Product Description

right up to Union Pacific’s ceding of passenger service to Amtrak in 1971. 

 

Award-winning rail author Joe Welsh examines the fleet of “City” trains that followed the Salina, all connecting Chicago to their namesakes with revolutionary equipment and diesel motive power on breakneck schedules. In addition to detailed looks at the trains, readers are treated to their various forms of motive power and rolling stock, and their unparalleled services. Dozens of black-and-white images and period color photos depict the City of Portland, City of Denver, City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of St. Louis along, with period ads and route maps to complete the picture.  Images also detail the opulent furnishings and impeccable service that distinguished America’s premier passenger line--from uniforms and dinnerware to the most exotic lounge cars ever built.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #644673 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

About the Author

a regular contributor to Trains magazine and has appeared on the History Channel. He is the author of several books, including the critically acclaimed The American Railroad, Classic American Streamliners, and Travel by Pullman. Welsh is a transportation planner for the City of Auburn, Washington.

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Customer Reviews

ONE OF MY BETTER BOOK BUYS
Passenger train books do not come much better than this one. Joe Welsh as always has produced a scholarly account of his subject. The mostly colored photography is superb. The author takes the reader from the history of Union Pacific passenger trains starting with Promonatory, through the first
streamline era before World War ii, to the postwar period in detail, and finally to the Amtrak trial and error (mostly error in my opinion} period.
There is also a delightfully described virtual trip on the City of Portland,
as well as a chapter on competing streamliners that I wish was longer and more detailed. Considering that the Kratville book on Union Pacific Streamliners sells over $65.00, this book at under $25.00 is a bargain that no passenger train lover should miss.

Union Pacific Streamliner History
Joe Welsh's UNION PACIFIC STREAMLINERS is a wonderful pictorial history of UP's fleet of Streamliners from 1934's M-10000 to the beginning of Amtrak in 1971. The book is very thorough and even has a chapter on the heavyweight limiteds the predecessors of the Streamliners. The book gives a detailed history of the following trains: CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CITY OF PORTLAND, CITY OF DENVER, CITY OF ST. LOUIS, and THE CHALLENGER. I was impressed with the collection of color photos showing the various trains in spectacular western settings as well as the large collection of photos of individual cars. Includes 200 photos, maps, car rosters, consists, menus, ads, and railroad brochures. I give this book high marks and recommend it for the Union Pacific fan, railroad historian, or model railroader.

a look at a gentler age...
Before we crammed ourselves into cramped aluminum cigars to trade comfort for time, travel was an event - often involving a train. Train travel could run from military troop trains to luxury experiences. The Union Pacicific Railroad prided itself on its premier trains, the "City of..." Streamliners. This book give a look at the develpoment of these trains. These started as some of the earliest streamline trains and lasted right up to Amtrak. The book has a number of photos of the equipment, inside and out as well as photos of the trains through the years. There are schedules, menus and other information. For the price it is one of the best general reference to UP passenger trains of the classic era.