ENJOY THE JOURNEY

CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR ROUTE GUIDE

CHICAGO DENVER SALT L AKE CIT Y SAN FR ANCISCO

We hope you enjoy reading this guide and learning about points of interest along our route. It is written starting from
the eastern terminus of the train in Chicago and proceeds to points west, ending in San Francisco. If you boarded in San
Francisco, just read the guide in reverse, remembering to look in the opposite direction referenced.
AMTRAK STATIONS are shown in all capital letters, as opposed to upper and lower case for towns and geographical
areas through which the train travels but does not stop. The Amtrak System Timetable or the California Zephyr timetable
folder should be consulted for actual station times. While all service presented in this guide was accurate at the time of
publication, routes and services are subject to change. Please contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL, visit Amtrak.com, or call
your travel agent for the most current information.

Between Chicago and the great cities of the west lie narrow canyons, towering peaks and breathtakingly beautiful
mountain wilderness areas as you cross two great mountain ranges, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas. Traveling across
this great swath of American West was a challenging journey until 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad was
completed at Promontory Summit, Utah. Then, thousands of pioneers were able to easily go west in search of their fortunes,
many to San Francisco after the discovery of gold nearby. Modern-day travelers know that same trip as one of the most
beautiful train journeys in North America and the most comfortable way to travel between these two great cities.
Blowing away the alternatives is what Zephyrus, ancient Greek god of the west wind, and his namesake, the California
Zephyr, do best. So sit back and be blown away by the otherwise unattainable views of the spectacular scenery and
changing vistas along the route.
[Amtraks California Zephyr carries the same name as the original most talked about train in America that went into
service on March 20, 1949, between Chicago and Oakland over much of the same route as the train you are riding today.
The original California Zephyr, operated jointly by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Denver and Rio Grande
Western Railroad and Western Pacific Railroad, featured five vista dome cars and four sleeping cars. Today, Amtrak uses
modern Superliner double-decker cars that give nearly everybody on the train a birds-eye view of the spectacular scenery
on the route.]

WELCOME ABOARD
The California Zephyr takes you from the Midwests Windy City across the American
heartland through Denver, over the front range of the Rockies, through the
Continental Divide, Glenwood Canyon, the Utah Desert and the High Sierras to the
City by the Bay. On board, you will experience the comfort and relaxation of train
travel while witnessing some of the very best American cultural and geographic
icons. We are happy to have you aboard today and want to ensure your trip is
everything you want it to be. If there is anything that can be done to make your trip
more enjoyable, please do not hesitate to ask any Amtrak employee.

THE TRAIN STAFF

The staff of the California Zephyr is here to make your trip a special and enjoyable
experience.
The Conductor is responsible for the entire On-Board Services staff including ticket
collection, passenger safety and the safe operation of the train.
The Lead Service Attendant is responsible for the operation of the Dining car
and Dining car staff.
The Lounge Car Attendant is responsible for the operation of the Lounge/
Caf car.
The Sleeping Car Attendant is responsible for providing all service for
passengers ticketed in Sleeping car accommodations, including room preparation,
luggage service and any assistance necessary to ensure a comfortable journey. He or
she can also assist with meal reservations or arrange for your meal to be served in
the privacy and comfort of your accommodation.
The Coach Attendant is responsible for providing service for passengers ticketed
in Coach. This includes seat assignment, luggage assistance, and assistance to
ensure a comfortable journey.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Sleeping car accommodations provide a range of private rooms with amenities
for day and night use. From Superliner Roomettes to Superliner Bedrooms featuring
a private lavatory and shower, Sleeping car accommodations will suit any need and
can be described in more detail by any member of the crew. Please ask to speak to
the Conductor regarding the availability of rooms. Sleeping car passengers can enjoy
the Amtrak Metropolitan LoungeSM available in Chicago.
Coach seating provides a wide reclining seat with leg rest, folding tray table and
overhead light.
The Dining car features full-service hot meals prepared by Amtrak chefs. Here you
will also have the chance to meet your fellow passengers for conversation and food
while the scenery glides by your window. Sleeping car accommodation charges
include meals in the Dining car while passengers ticketed in Coach may purchase
Dining car meals at reasonable prices.
The Sightseer Lounge/Caf is the perfect car for viewing the spectacular
scenery along the California Zephyr. Large panoramic windows provide the perfect
atmosphere for sightseeing and making new friends. The Caf is located on the
lower level of this car offering sandwiches, snacks and beverages. On-board guides
from the California State Railroad Museum provide historical and sightseeing
commentary between Reno and Sacramento seasonally.
HOST RAILROADS are the freight and commuter railroads that Amtrak contracts
with to operate Amtrak passenger trains. The California Zephyr is hosted by the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) between Chicago and Denver, and the Union
Pacific between Denver and Emeryville, CA.
Information contained in this route guide as well as described amenities and features are
subject to change without notice. While gratuities are not required for services provided,
it is an appreciated way to convey to an employee that he or she has made your trip more
enjoyable.

