Discovering my grandfather’s perfectly preserved photos from his 1984 Amtrak train ride inspired me to take my own journey and capture similar moments with his Canon AE-1 and Leica film camera. My grandparents rode the California Zephyr Amtrak from Denver to northern California and documented their journey with hundreds of photos. When I found the slide trays from their trip, it was like stepping into the past and reliving their journey.
The Superliner they rode on had two levels and could accommodate a large number of passengers, a feature still present on 11 different Amtrak routes. The color scheme and stripe design of Amtrak trains remained relatively uniform from 1972-1993, which is likely the design my grandparents saw on their ride. Amtrak’s original logo with the custom Helvetica font, chevron-style arrow, and red, white, and blue color scheme remained in use until 1999.
Observation cars with floor-to-ceiling windows still exist, but they may look slightly different today. Seven Superliner trains offer observation rooms where passengers can gaze out and marvel at the scenery. My grandmother recalled looking through the windows of the observation car to see the canyons in Utah and other views along the route.
My grandfather’s photos also captured the Amtrak crew members’ uniforms at the time, with the snow-covered trip from Denver to San Francisco featuring a crew member wearing a red cardigan and matching hat. In the 1980s, Amtrak had a uniform shift, and employees could choose from timeless accessories like cardigans and sweaters to create their own unique look.
With my grandfather’s Canon in my hand, I boarded the Lake Shore Limited from Cleveland to Boston and tried to recreate some of the photos he took. The camera was in perfect working condition, and I used a Kodak Ultramax 400 film, which I had used for many years. Although my train, a Viewliner, only had one level and didn’t offer an observation deck, the large windows still provided outstanding views during my 15-hour train ride.
While the Amtrak staff’s uniforms had changed since my grandparents’ time, Amtrak’s patriotic color scheme remained the same. The current logo, featuring three curved rail lines, has been in use since 2000. The exterior colors of my train paid homage to previous generations of Amtrak, celebrating 40 years of the company in 2011 and reflecting the red, white, and blue color scheme.
Overall, despite the changes in uniforms, designs, and cars, the most important aspect of taking an Amtrak trip remains the same- the journey.
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