A Fascinating Look at The Golden Age of Rail Travel: The 1950s and ’60s!
Welcome aboard a time machine… as we take a look at the Golden Age of Trains and return to the 1950s and 60s, when icons like the Santa Fe Super Chief, The Orient Express, the Canadian and California Zephyr defined luxury rail travel. This documentary style episode explores what first class train travel was really like during the Golden Age of railroads, when glamour, service and competition for wealthy travellers shaped some of the most legendary trains in history.
From white glove dining and spacious seating to attentive onboard service, this was an era when rail journeys were experiences in their own right. Rail companies competed fiercely to attract the well heeled traveller, creating trains that became symbols of national pride and technological confidence.
The 1950s and 60s are widely regarded as the Golden Age of Rail Travel, producing famous services such as the Orient Express, the Santa Fe Super Chief, the California Zephyr, the Canadian, and the 20th Century Limited. In Britain and Europe, names like the Flying Scotsman and the Golden Arrow became synonymous with refined travel.
You can watch our video on that amazing train themed resort in the Jungle here:
Watch the earlier episodes in our Golden Age of Travel series:
Part One
How Cruising Used To Be
Part Two
The Golden Age of Air Travel
🚂 Trains featured in this video:
Train 1: The Santa Fe Super Chief – The “Train of the Stars.”
Train 2: California Zephyr – The legendary “Silver Lady.”
Train 3: The Golden Arrow (Flèche d’Or) – Luxury rail from London to Paris.
Train 4: The Vesuvius Express (ETR 300 Settebello) – Italy’s 1950s “Super Streamliner.”
Train 5: Autorail Panoramique (SNCF) – France’s iconic glass-roofed journey.
Train 6: The Canadian – Across the Rockies in ultimate mid-century style.
In this video :
00:00 – Introduction : Golden Age of Rail
02:40 – Train One
08:42 – Train Two
13:22 – Dressing for Travel
14:05 – Train Three
20:12 – Ritzy Travel Guide on Social media
20:47 – Train Four
23:26 – Train Five
25:19 – Train Six
28:07 – Where Happened to the Golden Age?
30:20 – A Brilliant Train Themed Hotel!
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ABOUT ME:
Hi, my name is Bill. The aim of this channel is to give interesting, and helpful insights into travel. We do not sell vacations. The information provided in this video, and all other videos on our channel, is for general entertainment purposes only. While I strive to offer helpful travel tips and advice, I am not a professional, and the content should not be considered as professional or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional, travel, or legal advisor before making decisions related to travel, legal matters, or any specific circumstances. I am not responsible for any actions or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided in this video. Please contact your travel agent, hotel, representative, or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
24 Comments
Thanks, Bill, for the reminder of how civilized travel can be. Yes, I remember what it was like to ride fine trains. Growing up in Canada in the 60s and early 70s, I rode Canadian National's Halifax-Montreal Ocean (and sister Scotian) often. CN was the last big North American road to invest heavily in its passenger trains, and they were long, featured great service, fine dining (famous for their prime rib) and beautiful views from the Skyview observation car (seen at 29:53). Like the Canadian, the Ocean runs today on VIA Rail. It no longer carries an observation car and the meals, though still served on white linen, are prepared off-train, but it is a reminder of a time before we traded comfort for speed. (Although we never have been able to fly across North America in "40 minutes!")
Great video, thanks for sharing.
If you were white.
I love trains and traveling by trains 🚆. I hope to try European and Asian trains . I remember the peak of America train services 😢 so sad they will never come back . Big big mistake to let the rail system decline
Wow, everyone is so FAT now compared to those days!! Then people were more healthy, and slimmer. Now everyone is so obese!!! These days 1 average person needs 3 seats just to squeeze in
And you could smoke in those days!!!!
🚅 It may not be the original but I traveled in a roomette on the rebranded Amtrak California Zephyr last April from Denver to San Francisco (Emeryville) for a thrilling 38 hour scenic adventure. Wearing a blazer and tie to dinner upgraded my retro experience too!
All times are good times… if you're rich.
First class is always the very best of whatever age you're looking at. Everything first class is… first class. If you can afford it.
This was enjoyable to see as in the early 2000s I rode all the AMTRAK routes west of St. Louis as my way to see The West taking five weekend to weekend trips. Also included The Canadian back and forth between Vancouver and Jasper seeing their restored 1950s era passenger cars on that route. You can still ride that old Santa Fe route and California Zephyr route today on AMTRAK. Back in the 1950s my only memory of train travel was when visiting grandparents a couple times in Ohio on the old New York Central and remember eating in the dining car though pretty young at the time. Once the interstates and turnpikes were developed better we drove. Thanks for placing on Youtube. .