Glenwood Springs

California Zephyr Route Guide 2

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CHICAGO (0 mi.) Vibrant and energetic, Chicago is the commercial,

industrial and cultural core of the Midwest and has always been a
major national transportation hub. At Union Station, eight Amtrak
long-distance routes and seven regional corridors connect passengers to
and from cities and towns across the country. In the heart of America,
Chicago is a leading distribution center for manufactured goods flowing
in all directions. Its importance as a commercial center is underscored
by the Merchandise Mart, the worlds largest commercial office building
with over 4 million square feet of floor space.
The many regional food specialties (in addition to Chicago Deep Dish
Pizza!) reflect the citys ethnic and working class roots. Chicagos spirit
is also exemplified in its unique architecture; it is here that the word
skyscraper originated with the first one built in 1885. The arts and
sciences are alive with an abundance of world-renowned theaters and
museums. And Chicago is clearly a sports town with baseballs Cubs
and White Sox, hockeys 2013 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks,
basketballs Bulls, and footballs Chicago Bears (known around here as
Da Bears). The city is home to historic Wrigley Field, one of baseballs
oldest parks, and one of the tallest buildings in the U.S., the Willis Tower
(formerly the Sears Tower) is next to Union Station.
Leaving Chicago Union Station, the South Branch of the Chicago River
is on the left. In the late 1890s the flow of the river was changed to go
from Lake Michigan toward the Mississippi River in order to improve
the water quality in the Lake, rather than the other way around,
through construction of a series of locks and sluice gates. This was
considered to be a major engineering triumph of its time, although not
without controversy from Mississippi River communities.
NAPERVILLE (28 mi.) serves Chicagos western suburbs. Founded in
1831, this is an affluent, family-oriented community, with a restored
historic village and modern suburban homes, reflecting both the citys
past and present. Today, Naperville is known for its high-tech companies
and highly regarded school system. The nearly two mile Riverwalk along
the DuPage River features walking paths, fountains, meeting and event
places, outdoor sculpture and recreational facilities.
Aurora (38 mi.), west of Naperville, is the second largest city in
Illinois, and was the birthplace of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Railroad, predecessor to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe over which
the California Zephyr runs between Chicago and Denver. Aurora has
been dubbed the City of Lights after being one of the first cities in
the nation to adopt all-electric street lighting in 1881. We cross the Fox
River which bisects Aurora into three regions: The West Side, The East
Side, and The Far East Side/Fox Valley.

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PRINCETON (104 mi.) was settled in the 1830s by families from

New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. Legend has it that when
the three town trustees couldnt agree on a name, each put a name in
the hat and Princeton was selected. Owen Lovejoy was an outspoken
abolitionist in the mid-1800s, and his home on the east side of town
became a major stop on the Underground Railroad for freed slaves on
their way to Canada. Today the home is open as a museum and is a
National Historic Landmark.
Kewanee (131 mi.) is a small industrial town along the Spoon River. It
was best known for the manufacturing of steam boilers. The Kewanee
Boiler Corporation closed down in 2002. One thing still going strong is
the annual Hog Days Festival that has been held Labor Day weekend
every year since 1954 following an earlier resolution by the Illinois
Legislature declaring Kewanee and Henry County the Hog Capital of
the World. The Amtrak station here is served by the Illinois Zephyr
and Carl Sandburg trains.
Galva (139 mi.) was settled by a mix of settlers from Vermont, the
Isle of Man, and colonists in nearby Bishop Hill who had arrived from
Sweden and came to the aid of the new settlers. The name Galva
is from the Swedish port of Gefle, from which many of the Swedish
colonists had sailed.
GALESBURG (162 mi.) has always been an important railroad town
served by both the Burlington and Santa Fe Railroads (now both part
of the BNSF). It celebrates this heritage with the permanent display
of a Burlington 4-6-4 Hudson steam engine that can be seen on the
right as we enter the station, its annual Railroad Days Festival in
June, its Galesburg Railroad Museum, and as host city of the National
Railroad Hall of Fame that is being developed. Its not all railroads in
Galesburg, however. It was also the home of writer and historian Carl
Sandburg and the site of the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858 at
Knox College, which we pass on the right shortly after leaving the
station. George Ferris, inventor of the ferris wheel, was born here. And
Galesburg annually hosts the Black Earth Film Festival which attracts
entries from around the world, a kite festival, the Great Cardboard Boat
Regatta and the Annual Rubber Duck Race! According to legend, the
Marx Brothers received their nicknames here during a poker game in
1914.
Monmouth (179 mi.) is another town which supposedly had its name
drawn from a hat--except that the name drawn, Kosciusko, was too
hard to spell so the second drawing selected Monmouth. Monmouth
is the home of Monmouth College and birthplace of western hero
Marshall Wyatt Earp.
California Zephyr Route Guide 3

