WESTERN PACIFIC ~~!~p',~Sls fe, "May I have your attention, please? with the travelers throughout the Good morning (eastbound; good journey. " . .. As I pass through the afternoon, westbound) , this is your train, I hope you will stop me if you Zephyrette, Miss O'Grady. On behalf think I can be of service. Weare of the Western Pacific, Rio Grande and anxious to do all we can to add to the Burlington railroads, I welcome you comfort and enjoyment of your trip. aboard the Cctiif01·nia Zephyr . ..." Thank you for your attention." Familiar to all who ride the Califor­ Following this introduction, she de­ Vol. II , No. 12 JULY, 1951 Milepost No. 24 nia Zephyr is the pleasant voice heard scribes b riefly t h e train's facilities over the train's public address system Department of Public Relations available to passengers, the scenic at­ -th at of the Zephyrette. According to tractions to be viewed during the day, WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD remarks of many passengers, one of and announcements that are to follow. SACRAMENTO NORTHERN RAILWAY TIDEWATER SOUTHERN RAILWAY the nicest things about the famous 526 Mission Street, San Francisco 5 As the train approaches historic, in­ train is its hostess, that ever-smiling teresting, or scenic spots along the Lee " Flash" Sherwoo"d, Editor : Arthur lloyd, Jr., Associate Editor and efficient young lady who rides th e Member American Railway Magazine Ed itors' Association way, she informs the passengers in ad­ streamliner on its transcontinental run vance so they may be prepared to between Oakland and Chicago. catch these points of interest. In ad­ CONTENTS Neatly dressed in dark blue uni­ dition to making these announce­ Page form, consisting of a two-pice suit ments, the Zephyrette also operates This Is Your Zephyrette 3-7 with Zephyr pin, white blouse w ith the train's radio and recorded music New Diesel Power. 8 CZ monogram, military cap and top from a master control board located coat, the Zephyrette is instantly iden­ W P Out in Front 8, 9 in the dining car. tified by passengers as they are Capitol City Lodge . 9 Before greeting her passengers at greeted aboard the train. Diversified the check-in desk at Chicago or as Two Old Timers L eave W P 10, 11 duties will keep her in close contact they come down to the train at Oak- New W P Executive 11 Don't Be HALF Safe! 12, 13 Military Funeral for Railroader 13 W P Employee Heads New R R Association 13 Mileposts in Gold . 14, 15 "Hi, There!" 15 W P Acquires Industrial Tract . 16 A Friend in Need 16 Caboosing 17-28 Time the Honeymoon Was Over! 29-31 Railroad Lines . 32 ENTS' J' Baker Chicago; Nevada Michelson, Elko; Elsie Hagen, Kedd:e; Ro~ert CORRESPOND An ele~ ' ~an Hudson, New York; Hazel Petersen, Oakland; Helen Small: OrovIlle: Munc.e, Jr.'k LoU p gtola: Fred Kreuger Sacramento ' Madge Slaughtner. Sacramento Mechamcal Dept . P~ylhs .oc we . or 'N rthern' Ma~cel1a Kahl, Sacramento Shops; Irene Burton, Sac~amen~o St~re ; M:lton Z le~n . Sjcr~m~at~kerO Salt L'ake City ; Rita Connolly, Molly Fagan, Lawrence Gernng. Jim Mllls, ~~~r?c~ni~o~~~~, Ca;l Rath,' Dudley Th:ckens, Sa? Francisco; Chas. H. Myers, San Jose; Gen e Trace, Stockton; Dora Monroe, Tidewater Southern: Shirley Lee. Wendover. Zephyrette Floraine Lovitt greets D&RGW Con­ Zephyrette Shirley Chap makes an adjustment at ~7 ductor Halderman on westbound arrival at Denver. the control board for the public address system. 2 MILEPOSTS MILEPOSTS 3 along th e figure " Z " are: Nellie Shirley Chap takes a dinner reservation in the dome car. The mail must go through, assisted by Miss Chap. O'Grady, Jane Connor, La land from the ferry, she has already uted to passengers reserving seats in inspected the train to see that every­ the dinner at the hours they choose, Faun Williams, Sally thing under her jurisdiction is in etc. You ng, Rodna W alls, order. Following her greeting an­ Postcards, letters and telegrams sent nouncement, she goes through the by passengers while en route are col­ train with the conductor, thus estab­ lected and sent by her from stopover lishing herself as a crew member. She points along the line, and she distrib­ is ready to give approved first aid as u tes s imilar messages received en taught by the Red Cross when neces­ route. sary, and has a little time for baby sit­ While passing through -the entire ting, too. The shy traveler, or the child train about once each two how's, the traveling alone, may require Travel­ Zephyrette assists women with chil­ ers' Aid assistance, and she makes dren; children traveling alone; aids these contacts. elderly or crippled people; helps the Velma McPeek (su­ The Zephyrette's room in the center train conductor in handling difficult of the train is h er h eadquarters. Here passengers and those who may be ill; perviso r), Shirley Chap, she prepares