Show Rio Grandes Grande's Zephyr Train Celebrates Birthday The California t h ChI San S Vitta Ilta I train which opera operates S via the 1 Rio Grande Crande railroads railroad's Main Maln tine Lino the celebrated d Its lu ti bIrthday on Rio Grande Crande rails falls Saturday March 21 r During Its lu decade of opera operation on jg iW this stainless steel streamliner has enjoyed popular favor with the thee traveling public to a degree e which Is the envy of all long distance carriers t The train Is Jointly owned and operated by the Rio tUe Grande Bur Bur- ur lIngton and Western Pacific rail rail- roads Figures compiled complied by Rio Grandes Grande's passenger traffic manager manager manager man man- ager II H. F. F Eno reveal that the average number of passengers carried per trip is equal to per cent of capacity an amazing figure for tor a year round operation tion The California Zephyr was the first transcontinental train to feature Vista Domes Domes the glass enclosed observation decks about the normal roof line It is still I the only one to otter offer five live Vista Vida 11 homes Domes per train rh The train is b scheduled ed so 0 asto as asto asto to pass ss thru the most scenic portions of If Its mlle mite route the Colorado and C California's Feather river canyon can yon On during the daylight hours Six complete car 12 trains are arc required to operate dally daily service sere ser vice In both bolh directions representing a total investment of approximately ap ape proximately 18 million The Th trains have clicked off a Q total of ot miles Mr Eno rno said more than four million of which have been on Rio Grande rails tails I During the ten year period It has carried more than one and one half million passengers California Zephyr service be bee beegan gan can at both San Francisco and Chicago on March 20 1949 and the two trains reached Rio nto i Grande Crande rails at Salt Lake Lak City find and Denver on March 21 The first meet of the he east east- bound and trains 1 at 14 1 pm p.m. that day in Glenwood Glenwood Glen Glen- wood Canyon of the Colorado river a Q most appropriate location location loca loca- tion as it was WM the beauty of this canyon that inspired the idea hat r re in the the- Vista Dome A special party complete with cake and candles candies were aboard both east and west bound trains |