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Illinois/Iowa State Line The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River, the second longest in the country at 2,320 miles,
forms the border here, as well as for several of the other eight states
that it flows through. Note the marshy bottomlands beneath the bridge.
BURLINGTON (205 mi.) Following the Mississippi River as part
of his expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase, Zebulon Pike in
1805 landed at the bluffs below town and constructed a fort. The first
American to purchase a lot, John Gray, bought the right to choose
the town name and named it for his hometown in Vermont. Prior to
1868 passengers crossed the Mississippi by ferry here, or in the winter
walked across the ice. Reflect on that as you ride in Superliner comfort
today across the river on the California Zephyr.
MOUNT PLEASANT (233 mi.) is home to Iowa Wesleyan College
which can be seen one block away on the right as we leave the station.
The college has had a couple of out-of-this world graduates--namely
James Van Allen who discovered the earths radiation belts that bear
his name and astronaut Peggy Whitson, who spent over a year in space
on two missions to the International Space Station and is the only
woman to command the space station. The Midwest Old Threshers
has several museums in town featuring tractors, trains, farm homes
and even a carousel to celebrate the way it used to be in the Midwest
agriculture belt. They hold a major festival each year on Labor Day
weekend to pay tribute to the Midwests agricultural heritage.
OTTUMWA (279 mi.) is best known to most Americans as the home
of fictional character Radar OReilly from the TV show M*A*S*H.
Five sitting Presidents have visited Ottumwa, generally while
campaigning. The Des Moines River flows through the center of the city
and will be on the left side of the train until we cross it after leaving
the station.
OSCEOLA (359 mi.) is the nearest Amtrak station to Iowas capital,
Des Moines, 50 miles to the north. Osceola was named to honor
a Seminole chief from Florida who in the 1830s was captured and
imprisoned after accepting an invitation to meet for negotiations with
the U.S. government on the removal of his tribe from Florida. The chief
received support from many people around the country, although it
didnt keep him from dying in prison. Watch for a 15 foot high carved
wooden bust of the chief on the left where our train begins to parallel
the highway shortly after leaving Osceola.
CRESTON (392 mi.) was established nearly 150 years ago by the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and got its name because it
sits at the crest of the split between the Mississippi and Missouri River

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basins. Southwestern Community College and Buena Vista University

are located here, and Creston is the county seat of Union County. The
annual Creston/Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Race is held here
during September.
Stanton (435 mi.) first settled by Swedish immigrants, is best known
for its two water towers, one painted and shaped like a giant coffee
pot and the other like a giant coffee cup. These unique water towers,
which are off to the right as we pass through town, pay homage to
hometown actress Virginia Christine, better known to TV viewers as
Mrs. Olson in the classic Folgers coffee commercials.
Council Bluffs (491 mi.), originally known as Kanesville, was
transformed by the California Gold Rush and renamed Council Bluffs,
remaining a major outfitting point on the Missouri River for the
Emigrant Trail, with a lively steamboat trade. President Lincoln chose
Council Bluffs as the eastern location of the transcontinental railroad in
1862. The town has one of only three remaining examples of a rotary
jail, with pie-shaped cells on a turntable. It remained in operation until
1969, after the rotary function was disabled nine years earlier. Today,
Casino Row is located on and near the river. In 1972, Council Bluffs
native Ron The Bluffs Butcher Stander fought Joe Frazier for the
heavyweight title in the Omaha Civic Auditorium, losing on cuts in the
fourth round. It was the most talked about sporting event ever to occur
in this city.
Iowa/Nebraska State Line Missouri River
Missouri River is the state line between Iowa and Nebraska. Lewis
and Clark set out in 1804 to explore the river, obtained as part of the
Louisiana Purchase. They hoped to find that the Missouri would be the
Northwest Passage to the Pacific. It wasnt, but at 2,341 miles in
length, it drains about one-sixth of the North American continent and
is slightly longer than the Mississippi River that it flows in to north of
St. Louis. The river is nicknamed Big Muddy for its high silt content.
OMAHA (500 mi.) has always been a major transportation center
earning it the nickname Gateway to the West. The eastern portion
of the first transcontinental railroad headed west from here in the
1850s, and this town has been home to the Union Pacific Railroad
since the company began. Every May, Omaha becomes Woodstock for
Capitalists as about 40,000 people flock to this city to hear one of the
richest men in the world, Warren Buffet, the Oracle of Omaha, at the
annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway Corporation. Then for nearly
two weeks in June the town is taken over by NCAA baseball as it hosts
the College World Series. Besides business, Omaha also has been the

