The Overland Trail is a 39 seat club-lounge with barbershop and shower built by the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company for delivery to the Southern Pacific Railroad in December 1949. Numbered Southern Pacific 2981, the car was specifically ordered in October of 1947 for the San Francisco Overland, a train jointly operated by the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and the Chicago & North Western railroads between Chicago and Oakland, (San Francisco).
The 2981 served faithfully, racking up around 5 million miles for the Southern Pacific during its railroad career. However, as the fortunes of passenger trains waned in the 1950's and 1960's, so too did the glory of this stylish railcar, when in October 1966, the beautiful lounge of 2981 was stripped and converted into a dance floor. The Southern Pacific (wanting to keep idled onboard service crews working during the winter), along with the Reno Chamber of Commerce, started the Reno Fun Train (a winter time "gamblers special") which ran between Oakland and Reno, bringing revelers, who otherwise, would not make the drive from the Bay Area over the treacherous Donnor Pass, to Reno.
Amtrak was created on May 1st, 1971 to "rescue" the American passenger train (some would say to administer its burial), which was in a death spiral and no longer any competition to the commercial airlines or the automobile. The 2981 was purchased by Amtrak in 1973 and numbered Amtrak 3500. She finished her railroad career, still assigned to the Reno Fun Train serving as a bar/dance car into the late 1970's. The car transitioned to private hands after Amtrak retirement and spent a decade as a derelict on various railroad spurs under several owners. Fortunately for the 2981, a new chapter has been written for this glorious car. Once again adorned in authentic railroad colors, she has been given the name Overland Trail and has undergone extensive mechanical, structural and cosmetic restoration to return her to the rails as a classic form of travel, suitable for the stylish and sophisticated, or for those simply wishing to relive a bygone era.
The TripWhen I saw Trainweb's What's New segment about the Overland Trail Father's Day trip to Santa Barbara, I called Steve Grande and let him know that I wanted to ride. I bought an Amtrak Thruway Bus ticket to get to Los Angeles and a train ticket back. Winston Walker, his wife and his daughter, Christy also decided to go. Winston and Christy rode the Double Comet Car trip the day before and we decided to drive to Los Angeles since it was Saturday and we did not want to get up early and wait for Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner home. We decided to meet at my house at 6:00 AM, drove to Union Station in twenty-five minutes and parked in the MTA parking structure.
Pacific Surfliner 799 awaits its departure time. Our train consisted of B32-8WH 503, "Overland Trail" 2981 PPCX 800633, Amfleet coaches 82510, 82500, 82720 and 28540, Horizon cafe/business class 58107 and cabbage car 90208.
The "Overland Trail" is unique in that it is painted in Daylight colors on one side and Southern Pacific Lark colors on the other.
The one-of-a-kind club-lounge with barbership "Overland Trail" owned by Bill and Debbie Hatrick.
I sat at the end table with Carole Walker on one side of the car and Steve Grande, his wife Barbara Cepinko and sister Shelli Tucker, at the table across from us. The train departed on time and I spotted Chris Parker watching us leaving, after which we had a breakfast of waffles and chicken sausage.
The former Southern Pacific advertising on this wall is still visible.
Metrolink locomotives at the former Southern Pacific Taylor Yard.
A line of the former New Jersey Transit and later Utah Frontrunner Comet Cars that Metrolink is currently leasing. We made all of the passenger stops then at CP Topanga, met Pacific Surfliner 768.
The Chatsworth Rocks.
Leaving the San Fernado Valley before going into the long tunnel to get to Simi Valley.
The artwork at the end of "Overland Trail" with Carole, Barbara and Steve in the photograph.
The bar area.
Owner Bill Hatrick visited with the passengers.
After Ventura, our train reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Views along our route to Santa Barbara, where most of our passengers detrained.
Something new since my last visit through here was Southern Pacific business car 142 "Santa Barbara", nee El Paso and South Western coach 675 built by Pullman in 1914.
The lounge area of "Overland Trail".
The barber shop area.
The end-of-the-car paintings again, this time without people.
Back to the coast line west of Goleta.
Rufugio State Beach.
Running west to Point Conception.
Views as we ran north to Surf.
Crossing the Santa Ynez River at Surf.
We turned east away from the Pacific Ocean.
Later, the Santa Maria Valley.
Dropping down into Grover Beach.
Later we approached San Luis Obispo.
Passing the San Luis Obispo station built in 1894.
Pacific Surfliner 799 at San Luis Obispo. The crew pulled our consist north of the station for the layover there and I visited the station for some snacks and relaxed aboard the car before venturing out for a few pictures.
"Overland Trail".
The San Luis Obispo helper set which assists freight trains with the climb of Cuesta Grade.
Pacific Surfliner 792 was now ready to depart for Los Angeles.
Views along the Pacific Ocean coming back.
The Gaviota Pier. At Santa Barbara the rest of our group reboarded.
The Santa Monica Mountains east of Oxnard.
Later, coming into the San Fernando Valley. The train made excellent time and arrived at Los Angeles six minutes early at 7:09 PM. It had been a wonderful trip aboard "Overland Trail" and we all detrained very happy train riders. We drove back to Santa Ana having to fight traffic all the way down to the Riverside Freeway. Back at my house, I said goodbye to the Winston's then wrote this story.
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