It's a day or so before 9/11/00 and here's the California Zephyr departing from Emeryville, California, for its journey to Chicago. I remember a gleaming train with a full complement of coaches, sleepers, dining car and high-level lounge-observation (seen here in the middle of the train) that would feature a guide to describe the great history and scenery that would be enjoyed through the autumnal Sierras. There were movies in the evening and space for kids to play. In my mind, this was the apex of CZ service. Soon the windows would be unwashed, and the train would begin its slow descent into Union Pacific delays, some of which are now of several hours duration. I recall good food in the diner, almost always including one or two 'chef's choices'. Now it's pre-fab food, served on plastic plates after much of it is reheated in microwaves. Gone is prime rib, great steaks, bacon and eggs and wonderful Amtrak french toast with bacon. The bean counters in Congress have joined the anti-long distance crowd in the Administration to slowly but surely degrade the travel experience and soon there will no longer be separate lounge and dining cars in the rush to save money and eliminate crew. The movies will soon be gone and the play area of kids is history. Most of the little touches that made first-class service enjoyable are gone. Hopefully, as gas prices fluctuate between high and abysmally high, the population ages, airline service continues to degrade and consumer groups with political clout swing into action, wiser heads will prevail. But in the meantime those who support long-distance service should keep those cards and letters flowing to their representatives in Congress.

CLICK HERE to see photos from Ron's 40 years of CZ photography.