Dome Lounge Cars
City of San Francisco
The City of San Francisco was built by American Car & Foundry in 1955 as dome lounge No. 9009 and named in 1993.
It is the only dome lounge in the Union Pacific Heritage passenger fleet that is still configured for end-of-train service. The car still has windows in the back wall, as well as the necessary exterior lighting, so it can be used as the last car of a train.
The City of San Francisco streamliner began service between Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California, in June 1936. It was a jointly owned train with the Chicago & North Western. The C&NW operated the train from Chicago to Omaha, Nebraska; UP operated it between Omaha and Ogden, Utah; and Southern Pacific Railroad operated it from Ogden to San Francisco.
All “city” trains were painted Union Pacific colors of Leaf Brown and Armour Yellow, with scarlet striping and lettering, even though they operated over other railroads. Later the brown was changed to Harbor Mist Gray, the color scheme Union Pacific continues to use to this day.
One innovation in the dining car service on the City of San Francisco was the introduction of continental dinners. These were elaborate, multi-course meals with appropriate beverage service. The meals soon were discontinued when complaints of too much food and the “outrageous cost” of $1.50 per meal were forwarded on to railroad headquarters in Omaha.
Harriman
The Harriman was built in 1955 by American Car & Foundry as Dome Lounge No. 9004. It was remodeled and named Harriman in 1988.
Edward Harriman had the vision to see the potential in the bankrupt Union Pacific Railroad in 1897. Enough so that he joined the refinance committee and became chairman of the new company a year later. Immediately, plans were under way to double track the main line, acquire new equipment, standardize wherever possible and modernize the whole railroad. He soon brought back into the fold other pieces of the bankrupt Union Pacific: the Oregon Short Line, Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, Kansas Pacific, Denver Pacific and the St. Joe and Grand Island, acquiring each just as he had the Union Pacific main line. Harriman also pushed to acquire a new line, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad to provide access to southern California.
Edward Harriman died in 1909. His eldest son, Averell, began his railroad career in 1913 at the age of 22, when he came to Omaha, Nebraska, for a two-year apprenticeship under UP President A. L. Mohler. When Judge Robert Lovett, chairman of the board, died in 1932, Averell took over. In 1941, President Roosevelt tapped Averell as ambassador to Russia. Averell turned over the chairmanship of the railroad to his younger brother, Roland.
After the war, Averell stayed in public service and Roland remained chairman until 1953, when he resigned to become head of the American Red Cross. In that capacity he served as many presidents as Averell. Roland remained a director until his death in 1978, bringing a close to the Harriman era.
Walter Dean
The Walter Dean was built in 1955 by American Car & Foundry as dome lounge No. 9005. It was sold to Auto Train, then reacquired and named the Walter Dean in 1990.
Walter Dean began his service with Union Pacific in 1942 as a dining car waiter on the Challenger. At that time the dining car crew slept in the dining cars and kept mattresses in a hole under the floor.
When Mr. Dean moved into the lounge car on the City of Los Angeles as attendant, he was responsible for stocking and maintaining the bar and providing service to the passengers. His clientele included such stars as Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, who traveled on the City of Los Angeles. He also served President Harry Truman during his “Whistle Stop Campaign” of 1948.
When passenger service ended in 1971, Mr. Dean remained with Union Pacific, serving special guests and staff on business car trips that UP continues to operate for railroad, corporate and community relations events. He passed away in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 18, 1999.