Shasta Daylight

The Southern Pacific Railway inaugurated their finest Daylight lightweight streamlined trains on July 10, 1949 between Oakland Pier in Oakland, California and Portland, Oregon named the Shasta Daylight. The new Shasta Daylight operated on a fast 15 hour 30 minute schedule in either direction for the 714 mile trip through some of the most beautiful and spectacular mountain scenery of any train in North America. The new Shasta Daylight replaced heavyweight trains named the Shasta on the same route that had required nearly a full day and night to complete the run. The new Shasta Daylight was the first diesel powered Daylight to enter service and the first and only Daylight to operate in interstate service. All other Southern Pacific Daylights would operate solely within the state of California. The scenic route of the Shasta Daylight passed by its namesake mountain in daylight hours; in fact, the Shasta Daylights ran on the very flanks of Mount Shasta.

Initially, the Shasta Daylights were assigned A-B-B sets of EMD E7 units, but within days of entering service this changed to A-B-A sets of ALCO postwar 2,000 hp PA units. The reason for the change from EMD was quite simply the ALCO units with the same horsepower rating were equipped with dynamic brakes, something lacking on the EMD units. Apparently, the ALCO PA units were more versatile mountain power than their EMD counterparts due to their larger traction motors. The main feature of the Shasta Daylight, compared to earlier Daylights, was that all coaches featured larger picture windows for viewing the spectacular scenery along the route. The cars were not equipped with fluted stainless steel panels, except for the pair of older Parlor Lounge Observation cars.

Equipment used

= First consist =

*6003A EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
*6003B EMD E7B 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
*6003C EMD E7B 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
*5000 Baggage 30’ Railway Post office Car
*2381 46 Revenue seat Coach with News Agents Stand
*2382 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2382 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2384 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2385 38 Revenue seat Coach with Crew Day Room
*10262 Articulated 66 seat Coffee Shop Unit
*10263 Articulated Kitchen Unit
*10264 Articulated 66 seat Dining Room Unit
*2386 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2387 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2388 48 Revenue seat Coach
*10316 68 seat Tavern Lounge Car
*2389 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2954 22 Revenue seat Parlor Lounge Observation

Second consist

*6004A EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit
*6004B EMD E7B 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
*6004C EMD E7B 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit
*5001 Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car
*2390 46 Revenue seat Coach with News Agents Stand
*2391 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2392 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2393 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2394 38 Revenue seat Coach with Crew Day Room
*10265 Articulated 66 seat Coffee Shop Car
*10266 Articulated Kitchen Unit
*10267 Articulated 66 seat Dining Room Unit
*2395 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2396 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2397 48 Revenue seat Coach
*10317 68 seat Tavern Lounge Car
*2398 48 Revenue seat Coach
*2955 22 Revenue seat Parlor Lounge Observation

See also

*Coast Daylight
*San Joaquin Daylight

References

* Pettet, Alan L. "Streamlined Passenger Trains of the United States and Canada"