California Zephyr Route Guide 4

The Rockies

launching pad for many actors who were either born or grew up here,
including Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Nick Nolte and Henry Fonda.
Offutt Air Force Base (504 mi.) to our left was once home to the Glenn
L. Martin aircraft plant where the propeller driven B-29s used to drop
the atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II were built. From 19611990 it was the site of the countrys 24-hour airborne command center
called Operation Looking Glass. On September 11, 2001, President
George W. Bush conducted one of the first major strategy sessions in
the base bunker after the Twin Tower attacks.
We cross the Platte River (507 mi.) which is over 300 miles long and
has served as part of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails that
carried emigrants west in the mid-1800s. The Platte River road was
also the route of the Pony Express, the Union Pacific portion of the first
transcontinental railroad and cross-country Interstate Route 80.
LINCOLN (555 mi.) became capital of Nebraska upon its admission to
the Union in 1867. The golden-domed state capitol building dominates
the skyline on the left side as the train curves through town. The
Nebraska State government is unique as it is the only unicameral
legislature (a single chamber rather than two as in the other states).
Besides the state government and a mix of service industries, the
University of Nebraska is the other large contributor to the local
economy. The Cornhuskers play at 91,000-seat Memorial Stadium,
visible on the left before arriving at the station.
HASTINGS (652 mi.) Even though the California Zephyr stops in the
middle of the night it might be appropriate to raise a glass in honor of
the drink invented here by Edwin Perkins in 1927--Kool-Aid!
Kool-Aid Days are celebrated here the second week of each August.
HOLDREGE (706 mi.) is named for George Holdrege who was the
general manager of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad when
the first trains reached town in 1883.
MCCOOK (783 mi.) Another town created with the arrival of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. It was the home of George W. Norris
who served in both the House and U.S. Senate for a total of 40 years,
and is known as the Father of the Rural Electrification Administration
that brought electricity to rural parts of the U.S.
Nebraska/Colorado State Line (864 mi.)
The state line is the time zone boundary between Central and
Mountain Time. Set your watch back one hour going west and ahead
one hour going east.
FORT MORGAN (960 mi.) Famous Big Band Era musician Glen Miller
lived here as a teenager and honed his musical skills in the high school
band before beginning a career that revolutionized popular music in
the 1940s.
Commerce City (1033 mi.) Prior to entering this northeast Denver
suburb, the Zephyr passes the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National
Wildlife Refuge on the left. The Arsenal was where World War II
chemical weapons were manufactured, but beginning in the early
1980s an environmental cleanup converted the area into a 15,000-acre
refuge for, among other species, the bald eagle--our national symbol.
After passing the oil refinery on both sides of the tracks, well see the
cattle pens on the right remaining from when cattle were shipped by
rail to market.
DENVER (1038 mi.) is also known as the Mile-High City because its
official elevation, measured on the steps of the state capitol building, is
5,280 feet above sea level. Denver was first settled because gold was
discovered nearby. There didnt prove to be much of the yellow metal,
so the prospectors soon left, but eventually they returned and mined

California Zephyr Route Guide 5

Pine Cliff (1074 mi.) South Boulder Creek is just off to our left as we
pass through here.
Moffat Tunnel--East Portal (1088 mi.) carries the California Zephyr
for 6.2 miles through the Rockies and across the Continental Divide.
When the tunnel was opened in 1928 after four years of construction,
it cut the distance between Denver and the Pacific Coast by 176
miles, eliminating a series of switchback loops and steep grades that
previously carried the railroad through Rollins Pass.
Moffat Tunnel--West Portal (1095 mi.) The Winter Park Ski Resort, built
as part of Denvers mountain parks system, comes right up alongside
the railroad at the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel.
FRASER-WINTER PARK (1100 mi.) station is located in Fraser and
also serves the nearby Winter Park Ski Resort. Fraser and International
Falls, Minnesota have sparred over the years over who can claim the
nickname Icebox of America. Regardless, Fraser does not have a
frost-free season, thus can claim to be the town with the shortest
growing season. However, winter sports aficionados could care least--in
addition to the nearby ski resort, the area also has abundant crosscountry skiing opportunities.
Fraser Canyon (1103 mi.) We follow the Fraser River through this
remote canyon. Some of the best fishing for wild rainbows, browns and
cutthroats is in the canyon downstream from Tabernash.
GRANBY (1113 mi.) is the gateway city to the Rocky Mountain
National Park. Leaving Granby we begin paralleling the Colorado River
for the next 235 miles, off the left side of the train. Many call the trip
along the river the most scenic stretch of track in America that can be
seen from a scheduled passenger train.
Gore Canyon (1115 mi.) on the upper Colorado River has no roads and
is accessible only by rail or kayak. The walls ascend some 1,000 feet
on each side over the river, and the Class V whitewater is the wildest
commercially available rafting in the state -- some say the entire
country.
Ruby Canyon

