24. Diagram showing the Daylight consist of 1954 peak peri-
ods and 1954 off peak period.
PART 1 – SP PASSENGER TRAINS |
29
staterooms were removed from the Coast Daylight permanently in
1964, and were rebuilt as chair cars.
In March of 1965, the domes were discontinued during non-peak sea-
sons until Amtrak took over intercity train operation in 1971.
In the 1960s, feature cars on the Coast Daylight were finally dropped
to cut operating expenses because these cars held no revenue seats.
Dining service was simplified and finally was replaced with an auto-
matic buffet car offering sandwiches and canned hot entrees from
vending machines.
PART 1 – SP PASSENGER TRAINS |
30
These cars had one single attendant and were far less expensive
for the railroad to operate than a dining car with its large crew.
Hamburger grill diners sometimes returned to the Coast Daylight in
peak periods.
In a 1968 economy move, SP cut one shift of car cleaners at San
Francisco. This made a third Daylight consist necessary. As there were
only two parlor observation cars available, every third day there was
no first class service on the Daylight. Typical off-peak Daylight con-
sists were now just a baggage car, automat car and a few chair cars.
