A Primer on Passenger Services, Equipment and Operation in California Zephyr Territory during the Pullman Era (1947-68)

 I recently had the honor of presenting an overview on passenger train services to the combined 2025 Rio Grande and Western Pacific Historical Societies Convention in Sacramento, CA (September 11-14). By request, my presentation slides are attached here.  

Passenger trains and their equipment seem to be a blind spot both to historians and modelers of trains, regardless of their era of interest.  Understanding some of the basic concepts of passenger trains, their equipment and operation may help to remove some of their mystery and perhaps make them interesting to study and fun to model.  Accordingly, this presentation can be a useful guide for readers who want to get an introduction to how and why passenger trains operated, were consisted in particular ways, and an understanding of the essential services of mail & express and sleeping car services. 

Please reach out to me in Comments if you have any questions.