the long term commercial gold as Denver became a thriving business

center. Located midway between the large cities of the Midwest and
West Coast, Denver has become a major transportation and distribution
center, and also has more federal workers than any area other than
Washington, DC. The city has eight professional sports teams, and
Coors Field, home of baseballs Colorado Rockies, is adjacent to the
train station. This is a refueling and service stop for our train. When we
leave we begin the 300-mile stretch that makes passengers oooh and
ahhhh and made the California Zephyr famous thanks to its signature
passage over the Rockies and along the Colorado River.
Rocky (1051 mi.) We leave the Denver suburbs at Arvada and here we
begin the climb up the Front Range of the Rockies toward the Moffat
Tunnel. Well pass through 31 tunnels between Denver and Winter Park.
Clay (1054 mi.) Winds in the mountains here can be so strong that
hopper cars are welded to the rails on an adjacent track to the right of
our train and sit there filled with sand to act as a windbreak.
Plainview (1057 mi.) offers a view of Denver and the Great Plains
beyond that is anything but plain. The view is even more spectacular at
night.
South Boulder Canyon (1069 mi.) is home to the Roosevelt National
Forest, re-named in 1932 to honor former President Theodore Roosevelt,
and Gross Reservoir, which supplies Denver with water.

Dotsero (1204 mi.) is the approximate midpoint of the trains journey.

Glenwood Canyon, the largest of several on the upper Colorado River,
begins a few miles beyond Dotsero. The spectacular high cliffs of this
12.5-mile gorge are dotted with aspen and evergreen trees. In 1906,
the canyon served as the route of the Taylor State Road, the first gravel
path for automobiles through the Colorado Rockies.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS (1223 mi.) at the confluence of the Roaring
Fork and Colorado Rivers, has six world-class ski resorts within a
60-mile radius, quite a few noted mountain bike trails, whitewater
rafting, numerous backpacking trails and Glenwood Caverns, a
geological marvel. Doc Holliday, the Wild West legend of the Gunfight
at the O.K. Corral, spent the final months of his life here.
New Castle (1235 mi.) was founded in 1888 and like its namesake
town in England had an economy based on coal mining. However,
high levels of methane gas resulted in several mine explosions that
eventually led to the end of active mining after the 1918 explosion.
The underground explosions have left a fire that still smolders and is
marked by the annual Burning Mountain Festival early in September.
De Beque (1279 mi.) is a town where wild horses were rounded up and
sold. It pays tribute to that heritage every August with its Wild Horse
Days celebration. Today it is one of only three Certified Wild Horse
Sanctuary Cities in the United States, and the town undertakes projects
to protect the remaining wild horses and burros. Here we begin a
20-mile trip through the winding De Beque Canyon, emerging in the
town of Palisade (1300 mi.).

California Zephyr Route Guide 6

GRAND JUNCTION (1311 mi.) is located where the Gunnison and

Colorado Rivers join. Prior to 1921, this part of the Colorado River was
known as the Grand River--thus Grand Junction. The city is surrounded
by the mountains of the Colorado National Monument. Powderhorn
Ski Resort sits on the east side of the Grand Mesa, the blue mountain
to the east, which is one of the worlds largest flat top mountains. The
nearby Country Jam Ranch is a permanent music festival site that hosts
Country Jam that draws thousands of country music fans to the area
each year.
Mack (1330 mi.) After the California Zephyr passes through the last
town in Colorado, it turns southward, passes under I-70 and makes
its way back toward the Colorado River and Ruby Canyon, a popular
destination for rafting, which takes its name from the red sandstone
cliffs lining the Canyon walls. Erosion via wind and water has hewn
smooth textures and fascinating shapes in the striking red stone over
eons of time. The canyon runs for 25 miles through Colorado and Utah.
Colorado/Utah State Line
A sign marking the state line was painted by railroaders on the canyon
wall on the right.
About five miles after passing through Ruby Canyon we get our final
glimpse of the Colorado River on the left.
Thompson Springs (1390 mi.) In 1985 Thompson went back to the
future and re-adopted the towns original name, Thompson Springs. The
area south of town is rich in uranium deposits.
GREEN RIVER (1417 mi.) sits at 4,078 ft. elevation, the lowest
point between Salt Lake City and Denver. It is a popular spot for
freeride mountain biking. On the left are Marvine and Thousand Lake
Mountains. Remain on the alert for herds of the apocryphal jackalope,
hare-like antlered creatures said to appear without warning in these
parts.
Price (1481 mi.) may have a population of only 8,400, but its the
largest town since leaving Grand Junction. It is home to the Utah State
University-College of Eastern Utah and a large prehistoric museum. The
Book Cliffs on the right extend back into Colorado and offer evidence
that everything to the south of here was once under water.
HELPER (1488 mi.) The town name comes from the railroading
activity that took place here for years--adding helper engines to
westbound freight trains so they can get up the Wasatch Plateau
to Soldier Summit. Mining has always been the other key economic
activity here, and there is said to be enough local coal to meet the
countrys needs for almost three centuries. Its not surprising then that
the city hosts the Western Mining and Railroad Museum.
Castle Gate (1492 mi.) is a former mining town dismantled in 1974.
Its rock formation seems to open like a giant castle gate as the train
approaches and closes as it leaves. Butch Cassidy is said to have held
up the Pleasant Valley Coal Company here for $7,000 in gold in 1897.
From here to Soldier Summit the California Zephyr will follow the Price
River up the Wasatch Range.
Soldier Summit (1513 mi.) at 7,000 feet elevation is named for the civil
war soldiers buried here in 1860. This area is a favorite train watching
spot for railfans, so dont be surprised if you see them with cameras
ready to photograph the California Zephyr as we reach the top of the
Wasatch Plateau. After we pass the summit, well start heading down
thru Spanish Fork Canyon and negotiate a series of switchbacks called
the Gilluly Loops.
Thistle (1542 mi.) is a recent ghost town, caused by a 1983 mudslide
that moved part of a mountain, blocked two creeks and formed an
earthen dam. Water from the creeks backed up and flooded the town.
The landslide also closed the railroad for months. Thistles remains, a

