Product Details

• Format: Special Edition, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Number of discs: 2
• DVD Release Date: October 20, 1999
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0967300215
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,014 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Director

Just the name California Zephyr invokes a feeling of excitement. It was this simple title that got me so energized that I had to produce a program on this special train. Most people in America never realized that a part of America's history slipped away virtually overnight. Few people seemed to care that passengers trains went away.

On a wet January day in 1997, I was exposed to the California Zephyr for the first time when I met with historian Virgil Staff at his turn of the century home in Berkeley, California. Thirty years earlier, Virgil who was Western Pacific Railroad's company historian was dragging motion picture film equipment up hills around California. Using his own funds he captured the last gasps of the California Zephyr. In total, nearly 15,000 feet of prime 16mm motion picture film containing thousand of pictures of a train the world forgot about. Every year he pulled his films out and using a bottle of film cleaner did his best to keep the films in perfect condition.

In a darkened living room as the film projector ticked away, I was transported back to 1967. It was like a Twilight Zone episode, as it felt like I was waiting for the train, standing with the people I saw on the screen. It was at this time that I decided that I had to tell the story of the California Zephyr.

Over the next three years I restored the film and transferred it to video for what would become my most ambitious project to date. In December 1998, I flew to San Francisco with an experienced television news cameraman to capture some of the most touching interviews ever recorded. Over twelve hours we talked with people who worked aboard the train in the late 1960's, including Western Pacific Railroad1s public relations director who was present for the first departure in 1949. After 30 years these people still remembered the slightest detail of the train, right down to the people they saw along the way. During the interviews you can see the excitement in their eyes as they remember the good times and the funeral that followed.

One more thing, although sights of the train are important, the sound of the Zephyr is just as inspiring. To share this part of the senses I have included a 70 minutes audio compact disc that Virgil recorded on magnetic tape in the 1960's. Included are a station announcement, high speed run-bys and engine cab recordings where you can hear the now passed on engine crew members talking about the run.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Commentary from Niles Canyon/Zephyr Route Resident, May 3, 2003

By 

Ira Grossman (FREMONT, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The California Zephyr : Story of America's Most Talked About Train [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The California Zephyr video was exceptionally well-done. I live right next to the Western Pacific Railroad's former Niles Canyon route in Fremont, California, so I have a special interest in the California Zephyr . The color movies of the train were very fantastic to watch and the commentaries of former railroad employees greatly added credibility to this fascinating story. I was especially thrilled to watch the train stop at Fremont station (now the Union Pacific's freight yard), passing by Niles control tower (sadly destroyed by a fire set by an arson several years ago), and passing through Niles Canyon where I live. Another feature of the video I liked was, the names of most of the people that were interviewed in the video were listed on the video's box. Only one person's name was not listed, the wife of one of the people who appeared in the video. I also enjoyed the audio compact disc included with the video. I could hear actual sounds of the train pulled by a diesel locomotive, actual train arrival announcements at both Oakland and Fremont stations and voice of engineer chatting with fireman in locomotive's cab. How ironic that some of the video footage was filmed in 1966, the year I was born. I have special fondness for the F7 which pulled this passenger train. During the late 1970s and early 80s, I saw several of these F unit diesels, pulling freight cars, passing by my house in Niles Canyon several times. It brings back many sentimental memories.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historically Significant, January 19, 2001

By 

Vic Ryan (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The California Zephyr : Story of America's Most Talked About Train (DVD)

This program is an excellent documentary about the history of the California Zephyr during its 20 years of operation between Chicago and the West Coast. Unlike most railroad documentaries presented on PBS and the History Channel, this one has more depth as it skips much of the dry history and instead focuses on recollections from people who worked on the train.

Coverage of the train is slanted towards the west coast with tons of footage on the Western Pacific Railroad. Highlights that stand out were scenes of the train on 3rd Street in Oakland, through Altamont Pass, and through Feather River Canyon. The DVD also includes a ride in the locomotive cab along with extra scenes of the train trackside.

The producer did an excellent job and I only wonder where he dug up some of the people interviewed in the program. Most notable was Arthur Lloyd who was a railroad public relations person back in the 1950's and 60's. Lloyd gave some spectacular commentary that broke up what could have been a dry program.

I think this program is excellent for anyone who has a passing interest in passenger trains or transportation history. Although this program focuses on the California Zephyr, the general theme is about the death of the Streamliner in America. I regret that I never rode the California Zephyr as we lost a great gem.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WP Lives!, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The California Zephyr : Story of America's Most Talked About Train (DVD)

I purchased the DVD edition with the audio cd included.This video presents a nice look at the past and the only way to travel in my book.Some very good footage of the CZ considering the availability of affordable video eqiuipment at the time.It tends to be slanted towards the WP side of the Zephyr but as the video explains there isn't much in the way of video footage of the CZ in action.Definitly one to have in the collection.The audio cd is a VERY nice little bonus for buying the DVD.