When cross county rail travel became a dependable reality, there became a real need for first class accommodations. Riding on hard seats without sleeping cars and on-board dinning arrangements was certainly not going to attract a wealthier clientèle. In 1887, the Union Pacific Railroad in partnership with the Southern Pacific and The Milwaukee Road. The route left Chicago over the rails of the The Milwaukee Road (later over the Chicago and Northwestern) to Omaha, over the Union Pacific to Ogden, Utah and finally over the Southern Pacific where it would terminate in Oakland. The passenger cars were then loaded onto ferry service for transfer to San Francisco. Passengers could board the train in Chicago and step off in San Francisco without ever having to leave the train. Service was discontinued in 1963. Here is a complete set of circa 1915 postcards showing the interior of the train with its modern amenities, views of the train at speed, cards from the C&NW and The Milwaukee Road, and of the entire train aboard the ferry 'Solano' being transferred from Oakland to San Francisco. First some interior views showing compartments, barbershop, shower facilities, dining car, observation car, buffet lounge car, and the stenographer's office.
Here are four cards from The Milwaukee Road circa 1904 though 1912.
These two cards show the train when under the flag of the Chicago & Northwestern.
These circa 1914 and 1920 views show at the Reno, Nevada station. In the later card, we see a famous Southern Pacific 'cab forward' locomotive. Note the double-headed motive power in the first card prior to the assignment of the larger locomotive.
Upon arrival at Oakland, the cars were loaded aboard one of two ferries, either the 'Solano' or the 'Contra Costa' for off-loading at San Francisco. Here is a view of the 'Solano', one of the largest ferries in the world.
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