few rooftops, can be seen on the left side of the train after emerging
from the tunnel which was part of the relocation of the railroad
following the disaster. The incident was the first ever federal disaster
area declared in the state of Utah.
PROVO (1563 mi.), the third largest city in Utah, hosts Brigham
Young University and the largest missionary training center for the
Mormon Church. The Wasatch Range Y Mountain towers over the
city; the letter was built to commemorate the university. Provo is home
to software company Novell, Inc., which has helped make technology
and software an important industry in the Utah Valley area. Provo is
also home to the Osmond family of entertainers. Stephen Covey, the
famous author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, also resides
in Provo. Just outside of Provo is the entrance to the Uinta and MantiLa Sal National Forests.
SALT LAKE CITY (1608 mi.) is the world headquarters of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, founded in 1847 by a
group of Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young. Temple Square in
the heart of downtown houses the six-towered Mormon Temple. The
churchs world renowned genealogical research facility brings people
from all over the world researching their family tree. Mining and
the first transcontinental railroad brought initial economic growth.
Todays economy is primarily service oriented around government,
transportation, technology, utilities and professional and business
services. In recent years the area has developed both a light rail system
(TRAX) for the immediate Salt Lake City area, and a commuter rail
system (Front Runner) that links the city to Ogden on the north and
Provo on the south. The valley in which the city lies is considered one
of the safest and most attractive natural settings in North America.
Utah/Nevada State Line
Change your watch from Mountain to Pacific Time: one hour back if
westbound, one hour ahead if eastbound.
ELKO (1871 mi.) was founded in 1869 as a town along the just
completed transcontinental railroad. Once dubbed the last real cow
town in the American West, the city still is a ranching center with
western roots, but now also relies on tourism since the opening of the
Red Lion Casino. The town hosts the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
festival each January and the National Basque Festival every July. A
stuffed 10-foot tall polar bear graces the Commercial Casino.
WINNEMUCCA (2013 mi.) You know youre in a western town when
October brings the National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals, the Ranch Hand
Rodeo Weekend is held in February, the Winnemucca Mule show in
June, and barrel races in August. And if western events are not what
youre looking for, try the Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle Rally in May.
Indeed, the towns motto may hit the nail on the head: Winnemucca,
NV. Theres more than meets the eye.
Lovelock (2086 mi.) The area around this town was considered the
most difficult of the entire journey by the Pony Express riders and
by those who traveled west by covered wagon in the days before
the transcontinental railroad. The Humboldt River which meanders
across the desert between the Trinity Mountains on the right and the
Humboldt Range on the left, would disappear into the sand leaving
water that was full of minerals and barely drinkable. Lovelocks
economy today is largely agricultural, producing bananas and alfalfa.
Fernley (2154 mi.) The first sign that youve left the open spaces of
the west and are nearing the Reno/Sparks metro area is this suburb
of new homes on the left. This town is best known as the home of a
750,000 square foot distribution center for Amazon.com. From here
the California Zephyr begins following the Truckee River.

