Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad public relations photograph of the interior of one of the two baggage bar lounge cars for the Twin Cities Zephyr, date and photographer unknown, Chuck Zeiler collection. The back of the print is stamped: Burlington Lines Donald Ashton Executive Assistant 547 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago 6, Illinois. Also on the back of the print is hand-written: Twin Zephyr Bar Car. The CB&Q ordered two Baggage Bar Lounge cars from Budd in August 1945, Budd Job 9603-015. The cars were numbered and named; 800 named Silver Buffet, and 801 named Silver Salon. I believe this photo may have been by Hedrich Blessing, the company that shot many CB&Q public relations photos. Generally, the car would be positioned near the Zephyr Pit (14th Street Coach Yard) and CB&Q office personel would be recruited to be the happy passengers seen here. However, it it dark outside, so this may have been shot within the confines of Union Station. The photos would be distributed to interested parties, generally travel agents, although individuals could request a photo by mail, as I sometimes did as a novice railfan. Also of interest may be the series of three stars at the point where the walls meet the ceiling. I don't know if they had significance, or were just a designer's whimsy. |