Wow, for 1969, that was one long train.
Somewhere on this wsebsite is my posting of all the freebies (scans) handed to passengers on the train’s last eastbound trip. Including the beautiful dining-car menus.
Documented here, nice use of Ms Union Pacific (note big smile on engineers face…lol) to put the flags on the train…was she a train hostess? Reason I ask was the big emblem and cowboy boots.
Anything east of Ogden was the combined City of Los Angeles/City of San Francisco, which would explain some of the length. I’m not sure when the City of Portland/Denver was added to the mix.
The film clips are of the train in an around Los Angeles, CA.
I rode this train in 1965, the all Pullman section. 2 friends and I had come to San Fran on City of St. Louis in Pullman bedroom, after a few days we took SP Daylight to L.A. Went to LAUPT to board train home and lady at info desk told us what gate to wait at. Lucky, I was walking around station and saw 2 signs for City of Los Angeles coach and Pullman. I went back to ask her about it, and she quickly told me we were in wrong line , they had 2 sections and we needed to move to Pullman one. I guess she did not think 3 girls in early 20’s would be traveling Pullman. Dad set it up with UP sales office as none of us wanted to ride in coach with a stranger. problem solved. It was only about $50.00 more for the sleeper and we split it 3 ways. City of L.A had dome diner and fancy lounges, our car was switched at Ogden to City of St. Louis for journey home. It was quite a treat for us to go Pullman, my only experience. I have taken Amtrak deluxe bedrooms on LD trips to west coast, but to be in a real Pullman was a treat.
It clearly states the 20-car train is the combined Challenger, City of LA and City of St.Louis.