Amazing video about a truly amazing train set. The Zephyr was indeed the future. Look at. Remember, this was the early 1930's. Even GG 1's were just getting started over on the NEC. Think about that. Steam was still the main source of power on our railroads. To some, seeing this train set was like stepping into another planet. It was that modern. She was indeed fast. Sleek and chalk full of that " Art Deco " look that was very popular back in the 30's. Her front end is amazing looking. Thank God for these few videos that capture this futuristic train set as she set records over night. The Zephyr was indeed way ahead of its time. Both inside and out, she looked like something from another world. Even by today's standards ( 2019 ) her futuristic appeal is widely accepted by most familiar with her. Science fiction was somewhat popular back in the 30's. Of course, once war broke out over in Europe, our country had just a few scant years before we got involved, then the Japanese Empire literally changed that one morning. Our country was dealing with the depression, but what makes our country so very unique, is our sincere desire to overcome. Whether it was speed, distance, science, medicine, really just about anything, our country led the way. We had this thirst. This sincere desire to be ahead and not just a little bit, but really ahead, Especially in technology. In terms of railroading, I can find no greater example of that then in this video of our Zephyr. She was the very embodiment of technological success. Again, look at her. If it were not black and white and so sketchy looking, I'd swear we were looking at a modern Amtrak over on the NEC under the wires! I've traveled on the Acela numerous times on business while on the east coast. Amazingly, only once out of NYC does that train set reach its maximum allowable speeds. Usually around 150mph and only if the engineer gets the green light. We're talking about under the wire ( catenary ), but the Zephyr was an early diesel locomotive train set which could easily run at speeds over 110mph. You do the math. Even more so, I believe this was Americas first true bona fide train set. In others words, like Acela, the whole train had to be serviced as one complete unit. Amazing for the 1930's. I really love railroad technology. The Zephyr, in my opinion, was and still is, the greatest achievement in railroad history. Oh we have had many such achievements of course. The GG 1. The Union Pacific's Big Boy and DD40Ax. The Genesis locomotive by GE. Just to name a few, but the Zephyr really stands out in my opinion. Another note worthy innovation on the Zephyr was its use of off set trucks and articulation. Again, amazing considering this was the early 1930's. If someone gave me a choice between the Acela ( which I happen to love very much ) and the Zephyr, I'd choose the Zephyr without hesitation. That Art Deco look just grabs me and causes me to say........we really do live in a magnificent and great country. Who else could pull a bunch of people from all over the world, create a new country and pull our resources together in creating amazing works of technology and art? One honorary mention is General Motors Aero Train. I love that train set to. Designed a mere decade and half after the Zephyr in the early 1950's, that train set looked like it was from the movie Forbidden Planet. With Robby the Robot as its engineer. No, GM was very forward thinking on the AT. Though not very comfortable on long trips, she was pretty decent on regional trips. It truly was an amazing feat of engineering and design and for anyone who loves cars from the 1950's ( I do ), the AT just looked incredible. Very sleek. Both the Zephyr and the Aero Train will certainly go down in history as this countries greatest innovations of the 20th century in railroading. This video is just amazing and certainly proof of our countries abilities in railroad technologies. 🚅🚄🚆🚇🚝🚉🚊🚈🚂
The Burlington Zephyr of the mid 1930’s set the standard for diesel power streamlined passenger trains & many of their trains were named the Twin Cities Zephyr, Denver Zephyr, Kansas City Zephyr, Mark Twain Zephyr, Pioneer Zephyr, General Pershing Zephyr, Texas Zephyr,Houston Zephyr, & the California Zephyr which runs today, but Ramon in the C,B&Q(Burlington)Rio Grande & Western Pacific between Chicago & the Asian Francisco Bay Area.
I remember having a vhs with bits of this scene but can’t remember the title it had a narrator and the rest of the movie was different trains in all weather
This film dates from 1934, just like the feature film “The Silver Streak.” If passenger service began in 1940, what was this train doing for six years? More tests?
Well... "Silver Streak Zephyr" Service started in 1940, after the popular Pioneer Zephyr had generated more ridership than it could handle. And the CB&Q named the new, longer, non-articulated (it used an EMD E-5 engine and separate cars to accommodate increases in ridership)) train after the movie. This original Zephyr in this film, (Later renamed the Pioneer Zephyr) was inaugurated on Nov. 11, 1934 between Kansas City, Missouri, to Omaha, and on to Lincoln, Nebraska. The Pioneer Zephyr would operate until March, 1960.
@@oakcreekrailroadproduction3907 Looks like, instead of running the catenaries over the curve in straight-line runs, they decided to actually curve the catenaries with these riggings. I didn't even consider electrification, this being the US. Apparently, they had quite a few electrified lines in the 1930s but then dismantled them.
Catenary rigging for train electrification somewhere along the Pennsylvania Railroad's NE Corridor south of NYC, it appears. The PRR had only just electrified its Washington-New York mainline with an AC 12kV catenary system all the way south to Washington in 1935, so this was likely filmed around the time of the electrification project's completion.
Amazing video about a truly amazing train set. The Zephyr was indeed the future. Look at. Remember, this was the early 1930's. Even GG 1's were just getting started over on the NEC. Think about that. Steam was still the main source of power on our railroads. To some, seeing this train set was like stepping into another planet. It was that modern.
