NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Rivanna Chapter

Charlottesville, Virginia

September Meeting

The September Chapter Meeting, to be held at the Ponderosa Steakhouse, 260 Pantops Center in Charlottesville, will take place on Friday, September 22, 2006. The Social Hour and pay-as-you-go dinner will begin at 6:00 PM. The evening's program will begin precisely at 7:00 PM with a short business meeting, followed by the presentation.

The evening's program will feature an interesting documentary film on one of America's great historic passenger trains: SILVER THREAD THROUGH THE WEST: THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR.

Climb aboard the California Zephyr and experience the magic of a unique train, and meet the people who made the Zephyr special. This was a grand hotel on wheels, a Silver Lady. A travel mode that provided scenery, comfort, and high class service. Learn what it was like to take this train across America (famous for its "Vista Dome" and its "Zephyrettes") from those who worked on the train as it followed the rails of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Denver and Rio Grande Western and the Western Pacific.

This hour-long program chronicles the history of one of America's most talked-about trains, the California Zephyr, through in-depth interviews with 18 folks that worked for or rode on the Zephyrs. View restored professional color film footage. Enjoy a meal in the dining car as described in memories of a dining car steward, or have Zephyrettes share their daily experiences with you. Find out what it was like to ride in a Vista-Dome as recalled by several passengers or learn from the person who presided over the demise of the train how difficult is was to terminate the California Zephyr.

Directions to Ponderosa Steakhouse

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Last Updated: August 29, 2006

Copyright © 2006 by Rivanna Chapter, National Railway Historical Society