California Zephyr Route Guide 7

Sparks (2199 mi.) is, for all practical purposes, a twin city with Reno.
The Southern Pacific built a switching yard here in 1904 which
spurred population growth. A number of casinos also contributed to
Sparks growth and then in the 1970s favorable taxation resulted
in an expansion of warehousing and distribution industry. The most
significant Sparks casino, the Nugget, is on the right side.
RENO (2202 mi.) The Biggest Little City in the World began as a
modest gold mining service settlement which grew after the discovery
of silver in 1859. Tailor Jacob Davis came to Reno in 1868 and began
to use rivets to secure the pockets of his mens trousers. Worried that
the idea would be copied, he contacted Levi Strauss to apply and pay
for a patent, which was granted in 1873. As mining waned in the
1900s, Nevada legalized casino gambling in 1931 and passed liberal
divorce laws, both boons for Reno. An antique car collection and major
entertainers entice gamblers to Reno today, along with special events
all year.
Verdi (2213 mi.) The site of the first train robbery in the West in 1870.
There is now a hydroelectric generator powered by a water flume a
wooden trough that collects water at four sites in the mountains.
Nevada/California State Line (2217 mi.)
The state line is indicated by a small marker on your right.
Floriston (2223 mi.) Here rainbow trout, brook trout and German
browns travel up and down the Truckee River to and from Verdi by
means of a fish ladder.
Boca (2229 mi.) in its heyday produced lumber, but the town was
dismantled in the 1920s after the sawmill closed. All that remains are
a bridge and a dam on the right. The oddly shaped rock formations
resembling castle spires that you now see were developed through
erosion by wind and water and are known as Hoodoo Pillars.
TRUCKEE (2237 mi.) was named after a Paiute chief, Trukizo, father
of Chief Winnemucca. The first settlers encountered his tribe with the
friendly chief yelling Tro-kay at them, the Paiute word for hello.
Note the renovated former Bank of America on the left side of the train,
now The Bar of America, a popular downtown restaurant.
Stanford Flats (2243 mi.) We now cross back and forth across a series
of ascending plateaus as we begin the climb over Donner Pass to the
peak of the Sierras. Below is a panoramic view of the Truckee Basin.
Donner Lake (2245 mi.) on the right side of the train is where the
famed Donner Party, traveling west from Illinois, was stranded during
the winter of 1846-47. Some of the party of 87 resorted to cannibalism;
only 48 survived. After passing the lake, the California Zephyr passes
through a series of snow sheds that protect the track from being
blocked by the more than 30 feet of snow that falls in the typical
winter.
Mt. Judah (2248 mi.) We enter a tunnel through Mt. Judah some 7,000
feet above sea level, the peak point of our climb across the Sierras.
When we emerge, a ski lift from the adjacent Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
carries skiers over the track. The resort closed during World War II
for fear the Germans might blow up the tunnel and block this key
transcontinental rail route.
Norden (2252 mi.) was once the site of a Southern Pacific turntable and
maintenance point. It is marked by another snow shed.
Soda Springs (2255 mi.) As we reach Lake Van Norden on the left,
watch for Castle Peak on the right, a mountain with a rock formation
that looks like a castle on top. After Lake Van Norden is the Soda
Springs Ski Resort on the left. About 12 miles west of here is where

the Southern Pacifics City of San Francisco streamliner, with 226

passengers aboard, got stuck for three days in a raging blizzard in
1952.
Emigrant Gap (2273 mi.) As we cross Interstate 80, look for a gap in
the ridge on the California Trail as it crosses the Sierra Nevada, west of
Donner Pass. The cliffs here are so steep that 1840s pioneers crossing
to California were said to have lowered their wagons on ropes in order
to continue.
American River Canyon (2279 mi.) on the left side of the train is the
valley of the North Folk of the American River, located 1,500 to 2,000
feet below track level.
Cape Horn (2298 mi.) is a rocky bluff on the left side of the train some
1,500 feet above the American River. The slope from here down to
Colfax is the steepest on the Zephyrs route. In this direction were
going the easy way--downhill as we complete our crossing of the
Sierras.
COLFAX (2301 mi.) was named for Schuyler Colfax, seventeenth Vice
President of the United States under the Ulysses S. Grant administration
between 1869 and 1873. A statue at the station showing a prospector
panning for gold during the Gold Rush days of the 1850s is featured
immediately off Main Street, a charming section of town that can be
seen on the right.
Auburn (2319 mi.) This is the heart of Gold Rush country. Just south
of town is Sutters Mill, where gold was discovered setting off an influx
of fortune seeking 49ers (not the football variety) in the mid-1800s.
Claude Chana, a young Frenchman who had come by wagon train to
California, is said to have panned for gold and made his discovery
on May 16, 1848, in what became known as the Auburn Ravine. A
45-ton statue commemorating the event stands downtown. (James
Wilson Marshalls discovery five months earlier on the American River
had set the stage for the gold rush. Forced off of his own land, he
sadly never profited from his discovery.) Several museums including
the Gold County Museum, Bernhard Museum and the Placer County
(Courthouse) Museum will tell you everything you ever wanted to know
about the Gold Rush, except where to find your own gold! The Amtrak
Auburn station is the easternmost terminus for the Capitol Corridor
trains.
ROSEVILLE (2336 mi.) Settled by prospectors who had come to
California looking for gold, the town was originally a stagecoach
station but soon became a stop on the transcontinental railroad. In
the 1900s the Southern Pacific opened a major switchyard here which
turned Roseville into a rail town. Now part of the Union Pacific, well
pass those yards after we leave the station. Today the city features a
diverse array of businesses, including one of the largest auto malls in
the U.S. Like many California cities it actively encourages transportation
alternatives to the automobile and now offers residents over 100 miles
of bicycle routes to get around.
SACRAMENTO (2353 mi.) was first settled in 1839. The city grew
significantly during the California Gold Rush, and in 1854 became
Californias capital. Sacramento was the western terminus for the Pony
Express, and was the starting point for eastbound construction to meet
the westbound track of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory
Summit, Utah, in 1869. Sacramento State University is located here.
The city is home to the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball
Association, and the Sacramento River Cats, a farm club of the
American Leagues Oakland Athletics and one of the most successful
minor league baseball franchises.

