Tag Archives: pullman porters

Onboard such famous trains as the California Zephyr, Super Chief, Sunset Limited, Lark, 20th Century Limited, Pullman porters served millions of passengers from 1867 to 1968. They provided first-class train service in Pullman sleeping cars. The accommodations ranged from sections (upper and lower births), roomettes, bedrooms, compartments to drawing rooms. ... Read More »

George Pullman pioneered sleeping accommodations on trains, and by the late 1860s, he was hiring only African-Americans to serve as porters. After the Civil War ended in 1865 Pullman knew that there was a large pool of former slaves who would be looking for work; he also had a very clear racial ... Read More »

Pullman and Social History: Vintage Railroad Ads – 1930s to 1950s… Pullman, the Super Chief, Southern Pacific, the Chief and the 20th Century Limited. 1930s: Go Pullman overnight for $4.75… 1950s : The Shasta Daylight on the friendly Southern Pacific… Deluxe travel to the Coast – during the 1940s… Santa ... Read More »

Social History: Oldest living Pullman porter looks back.  Lee Wesley Gibson, 100, began working for Union Pacific in 1936. The railroad job helped him lift his family into the middle class. Lee Wesley Gibson, 100, stands next to a 1937 Pullman dormitory/club car at the Travel Town Museum in Los ... Read More »

New York Central’s all-Pullman 20th Century Limited departs Chicago for its nightly run to New York in the 1950s. The deluxe train carried a staff of Pullman Porters, Pullman Conductors, waiters, maids, chefs, cooks, train conductors, brakemen, stewards, along with a train secretary, CRUISING THE PAST: AMTRAK IS SEEKING THE ... Read More »

The Oakland Tribune did a great story on a recent Bay Area event honoring former Pullman Porters.  Be sure to visit the Oakland Tribune by clicking here. The Pullman Company provided first class overnight sleeping car service throughout the United States until 1968.   Amtrak has never duplicated the first class ... Read More »