General Information

The California Zephyr train is a long distance Amtrak-operated route traveling between Emeryville and Chicago, Illinois. Amtrak equipment and employees are used on this line, and equipment is maintained at each end of the system. Union Pacific and BNSF own all trackage on this line and therefore engineers and conductors must comply with Union Pacific and BNSF procedures if something abnormal were to arise. Union Pacific dispatch in Omaha, Nebraska is in contact with California Zephyr engineers at all times between Emeryville and Denver, where BNSF dispatch is in effect the rest of the way to Chicago. Traditionally, two P42DC locomotives are used, with a single Viewliner baggage car directly behind the locomotives. The first car on the all Superliner set is a transition sleeper, for crew members and a lower-level vestibule door for access to the baggage car. The next two or three cars, depending on the season and passenger count, is customer sleepers. Then a dining car, an observation car, and two to three coaches. Occasionally, private cars can be attached to the end. California Zephyr trains and engineers use the same radio frequencies as Union Pacific and BNSF (whichever host railroad they are operating). California Zephyr trains are numbered 5 (westbound) and 6 (eastbound).