The Southern Pacific's striking red and orange Daylight series of trains made their debut on March 21, 1937, on the run over the Coast Line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The success of these trains spawned more equipment in Daylight colors on SP's passenger trains on its most popular routes.
In addition to the Coast Daylight, the companion San Joaquin Daylight to Los Angeles from Oakland over the Valley Route was put into service on July 4, 1941. These trains were the least glamorous of the Daylight series, and toward the end of the steam era, almost always ran with mixed equipment. This circumstance however, made the these trains the last steam powered named passenger trains on the Southern Pacific, lasting until the fall of 1956.
This video takes you on a journey from Los Angeles to the Bay Area and return aboard the Coast and San Joaquin Daylights. Along the way, operations for both trains are observed as connections are made and helper districts and power swaps are navigated. A maritime journey is also had as we cross San Francisco Bay aboard one of Southern Pacific's transbay ferries.
These 8mm and 16mm films come from the movie cameras of 9 different railfans, and we are indebted to them all for preserving these images of railroading's Golden Age for future generations!