In 1964, Southern Pacific’s timetable was subjected to what would be the penultimate indignity: the 16-page system timetable of 1963 was reduced to a six-page timetable. In effect, what had been the condensed timetable became the system timetable. I don’t … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Timetable
Having reduced its 1962 system timetable to be as small as its condensed timetables of the 1950s, SP shrunk its condensed timetable to a brochure with the equivalent of 6 pages. That’s effectively one page each for the Sunset, Golden … Continue reading
In October 1962, Southern Pacific’s system timetable lost half its pages, shrinking down to just 16. The timetable still had room for a centerfold map, a one-page station index, a half page of SP agents with a half page of … Continue reading
Just as SP’s regular timetables were shrinking, its condensed timetables were shrinking as well. In 1955, the condensed timetable was 16 pages. This one is just 8. Click image to download a 2.6-MB PDF of this 8-page timetable. It offers … Continue reading
This timetable is arranged similarly to yesterday’s, including two full-page ads that promote both SP passenger and freight services. The full-page ad on page 11 promotes the Coast route and wide-door boxcars, saying that SP has the largest fleet of … Continue reading
Along with the simplified route map that first appeared on the April 1957 timetable (and shown on the October 1957 edition, SP drastically reduced the page count from 48 to 32 pages. The larger timetables had separate pages for eastbound … Continue reading
With the April 1957 timetable, Southern Pacific replaced drawings of its four leading streamliners on the back cover with a simplified map of its rail system, as shown below. A more detailed system map is still included in the centerfold. … Continue reading
Southern Pacific’s diminishing enthusiasm for passenger trains is revealed in the front cover ad of this system timetable, which is more about freight service than passenger. “More miles of rail line,” it says, “more freight cars, more piggyback.” It does … Continue reading
Like SP’s 1950 condensed timetable, this one is 16 pages long. The discontinuation of many local trains, however, leaves room for far more ads in the 1955 edition. Click image to download a 7.0-MB PDF of this 16-page timetable. Basic … Continue reading
Like yesterday’s Coast/San Joaquin timetable, this one is dated January 1954, shows just one route, is eight pages long, and has the same cover showing outdated locomotives. Unlike yesterday’s, this one doesn’t devote two whole pages to a system map, … Continue reading