The Daylight, Southern Pacific's Ultra-Successful Regional Passenger Train

The Daylight, Southern Pacific’s original of its succeeding fleet of trains with the Daylight name, became perhaps the most successful and recognized of all time even rivaling the Santa Fe’s legendary Super Chief. Interestingly, however, only one Daylight was a long distance train as the rest were regional trains which served several different Californian cities. The popularity of the Daylight was incredibly high, even through the early 1960s although by the latter half of that decade the SP began greatly reducing services and amenities on the fleet as patronage declined. Today, a version of this successful fleet of trains remains under Amtrak as the likewise very popular Coast Starlight.

Much like the Pennsylvania Railroad was to the State of Pennsylvania so was the Southern Pacific to the State of California, an institutional icon. Also just like the Pennsy the Southern Pacific (also referred to affectionately as the “Espee” by railfans and historians after its SP reporting marks) has such a history that entire libraries of books could be written on the differing aspects of the railroad. The SP was by far our country’s single largest classic railroad (i.e., before the modern-day merger movement began in the 1950s), spanning over 15,000 miles and reaching from the stretches of northwest Oregon to southeast Louisiana!

The Southern Pacific has a whole host of renowned achievements it is credited with, far too many to go into detail here. However, to name a few it had three important main lines which continue as important arteries under Union Pacific today, the Overland Route (San Francisco to the Midwest), the Golden State Route (the Southwest to Kansas City), and the Sunset Route (the Pacific Coast to the Gulf Coast).

By the 20th century the railroad continued to expand and was by this time well entrenched into the Southeastern markets of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast (it also leased the Central Pacific in the 1920s, eventually merging the railroad into its system with its main line becoming the Overland Route). By mid-century it owned a stunning 15,000 miles of track, stretching from the warm and sunny beaches of Southern California and Gulf of Mexico to the deserts of Arizona and mountains of the Sierra Range.

Aside from its very popular and famous passenger trains its traffic base, as you might expect, was very diverse and included things such as chemicals, lumber and timber products, produce, autos and auto parts, other agricultural products, and almost any other product that could be hauled in a freight car. Through the 1970s the Southern Pacific was by far one of the most respected railroads, if not the industry standard, in terms of size and scope.

The Southern Pacific’s famed Daylight has its beginnings dating back to early 1937 when on March 21st it was inaugurated as an all-streamlined passenger train serving Los Angeles and San Francisco. Up front was a Northern Type, 4-8-4 steam locomotive in SP’s GS-2 class in a streamlined look that would become legendary. The livery, which would also go down in history as one of the all-time classics, chosen for the train was designed by the railroad’s own Charles Eggleston of red, orange, and black.

What made the Daylight so successful was as much of the route it followed as the amenities aboard. Views along the way from San Francisco included the Santa Clara Valley in all of its splendor, surfside along the Pacific Ocean, and the Santa Margarita Range. Essentially, many of the best views that California had to offer could be witnessed right outside the windows of the Daylight. While the views outside were spectacular, the services inside were just as good.

The SP spared no expensive on the Daylight, and it showed. Aside from the incredible outdoor views the train’s keynote feature was an articulated, two or three-car diner-tavern-lounge that offered open, unimpeded space between all three cars due to a new design feature from Pullman-Standard (whom the Southern Pacific purchased all of their passenger equipment from) which removed the bulkheads between cars and created an open walkway space between them to look as if all three were one.

It was an extraordinarily popular train that within a few years of its inauguration had the highest ridership numbers in the country. Demand for the train became so high by the late 1930s that the Southern Pacific simply had no way to meet the need. As it waited for new equipment to arrive from Pullman-Standard the SP launched a second Daylight using mostly older, heavyweight equipment.

When the railroad finally did receive its new equipment it setup three San Francisco – Los Angeles runs of the train called the Morning Daylight, Noon Daylight, and Night Daylight. Knowing it was on to something the Southern Pacific decided to launch an entire fleet of Daylights offering regional service to many California cities. These trains included the Lark (which served LA – San Francisco at night it was adorned in an interesting, but catchy two-tone gray livery), San Joaquin Daylight (Oakland – Los Angeles), and the Sacramento Daylight (Sacramento – Lathrop).

The Daylight fleet remained very successful through the early 1960s but even the Southern Pacific with its vast array of popular and extravagant passenger trains (others of which included the Sunset Limited and long distance Shasta Daylight) just could not compete with the age of the automobile and super-fast jet airliner. Most of the SP’s Daylight fleet had disappeared by the time of Amtrak in 1971, although its original, now named the Coast Daylight remained and was initially kept under Amtrak although was eventually terminated in favor of the Coast Starlight. This new train now operates over the Southern Pacific’s old tracks between LA and Portland, following virtually the same route as the Shasta Daylight and is today one of Amtrak’s most popular trains.

For more reading and background on the SP’s passenger operations, you might want to consider the book Southern Pacific Passenger Trains from noted author Brian Solomon. The book gives a superb general overview of the railroad and its extensive passenger operations, and is filled with excellent photographs (many in color) of the Espee. If you are a fan or have any interest whatsoever in the Southern Pacific you will very much enjoy the book.

Also, for a great history of the Southern Pacific’s iconic GS-2 steam locomotives you might want to consider the book Southern Pacific Daylight Steam Locomotives from author Kenneth Johnsen. The book gives a superb review of these fine locomotives and if you have any interest in the Southern Pacific and its Daylight fleet you should definitely enjoy this book.