Dome Car Magic (film)
Encyclopedia
Dome Car Magic: A History of Railroad Dome Cars is a 2006 American television production
that chronicles the history of the railroad sightseeing cars, from Burlington
's 1945 Silver Dome to the full-length models operating today in Canada
and Alaska
.
The 30-minute program, narrated by television actor and railroad owner Michael Gross
, first debuted in 2006 on the PBS television network.
, Super Chief
, North Coast Limited
, Daylight, Capitol Limited
, Denver Zephyr
, City of Los Angeles
, Canadian
and the California Zephyr
.
The documentary consists of interviews with seasoned travelers and rail historians, plus images of present-day dome cars on a variety of dinner and cruise trains—including the newest "bi-level" domes used in Alaska and Canada. These are the cars are in use by American Orient Express, Holland America, Princess Tours, Alaska Railroad
, Royal Caribbean
and Rocky Mountaineer
Railtours.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
that chronicles the history of the railroad sightseeing cars, from Burlington
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
's 1945 Silver Dome to the full-length models operating today in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
The 30-minute program, narrated by television actor and railroad owner Michael Gross
Michael Gross (actor)
Michael Gross is an American television, movie, and stage actor who plays both comedic and dramatic roles. His most notable roles are as the father Steven Keaton from Family Ties and the Graboid hunter Burt Gummer from the Tremors franchise.-Early life:Gross was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son...
, first debuted in 2006 on the PBS television network.
Synopsis
Archival film footage shows the many famous North American trains that operated dome cars. They include the Empire BuilderEmpire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
, Super Chief
Super Chief
The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was often referred to as "The Train of the Stars" because of the many celebrities who traveled on the streamliner between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.The Super...
, North Coast Limited
North Coast Limited
The North Coast Limited was a named passenger train operated by the Northern Pacific Railway between Chicago and Seattle via Bismarck, North Dakota...
, Daylight, Capitol Limited
Capitol Limited (B&O)
The Capitol Limited was an American passenger train run by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, originally between New York City and Grand Central Station in Chicago, Illinois via Union Station, Washington, D. C. and Pittsburgh. For almost 48 years, it was the B&O's flagship passenger train, noted for...
, Denver Zephyr
Denver Zephyr
The Denver Zephyr was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado...
, City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles was a streamlined passenger train that ran between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, via Omaha, Nebraska, and Ogden, Utah. Between Omaha and Los Angeles it ran on the Union Pacific Railroad; east of Omaha it ran on the Chicago and North Western Railway until...
, Canadian
The Canadian
The Canadian is a Canadian transcontinental passenger train originally operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1955 and 1978. It is currently operated as an Inter-city rail service by Via Rail Canada with service between Union Station in Toronto, Ontario and Pacific Central Station in...
and the California Zephyr
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California...
.
The documentary consists of interviews with seasoned travelers and rail historians, plus images of present-day dome cars on a variety of dinner and cruise trains—including the newest "bi-level" domes used in Alaska and Canada. These are the cars are in use by American Orient Express, Holland America, Princess Tours, Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
, Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
and Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian tour company offering Western Canadian vacation packages that operates trains on four rail routes through British Columbia and Alberta.-Background:...
Railtours.
Chapters
Chapters of the film include:- Introduction
- The First Dome Car
- Train of Tomorrow
- California Zephyr
- Many Different Names
- Union Pacific Commercial
- American Orient Express
- Alaska Railroad
- Colorado RailcarColorado RailcarColorado Railcar was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock, railcars and diesel multiple unit commuter vehicles. Both products come in single- and double-level versions. It shut down in 2008, with its assets being purchased by US Railcar.-History:...
- Rocky Mountaineer
- Alaska Railroad's Dome Car
- Dome Cars of the Future