She was indeed fast. Sleek and chalk full of that " Art Deco " look that was very popular back in the 30's. Her front end is amazing looking. Thank God for these few videos that capture this futuristic train set as she set records over night. The Zephyr was indeed way ahead of its time. Both inside and out, she looked like something from another world. Even by today's standards ( 2019 ) her futuristic appeal is widely accepted by most familiar with her. Science fiction was somewhat popular back in the 30's. Of course, once war broke out over in Europe, our country had just a few scant years before we got involved, then the Japanese Empire literally changed that one morning. Our country was dealing with the depression, but what makes our country so very unique, is our sincere desire to overcome. Whether it was speed, distance, science, medicine, really just about anything, our country led the way. We had this thirst. This sincere desire to be ahead and not just a little bit, but really ahead, Especially in technology. In terms of railroading, I can find no greater example of that then in this video of our Zephyr. She was the very embodiment of technological success. Again, look at her. If it were not black and white and so sketchy looking, I'd swear we were looking at a modern Amtrak over on the NEC under the wires!
I've traveled on the Acela numerous times on business while on the east coast. Amazingly, only once out of NYC does that train set reach its maximum allowable speeds. Usually around 150mph and only if the engineer gets the green light. We're talking about under the wire ( catenary ), but the Zephyr was an early diesel locomotive train set which could easily run at speeds over 110mph. You do the math. Even more so, I believe this was Americas first true bona fide train set. In others words, like Acela, the whole train had to be serviced as one complete unit. Amazing for the 1930's.
I really love railroad technology. The Zephyr, in my opinion, was and still is, the greatest achievement in railroad history. Oh we have had many such achievements of course. The GG 1. The Union Pacific's Big Boy and DD40Ax. The Genesis locomotive by GE. Just to name a few, but the Zephyr really stands out in my opinion. Another note worthy innovation on the Zephyr was its use of off set trucks and articulation. Again, amazing considering this was the early 1930's.
If someone gave me a choice between the Acela ( which I happen to love very much ) and the Zephyr, I'd choose the Zephyr without hesitation. That Art Deco look just grabs me and causes me to say........we really do live in a magnificent and great country. Who else could pull a bunch of people from all over the world, create a new country and pull our resources together in creating amazing works of technology and art?
One honorary mention is General Motors Aero Train. I love that train set to. Designed a mere decade and half after the Zephyr in the early 1950's, that train set looked like it was from the movie Forbidden Planet. With Robby the Robot as its engineer. No, GM was very forward thinking on the AT. Though not very comfortable on long trips, she was pretty decent on regional trips. It truly was an amazing feat of engineering and design and for anyone who loves cars from the 1950's ( I do ), the AT just looked incredible. Very sleek.
Both the Zephyr and the Aero Train will certainly go down in history as this countries greatest innovations of the 20th century in railroading. This video is just amazing and certainly proof of our countries abilities in railroad technologies.
🚅🚄🚆🚇🚝🚉🚊🚈🚂
The Burlington Zephyr of the mid 1930’s set the standard for diesel power streamlined passenger trains & many of their trains were named the Twin Cities Zephyr, Denver Zephyr, Kansas City Zephyr, Mark Twain Zephyr, Pioneer Zephyr, General Pershing Zephyr, Texas Zephyr,Houston Zephyr, & the California Zephyr which runs today, but Ramon in the C,B&Q(Burlington)Rio Grande & Western Pacific between Chicago & the Asian Francisco Bay Area.
I have the N scale model of this train. Its just so fascinating!
Awesome footage
I remember having a vhs with bits of this scene but can’t remember the title it had a narrator and the rest of the movie was different trains in all weather
It's called the silver streak
Thanks a bunch
This film dates from 1934, just like the feature film “The Silver Streak.” If passenger service began in 1940, what was this train doing for six years? More tests?
Well... "Silver Streak Zephyr" Service started in 1940, after the popular Pioneer Zephyr had generated more ridership than it could handle. And the CB&Q named the new, longer, non-articulated (it used an EMD E-5 engine and separate cars to accommodate increases in ridership)) train after the movie. This original Zephyr in this film, (Later renamed the Pioneer Zephyr) was inaugurated on Nov. 11, 1934 between Kansas City, Missouri, to Omaha, and on to Lincoln, Nebraska. The Pioneer Zephyr would operate until March, 1960.
So, uh, what do you think, should I add this to my new video?
I think the Pioneer Zephyr trains all have a horn that is similar to a Leslie A125 & A200, but what is it?
What are these nets? grids? in the sky at 8:23?
I think those are wires for the electric trains but im not exactly sure
@@oakcreekrailroadproduction3907 Looks like, instead of running the catenaries over the curve in straight-line runs, they decided to actually curve the catenaries with these riggings. I didn't even consider electrification, this being the US. Apparently, they had quite a few electrified lines in the 1930s but then dismantled them.
I thought I once read that those may have been a two way radio antenna but I'm not sure.
Those are most certainly catenary wires.
Catenary rigging for train electrification somewhere along the Pennsylvania Railroad's NE Corridor south of NYC, it appears. The PRR had only just electrified its Washington-New York mainline with an AC 12kV catenary system all the way south to Washington in 1935, so this was likely filmed around the time of the electrification project's completion.