California Zephyr Route Guide 8

Sacramento is at the confluence of the American River that we cross

prior to arrival, and the Sacramento River that we cross after departing.
We pass Old Town and the California State Railroad Museum on the
left after departing.
The station stop in Sacramento also serves the routes of the Amtrak
Capitol Corridor and Coast Starlight.
DAVIS (2367 mi.) The long, low trestle we cross marks the Yolo
Bypass, a flood plain meant to divert flood waters away from
Sacramento. The 1913 adobe-style Davis station is an historic
landmark. This city is home to UC Davis, the largest campus in the
University of California system that in 2012 was ranked as the
greenest college campus in the U.S. by the Sierra Club magazine.
Rather than cars, 20,000 bicycles are the primary transportation mode
to, from and around campus. Indeed the motto of the City of Davis is
Most Bicycle-Friendly Town in the World.
Suisun Bay (2408 mi.) (Pronounced soo-soon) The Mothball Fleet,
consisting of World War II ships that have been stored for years, can be
seen off to the left as our train crosses the Carquinez Strait Bridge. The
large peak to the left is Mount Diablo (3,849 feet).
MARTINEZ (2411 mi.) From a trading post in 1849 to a flourishing
town in 1876, Martinez became a hub for the gold and shipping
industries. Although there are many competing claims, the town likes to
claim the invention of the martini; a plaque commemorating the event
is on a downtown corner. The most prominent Martinez native was Joe
DiMaggio, a local legend with the Pacific Coast League
San Francisco Seals before going on to baseball stardom with the New
York YankeesTM. (Younger readers of this route guide may recognize him
better as pitchman for Mr. Coffee.) Martinez is the transfer point to
the Amtrak San Joaquin.
The train skirts the shore of San Pablo Bay and then the San Francisco
Bay as we cover the final miles of our journey. The Bay Area Rapid
Transit (BART) trains can be seen on the left as we approach the next
to last station, RICHMOND (2430 mi.). Passing through Berkeley
(2436 mi.), the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge can be
seen to the right across the bay.

EMERYVILLE (2438 mi.) is a small city of less than one square

mile located just north of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and
the end of the rail trip across the west. Major redevelopment in the
1980s and 1990s transformed this former industrial city into a mixed
use urban center with retail, entertainment and business centers, as
well as condominiums, parks and recreation trails. Its home to Pixar
Animation Studios and several biotech and software companies.
At Emeryville, passengers en route to San Francisco will board Amtrak
Thruway buses that operate to several stops in San Francisco. The bus
crosses the San Francisco bay on the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
which spans 8.4 miles some 200 feet above the water. Opened in 1936,
it carries approximately 280,000 vehicles per day. Watch for spectacular
views of San Francisco, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Connecting the two halves of the bridge is the 539-ft. long Yerba Buena
Tunnel, the largest diameter tunnel in the world in 1936. The bridge
underwent major repairs and retrofitting after it was damaged in the
Loma Prieta (World Series) Earthquake in 1989.
SAN FRANCISCO (2447 mi.) Almost everybody who visits San
Francisco, the City by the Bay, is captured by its charms. The city grew
25-fold in 1849 after the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill the year
before, and has just kept growing and becoming more attractive. Today,
this popular international tourist destination is renowned for its steep
hills, famous landmarks, Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, cable cars and
Chinatown as well as for its diverse cosmopolitan population lending
unmatched charm and character to the city. While early entrepreneurs
capitalized on gold wealth to benefit banking, railroads and trade, the
modern era saw the rise of the Beat and Hippie generations that
crystallized the progressive political nature of the population unlike
elsewhere in the U.S. Its world famous galleries, restaurants and shops
share top billing with Fishermans Wharf and the financial district to
lure vacation travelers from all over the globe. In the city where Tony
Bennett left his heart, small businesses with fewer than ten employees
make up 85 percent of city establishments. And in a city where the
49ers won five consecutive Super Bowls, its residents have been judged
the fittest in the U.S.
Thanks for traveling here on the Amtrak California Zephyr.

California Zephyr Route Guide 9

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