her reports, sets up her and generally makes herself agree­ Floraine Lovitt, Marion Vran ­ dinner reservation cards to be distrib- able. She handles requests for special Floraine Lovitt sends a telegram for a passenger at Zephyrette Chap gets acquainted with passengers Eln a Johnson, Ann Martin and Denver. at Grand ] unction. EXPERIENCES mittee of the three railroads which ZEPHYRETTE HOME EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AS A ZEPHYRETTE handled the planning and building of Shirley Chap Chicago, Knox College. Reading, ice skating, Passing through the train with the California ZephY1·s. A Kansas girl, Illinois Galesburg, 111. amateur theatricals, the brakeman, they heard the Nurse's Aid work familiar "wolf" whistle. He she attended Southwestern College whistled back and it was ac­ knowledged. They were then and was graduated from the Winfield invited to visit their whistling College of Music. She taught for a passenger-one of the famous Westinghouse talking birds. while but decided that was not the life Jane Connor Madison. University of Piano, photography, With four French people, two for her. A course at the School of Do­ Wisconsin Wisconsin interior decoration I talians and one Greek, none and design, home of whom could speak English, mestic Arts and Sciences in Chicago economics, had to sketch figures of people gave her a start at managing a depart­ Community Chest in the domes, eating, etc., to and social affairs explain life aboard the C. Z. ment store tea room before accepting Elna Johnson East Cleve­ University of Skiing, skating, While being watched in the ob­ her position with the Burlington. land, Ohio Denver swimming, folk danc­ servation car by little 6-year­ ing, amateur theat­ old Susan, Elna was compli­ Of the eleven Zeyphyrettes now in ricals. photography, mented by the remark, "You're sewing, cooking. pretty." "Well, thank you, service, Nellie O'Grady is the only onc collecting history of that's a very lovely compli­ of the original crew which began serv­ the three railroads ment," replied Elna. Susan quickly asked: "What kind of ice with the inauguration of the trains soap do you use?" Little Miss Buckley gets a soda mint drink from on March 20, 1949. Other members of Floraine Lovitt Ga lesburg, Brown Business Reading, traveling, Tracing down the disappear­ Floraine. Illinois College music. piano ance of her identification cards the original Zephyrettes who have to a group of sailors, she of­ attention courtesies received from since left service were: Rita Billings, fered to exchange the cards for her personal card. The cards re­ friends of passengers and, on detrain­ K athleen Blumberg, Alice Bonar ceived by the boys in exchange ing, lends a hand to passengers who (Mrs. Fred Koch), Maxine Brown read: Middle Harbor Road, need it, and bids them good-bye with Oakland, the W P address. (Mrs. Amedeo Cacace), Evelyn Ann Martin Berkeley, University of Skiing, fencing, A redhead, which she says ex­ a pleasant smile. She must conduct Calder, D elores Justin (Mrs. L eo (Substitute) California California sewing plains a lot. Finds her job fab ­ ulously interesting. herself with dignity and poise and Prinster), Betty Pitschke (Mrs. Al Nellie O'Grady Palo Alto, San Mateo Junior Sports, arts and One of her biggest thrills was avoid any familiarities and acceptance Gelbrech), and Jean Williams. California College; St. crafts; traveled 3% having General Eisenhower as of invitations from passengers or em­ Joseph's College months in Europe passenger. Following is a brief biography of of Nursing last year ployees of the railroads. The Zephyr ­ the Zephyrettes now in service: Helen Schwartz Burlington, Burlington Cooking, theatricals, Enjoys meeting people and ette is not permitted to drink or smoke Iowa Junior College traveling, home finds them very interesting and while in uniform, and she must avoid An elderly lady in lower 7 gets assistance from decoration entertaining. Shirley. Marion Vranna Albany, University of Skating, skiing, A favorite passenger was a spending time with passengers while California California cycling, music; crippled lady, able to walk only they are drinking. Capt. World Student with crutches. Her charming Service Fund personality made it a joy to Zephyrettes must be between 24 and help her. 28 years of age, single, between five Rodna Walls Alameda, University of Decorative art, Remembers well a young dis­ California California flower arrangement, placed couple and little girl, feet four inches and five feet eight child welfare, sports unable to speak English. inches in height, and of good character Through a passenger - inter­ preter learned of their meager with pleasing personalities. Strenu­ existence, life in labor camps ous and irregular hours require good and their hopes and gratitude for a future in America.