{"id":2448,"date":"2015-05-25T20:41:54","date_gmt":"2015-05-25T20:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/virginia-back-roads-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-02-16T01:17:33","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T01:17:33","slug":"california-zephyr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/california-zephyr\/","title":{"rendered":"Riding the Historical California Zephyr Dome Car Down the California Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Now we\u2019re going to go on a different kind of \u201croad\u201d trip.<\/strong> This trip is going to be on a rail<\/em>road. Everyone that has been keeping up with our travels on our blog is familiar with the road trips and hikes we usually take you on. This time, we\u2019re going on a nostalgic journey along the California coastline, from Oakland to Los Angeles, aboard an historic domed railcar that used to be part of the famed California Zephyr.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"VistaDome2\" \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n

<\/h3>\n
\n Click image<\/strong> to watch Virtual Video Tour and see viewer comments.\nThen come back to get the rest of the story. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n \n \"YouTubeCaliforniaZephyr\" <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

As rail travel in the tourist industry becomes more popular, train enthusiasts are making more of an effort to restore old, historic train coaches. One famous train that traveled from San Francisco to Chicago was the California Zephyr. It featured several streamlined \u201cvista dome\u201d cars. These glass-topped cars were reserved for first class travelers who would enjoy stunning views of the beautiful mountains of the Sierra Nevada\u2019s and the Rockies as the train snaked its way through these and countless other scenic areas along the route.<\/p>

History<\/h2>

Originally built in the 1940\u2019s, these old cars were the top of the line for their day. As you sat at your table on the cushioned bench seats, you are higher than the rooftops of the other railcars and can enjoy 360 degree views while being served your choice of cocktail and gourmet meals.<\/p>

The original Zephyr stopped running in 1971 and the domed cars were replaced by the cars you see running on Amtrak today. Only the name California Zephyr lives on with Amtrak trains. The actual routes and the classic streamlined cars are no longer in service. But, thanks to those train enthusiasts and historians, some of those old cars are back riding the rails today.<\/p>

The Railcars<\/h2>

These enthusiasts charter out their beautifully restored coaches to tour groups and for special excursions. Some trips can last a week or more and go across the country and some are just a day long and go for short rides from L.A. to San Diego. There are various charter companies that book trips on these railcars or the owners sell trips themselves. Often, trips will include meals, drinks, lodging (sleeping on the train in some cases), and side trips to the places where they stop. Some trips are also coordinated with events that are occurring at a given destination.<\/p>

These old coaches are stored in different locations, such as Los Angeles and Oakland so, when they are needed at a certain location to start their chartered excursion, they have to be repositioned from their storage place to the starting place of their excursion and then back again when the trip is over. Just like a cruise ship that gets repositioned each year from colder to warmer tourist destinations, these coaches go on trips just to be moved. So instead of going down the rails empty, the owners book them out as \u201cpositioning moves\u201d. These one or two day trips are a great introduction to enjoying nostalgic rail travel and, for the first-class experience you get, are a great travel value.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n