Golden State (train) - Equipment

Equipment

The Golden State received regular upgrades to equipment, as it was the premier train on the Chicago-Los Angeles route. Beginning in 1924 Golden-series observation cars were assigned to the train. These 3-compartment, 2-drawing room observations became famous in the Pullman fleet as the most modern and luxurious equipment available and were also operated on the Santa Fe (Silver series) and New York Central (Central series).

Starting in 1940, 8-section, 5-double bedroom rebuilt heavyweight Clover-series cars appeared on the Golden State.

During 1926-29 and after 1948 the Golden State was an extra-fare train, supposedly to account for the costs of the luxury service and the reservation system for chair car seating. In later years the extra fare became something of a joke as service deteriorated badly. Extra fare for Pullman accommodation Los Angeles to Chicago was $10 in 1948, adding perhaps 10% to the total fare. The $3.50 extra fare for chair car passengers had the advantage of individual reserved seats and modern, leg rest, air-conditioned coaches. If you did not want to pay the extra fare, the slower secondary trains (see below) were available. The additional costs in a non-computer era for coach seat reservations were substantial; however, a nationwide reservation system for Pullman (sleeping car) passengers had been in effect for many decades.

Shortly before World War II three streamlined dining cars (Yucca, Saguaro and Ocotillo) were built by Budd for service on the train. These cars were placed on the Twin Star Rocket in 1945 and late returned to Golden State service.

Two-tone grey, smooth-sided 4-4-2 (four double bedroom, 4 compartment, 2 drawing room) and 6-6-4 (6 sections, 6 roomettes, 4 double bedrooms) Pullman sleeping cars were assigned to the train beginning in 1942. Later that year, additional 4-4-2 sleepers from the discontinued Arizona Limited and Treasure Island Special were also assigned (Imperial Clipper, Imperial Guard, Imperial Throne and Imperial Banner). These cars wore only numbers as the RI/SP did not name their cars until after World War II (and then only for a short time).

Streamlined leg-rest (long-distance) low-capacity chair cars from both the SP and RI were added to the Golden State as they become available from the builders.

The Southern Pacific used “Roman”-style lettering on its equipment, while the Rock Island favored “Zephyr”-style lettering.

In 1947 and 1948, in conjunction with the demise of the Golden Rocket, streamlined sleeping, chair, meal and lounge cars were added to the train. As five consists were necessary, the RI and SP each supplied two or three different cars.

For example, in addition to the luxurious 2-double-bedroom, 1-drawing room observation La Mirada, built for the Golden Rocket, the Rock Island had built two identical cars, Golden Vista and Golden Divan. The SP did not believe in observation cars, feeling them to be a nuisance to switch and non-revenue producing (mid-train lounge cars always made more money off beverage service). They supplied two blunt-end 10-6 (10 roomette, 6 double bedroom) sleeping cars, similar to the cars built in 1950 for the newly streamlined Sunset Limited.

Also, after World War II and until 1953, all cars in the train received names, mostly beginning with the prefix Golden. After 1953, when the red and silver paint scheme was discontinued, the names were gradually removed from the sleeping cars although the Rock Island retained them for coach and other cars under their control.

Southern Pacific chair cars were routinely used and, on occasion the Daylight pre-war articulated chair cars could be found. Likewise, equipment from other Southern Pacific trains occasionally made their way into the consist. Since the Southern Pacific had widely varying paint schemes for its major routes, this made for a colorful consist.

A unique type of sleeping car was introduced by the Rock Island in 1954; 10 cars with eight roomettes and six bedrooms assigned to both the Rocky Mountain Rocket and the Golden State. These cars had more space for long-distance travelers. Standard streamlined sleeping cars with roomettes normally held 22 passengers in various configurations (10-6, 14-4, etc.) but these, along with a “Western” series of 12 roomette, 4 double bedroom cars built for the Wabash and Union Pacific, were extra spacious.

Dieselization began on the Rock Island immediately post-war. The Southern Pacific finally completed dieselization with the 1947 purchase of three sets of 6,000 hp (4.47 MW) EMD E7 units in an A-B-B set in the vermilion and silver (aluminum) colors. The colors of the Southern Pacific locomotives were changed system-wide to the familiar “Daylight” scheme (red, orange and black) in 1953.

Until the very last years, the Rock Island diesels were in the familiar red, maroon and silver “Rocket” color schemes.

The two railroads rarely, if ever, used run-through locomotives, always changing power in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Here is a 1950 consist: Cars 3-6 have corrugated sides, cars 7-10 have smooth sides, car 11 has corrugated sides, cars 12-14 have smooth sides and cars 15 and 16 have corrugated sides. 1. SP RPO 5067 (Heavyweight car with 6 wheel trucks) 2. RI Baggage Dormitory 6014 (Heavyweight car with 6 wheel trucks) 3. RI Coach "Golden Harp" 4. RI Coach "Golden Flute" 5. RI Coach "Golden Trumpet" 6. RI Coffee Shop "Golden Goblet" 7. RI 6-6-4 Sleeper "Golden Locket" 8. SP 6-6-4 Sleeper "Golden Canyon" 9. RI 4-4-2 Sleeper "Golden Desert" 10. RI 4-4-2 Sleeper "Golden River" 11. RI Diner "Golden Banquet" 12. SP 4-4-2 Sleeper "Golden Cavern" 13. SP 4-4-2 Sleeper "Golden Rock" 14. SP 10-6 Sleeper "Golden Mountain" 15. RI 12 Double Bedroom Sleeper "Golden Ray" 16. RI Sleeper Lounge Observation "Golden Vista"