Golden State (passenger train)

The "Golden State" was a named passenger train jointly operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (RI) and Southern Pacific (SP) railroads as No. 3 (westbound) and No. 4 (eastbound). The extra-fare train made its inaugural run as the "Golden State Limited" on October 2, 1902. In 1947, three EMD E7 ABB locomotive sets were delivered to the Southern Pacific, as well as an 11-unit Rock Island passenger car consist, all painted in what would be a signature scheme for the line.

On January 4, 1948 an all-lightweight (streamlined) consist was placed in service and the train's name was changed to the "Golden State", running on a 45-hour schedule. From 1948–1953, the upper portions of rolling stock and motive power used on the "Golden State" were painted bright vermilion over a lower section either coated with aluminum paint or skinned in stainless steel; this color scheme was to have been used on the "Golden Rocket", the Rock Island-SP "train that never was"." After 1953 the SP locomotives received the well-known red-and-orange "Daylight" livery. The Southern Pacific utilized "Roman"-style lettering on its equipment, while the Rock Island favored "Zephyr"-style lettering.

The "Golden State" competed with the "Super Chief", a streamlined passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and the "City of Los Angeles", a streamlined passenger train jointly operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. The train commenced its last run from Los Angeles' Union Passenger Terminal (LAUPT) on April 8, 1968.

A consist from the time 1947-1953:Fact|date=July 2008|Source of consist?
* A-B-B Set of EMD E-7 diesel units
# SP Railway Post Office car #5067 (heavyweight, 6-wheel trucks))
# RI baggage-dormitory car #6014 (heavyweight, 6-wheel trucks)
# RI coach "Golden Harp"
# RI coach "Golden Flute"
# RI coach "Golden Trumpet"
# RI coffee-shop "Golden Goblet"
# RI 6-section, 6-roomette, 4-double bedroom sleeper "Golden Locket"
# SP 6-section, 6-roomette, 4-double bedroom sleeper "Golden Canyon"
# RI 4-double bedroom, 4-compartment, 2-drawing room sleeper "Golden Desert"
# RI 4-double bedroom, 4-compartment, 2-drawing room sleeper "Golden River"
# RI diner "Golden Banquet"
# SP 4-double bedroom, 4-compartment, 2-drawing room sleeper "Golden Cavern"
# SP 4-double bedroom, 4-compartment, 2-drawing room sleeper "Golden Rock"
# SP 10-roomette, 6-double-bedroom sleeper "Golden Mountain"
# RI 12-double bedroom sleeper "Golden Ray"
# RI lounge observation "Golden Vista"
* Note: cars 3-7 had corrugated sides, cars 8-14 had smooth sides and cars 15 and 16 again had corrugated sides.

References

* Jarel, Mike. "Diesel Power for the Golden State." "SP Trainline" 59 (2) 39-45.
* Ryan, Dennis and Mike Jarel. "The Streamlined Golden State." "SP Trainline" 59 (2) 8-38.
*

ee also

* Passenger trains on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
* Passenger trains on the Southern Pacific Railroad

External links

* [http://www.simpson.edu/~RITS/histories/goldenstate/gs.htm The "Golden State" Page] at the [http://www.simpson.edu/~RITS/ Rock Island Technical Society] official website.
* [http://espee.railfan.net/golden-state.html Southern Pacific Locomotive Paint Schemes: The "Golden State"]