Overview
This is a fresh and nostalgic look at the streamliners of the Santa Fe railroad from the late thirties to the early seventies. They're all here: the Super Chief, the Chief, El Capitan, and the San Francisco Chief.
Santa Fe--The Chief Way includes many photographs never before seen in other Santa Fe railroad books. Numerous interior pictures of the various cars remind us how wonderful train travel used to be. One chapter is devoted to the art collection of the Santa Fe railroad; it shows how these paintings were reproduced on menu covers and calendars. Another chapter shows most of the depots still standing in New Mexico as well as several of the Harvey House hotels rendered in beautiful hand-tinted photography. A special feature of the book is its extensive coverage of the original advertising materials used to lure travelers west through Indian Country in the Southwest. These include train brochures, timetables, post cards, magazine advertisements--all of which show the style and luxury afforded the traveler on these famous streamliners.
As an added bonus to movie buffs, one chapter deals with the silent film stars who stopped off in Albuquerque as the train was being serviced. Historical pictures show a lost, glamorous era.
This book will be a must-have for railroad buffs, historians, memorabilia collectors and those interested in the history of advertising; it is a book for all those who are fascinated by the romance of the Southwest and the glory years of the Santa Fe streamliners.
Synopsis
This is a fresh and nostalgic look at the streamliners of the Santa Fe railroad from the late thirties to the early seventies. They're all here: the Super Chief, the Chief, El Capitan, and the San Francisco Chief.
Santa Fe-The Chief Way includes many photographs never before seen in other Santa Fe railroad books. Numerous interior pictures of the various cars remind us how wonderful train travel used to be. One chapter is devoted to the art collection of the Santa Fe railroad; it shows how these paintings were reproduced on menu covers and calendars. Another chapter shows most of the depots still standing in New Mexico as well as several of the Harvey House hotels rendered in beautiful hand-tinted photography. A special feature of the book is its extensive coverage of the original advertising materials used to lure travelers west through Indian Country in the Southwest. These include train brochures, timetables, post cards, magazine advertisements-all of which show the style and luxury afforded the traveler on these famous streamliners.
As an added bonus to movie buffs, one chapter deals with the silent film stars who stopped off in Albuquerque as the train was being serviced. Historical pictures show a lost, glamorous era.
This book will be a must-have for railroad buffs, historians, memorabilia collectors and those interested in the history of advertising; it is a book for all those who are fascinated by the romance of the Southwest and the glory years of the Santa Fe streamliners.
Booknews
Together with photographer C. Fenton Richards Jr., Santa Fe Railway enthusiasts Robert Strein and John Vaughan present a history of the Santa Fe Railroad and a look at how the railroad used the landscapes and Indian culture of the American southwest to enhance the idea that train travel is exciting and romantic. The color, b&w, and duotone photographs show the Chief trains, the land of pueblos, film stars who rode the rails, the Santa Fe Railway art collection, advertising posters, and other memorabilia. Oversize: 10.25x10<">. Originally published in a hardbound edition in 2001. Distributed by the U. of New Mexico Press. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)