Be sure to turn in to your local PBS station on Monday evening, February 5, at 9 p.m. The American Experience series will air "Streamliners: America's Lost Trains," a historical documentary focusing on the rise and fall of the American rail passenger system. The episode will also look at the impact of industrial designers on passenger trains of the past, most notably Loewy, Budd, Dreyfuss and others. The CB&Q's Burlington Zephyr will be featured as one of the first innovations to streak across the American railroad scene in the 1930's. Be sure to check out PBS's web site which describes the program content. It is information-rich, with many early views of CB&Q Zephyr trains from various photo archives, as well as a timeline and overview of the show. I've included the link below.

The American Experience
Kurtrbell@hotmail.com

Check your listings because some outletse showing it toninght.

v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

> Be sure to turn in to your local PBS station
> on Monday evening, February 5, at 9 p.m. The
> American Experience series will air
> "Streamliners: America's Lost
> Trains," a historical documentary
> focusing on the rise and fall of the
> American rail passenger system. The episode
> will also look at the impact of industrial
> designers on passenger trains of the past,
> most notably Loewy, Budd, Dreyfuss and
> others. The CB&Q's Burlington Zephyr
> will be featured as one of the first
> innovations to streak across the American
> railroad scene in the 1930's. Be sure to
> check out PBS's web site which describes the
> program content. It is information-rich,
> with many early views of CB&Q Zephyr
> trains from various photo archives, as well
> as a timeline and overview of the show. I've
> included the link below.

Our PBS station showed it Sunday, 2-4-2001. did I miss something, or was the film produced in 1970 as a result of the WP California Zephyr train-off case? There is no mention of Amtrak, which is significant because AMTK 5 & 6 are named the California Zephyr, and cover 3/4 of the original route except they use the CP route over Donner Pass instead of WP's Feather River Route.

Somewhat disappointed in the show. The CB&Q-BUDD (Budd-Budd) portion was pretty good. The train-0ff whining of the Cal Zeph was not relevent. We missed all the great designers and their great trains.

You would think the producers would have gotten someone onboard who really understood the topic and not rehash the death of the passenger train.

To sum it up:

First 20 minutes pretty good! Balance? We all have seen it before!

v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

After watching it, Im curious as to which museum the original Zephyr is in.

Thanks,

Stuart

gnufe@apex.net

The original Zepher in at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago Illinois. I was amazed at how such a big museum was downplayed on the show.

Michigan transit Museum
Sutterd@hotmail.com

Downplayed? Ignored is more like it. After all the effort and private donations that went into the restoration, not giving verbal credit is a smack in the head. Maybe one person who watched the program would have had their courosity aroused and would want to see the results of the rebuilding. Pretty poor PR.

v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

> Downplayed? Ignored is more like it. After
> all the effort and private donations that
> went into the restoration, not giving verbal
> credit is a smack in the head. Maybe one
> person who watched the program would have
> had their courosity aroused and would want
> to see the results of the rebuilding. Pretty
> poor PR.

I'm still convinced that program was produced at least 20 years ago if not closer to 30. PBS does present outdated programming and with the emphasis in the program being that "streamliners are done" why would they think the information was not still accurate.

> The original Zepher in at the Museum of
> Science and Industry in Chicago Illinois.

Say, thanks for bringing this up. How many readers of this website have visited the restored Pioneer Zephyr at MSI? I'd be interested in any reactions others have. While the actual restoration seemed well done, the addition of talking figures and other gimmicks struck me as interpretation gone haywire. (Frank and I call it the "Twilight Zone Zephyr"). I suppose I could add a fuller (though biased) description for those unfortunates who aren't able to visit Chicago, if anyone's interested.

On a different level (in more ways than one) is the beautiful job Dave Conrad did on the 999. Don't miss it.

Randall.Hicks at eacemr.com

> Say, thanks for bringing this up. How many
> readers of this website have visited the
> restored Pioneer Zephyr at MSI? I'd be
> interested in any reactions others have.

I saw the Pioneer Zephyr last year while killing a day in Chicago. I didn't go specifically to see it, I was just trying to recapture a childhood visit to the same museum 40 years ago. The Zephyr is near the underground entrance from the parking garage, and could be missed if you come in at street level. Its really worth the trip downstairs.
Yes, you have to suspend your adult, orthodox historical perspective a little. The animatronics is not up to today's whiz-bang standards, and the video showing through the windows could really use some work, but the overall experinece was fun. A docent in a conductor's uniform had her patter down pretty well, and her talk during the guided tour was informative. The talking burro was a little over the top, but the kids liked it. Most important, the train is clean, warm, dry, and accessable. I congratulate them on a good job.
One less than critical railfan's opinon.

mark@gromurph.org

I would tend to take a lighter view of MSI's restoration of the Zephyr. While the interpretive displays inserted into the tour range from the bizarre to the downright disturbing (just kidding), I feel that MSI did a very good job in ensuring one aspect of the restoration: that they didn't permanently alter the train. There are any number of things they could have done in an effort to forever encapsulate it in their display hall: cut new doors to facilitate tours, cement the trucks to the floor, etc. etc. They didn't do this. In fact, it appears that if anything they went out of their way to make sure the train remained largely original. Most of the displays - the talking donkey, the concrete passengers - are in positions that do not compromise the original fabric of the train. The only area much modified is the observation compartment, and even that modifying mainly involves removal of armchairs. Overall, while MSI could have made it considerably less goofy, I think they did an admirable job of creating a general-interest attraction while still retaining historical authenticity for the future.

Phil,

The show is copyrghted 2001, so it was finished being edited this year.

For the last bit on the California Zypher I know Bruce (MacGregor) was interviewed only about a year ago for it.

Offical sources listed for the show include periodicals from the mid 1990's.

The filmmakers were, most likly, trying to play with the audiances emtions to get sympathy. Which they did, but had to cut out history to do it.

So this is not an old show, just a poorly constructed new one.

Curtis F.

Thime@aol.com

>As one who has never been to MSI, I'd like to see a detailed, illustrated article or op-ed piece on their exhibits, including full details on the Pioneer Zephyr restoration. How about an article for RyPN?

Say, thanks for bringing this up. How many
> readers of this website have visited the
> restored Pioneer Zephyr at MSI? I'd be
> interested in any reactions others have.
> While the actual restoration seemed well
> done, the addition of talking figures and
> other gimmicks struck me as interpretation
> gone haywire. (Frank and I call it the
> "Twilight Zone Zephyr"). I suppose
> I could add a fuller (though biased)
> description for those unfortunates who
> aren't able to visit Chicago, if anyone's
> interested.

> On a different level (in more ways than one)
> is the beautiful job Dave Conrad did on the
> 999. Don't miss it.

> Randall.Hicks at eacemr.com


ryarger1@nycap.rr.com