Air travel had its golden age too
I'm not complaining, but the 1950's and '60s were the last gasp of US passenger railroading. The Golden Age of railroading was the 1920's.
One crossed an ocean on the Golden Arrow? I think not, one crossed the Channel, not the Atlantic.
You missed quite a few famous and luxurious trains in Europe and South Africa, some of which were well advanced when compared to US trains.
So sad, it is the same as air travel. Back then people dressed up to travel and enjoyed a sense of things being special. Today the majority want the cheapest possible price with the accompanying bargain basement service. Passengers want to turn up in their pajamas or the clothes they do chores in. Travel ceased to be of the trip to be enjoyed and became a purgatory to be endured in order to get where you are hoping to go to. All so sad. Everyone thinks price and few think value. The rise of the accountants…
Don't call them boats their ships. There were wonderful luxury train trips.All the way back to the nineteen twenties and thirties
I took the 20th century limited from New York to Chicago a few years before they killed it off. Even that short trip was amazing. A few years before that, when I was really young, I even took the greyhound bus to chicago, you could not compare the two.The bus was a hideous experience.The train was magic
Aaah !!, qué tiempos aquellos !!,those truly were the days !!, wonderful video, congratulations !!,yours truly Octavio….
I was lucky enough to experience genuine luxury on rails when I took the now defunct American-European Express from Washington D.C. to Chicago. That was back in 1990. What a train, I’m guessing the only one today that might be slightly better is the Orient Express but the cost is astronomical unlike on the A-E Express that was affordable (not cheap of course) for a young man who was hardly rich. So glad I did that journey, a never again experience.
I think this is called "looking at the past through rose-colored glasses"!
Yes I was there riding on the Super Chief, The Chief, UP passenger trains and two trips on the Norfolk and Western behind 611 and 1218. I also road trips on the UP behind 3985 and 8444. I even got a chance to ride behind 4014 in 2019. The best trip was on the Santa Fe from Oakland and eventually ending up in Albuquerque on my Way to El paso, Texas in the early 50's with my Grandmother. Excursions trips behind 4449 were the best with 611 second, and 8444 third. Three years ago I road Amtrak from El paso to Houston Norfolk, Chicago Dallas and back home. Amtrak from San Diego to Seattle 20 years earlier was a lot more fun. The Rio Grande Zephyr from Denver to Glenwood Springs was the most fun however of all my trips on the rails of the good old USA. The Freedom train from El Paso westward to LA was a great trip also. But for scenery I will take the fall photographer specials on the Durango and Silverton NG RR as the most spectacular. Having multiple run buys and seeing all the golden Aspen and water falls was just so breath taking. I got to ride in a caboose one time. Moonlight rides to the top of Pikes Peak were very exciting with the cog sections and the 14% grades. Belonging to the National Railroad Historical society and the Rocky mountain Railroad allowed me to ride many excursions trains over the years. Another treat was gong to California to see the three Railfairs in Sacramento were great experiences. We took excursions on multiple California tourist railroads at the same time also. The Sacramento Railroad Museum has to be one of the Best in the USA. Seeing the N&W RR museum in Roanoke along with the Winston Link museum were unsuspected treats also. 1218 has to be the smoothest sounding and pulling excursion engine I have ever ridden behind. 611 and 4449 tie for second place. The steam engines a Promontory Utah are fun, too. Going to Ogden to see 4014 for the first time after being restored was a real treat also. She came to El paso a year later for ten days. I went every day and got to take close to 1000 photos. Seeing them service and clean the engine and cars and tour the different cars. Maybe she will come near for this 250th celebration now that the UP has taken over from the SP that is sadly gone. I loved the 4 times 4449 came thru town. 844 has been here twice and 1014 only once. Burlington Northern sadly bought the Santa Fe and the UP bought the Missouri and Pacific and the Rock Island line. Our rail roads have also bought Mexican Railroads one of which comes to El paso from the south. Back in the 30's when my dad was working for the Santa Fe we had 7 different Railroads coming to El Paso, Texas. Sadly all we have now is three. UP, BNSF, a Mexican RR from the south. The T&NO, MP, Rock Island line and Santa Fe are long gone. Who would have thought that the mighty UP and the northern Burlington would come to El Paso Texas. Way back in the 1800's the idea was for the Denver and Rio Grande to come to El Paso, but they only got as far south as Santa Fe.
These historical travel rides are so much fun Bill. Again, well done!!
I remember those going to Chicago. We went modestly but great times and safety in the 60's. Real people…real times. Gone today.
I don't think the 60s were the peak. By then the long-haul railroads were dying and looking to get out of the passenger business in favor of freight. By 1971 they had been folded into Amtrak.
I worked a summer for CPR in '65. Even then, rail was going downhill… bw I would do that job again, for free. Just feed me