I was 'converted' into railfandom back in 1968, when my friend who was an avid railfan talked me into taking a ride on a train he called "The Convincer", (as in convince me to become interested in trains).
We flew from NYC to Chicago in the morning, and made our way to Union Station. At about noon, the first of three announcements were made for passenger's to check in for
Burlington Train Number 23, The Afternoon Twin Cities Zephyr; followed a short time later by Northern Pacific Train Number 25, The Vista-Dome North Coast Limited; and finally by Great Northern Train Number 31, The Great Dome Empire Builder. They had these elaborate rolling check-in desks with illuminated train logo's, where the Conductor and Pullman Conductor lifted tickets in the concourse. We finally boarded, and since we were only going to Minneapolis, were ticketed on the Afternoon Zephyr. But it was combined during the off-season with the other two trains, and what a fantastic consist it offered. There were stainless steel Burlington Vista Dome coaches, there were Northern Pacific Raymond Loewy styled two-tone green Vista Dome Sleeper Lounges ("The Lounge in the Sky"), There was the Great Norther Great Dome Lounge....several other dome coaches on the Seattle trains as well as diner's, lounges, coffee shop's, etc. All told their must have been more than 8 domes on that train. It made the five on the CZ pale in comparison.
Even though we weren't supposed to, we managed to tour the entire train, even the dome lounges reserved for Pullman passenger's.
And yes....it did its job....it "convinced me"....
