving Jesse James & his gang of train robbers in a hail of dust and flying ballast. Despite my hangover dome dining was a fabulous experience I shan't ever forget.
"People watching" is usually a pretty entertaining thing. This video sure fits into that category. Long before the age of wearing backwards baseball caps.
So many fedoras with bands ! Then you have this guy at 3:05 with his hat tilted and locked to the left!
My guess is this was filmed while WW II was still in progress. There is a woman in uniform in the first 12 seconds. Women in uniform were among the first to be demobilized after the war. The women hats and hair styles are just too antiquated for the immediate post war years when styles changed rapidly.
Came for the trains, stayed for the gams -- not a pair of 'slacks' or 'flats' to be seen.
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
I am sure the conversation in the opening is staged, I wonder if anyone can identify the actresses, the blonde is quite beautiful.
To bad the hats are a thing of the past.
I imagine my great and great great grandparents could have been in this since they were living in LA at that time.