Union Pacific Train - The City of Portland

This card shows the interior of Union Pacific's City of Portland train, which was put into service in 1935. Besides looking very inviting,  City of Portland was important for two reasons:

1. It was the first streamlined transcontinental passenger train.
2. It was the first to offer a dining car and sleeping cars.

The train was elegant and popular, providing a high level of service. However, with the advent of Amtrak in 1971, service was discontinued for the City of Portland and the other high-end trains (City of Salina, City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, and City of Denver.)

Here's the text of the card. (Both the Hotel White Plaza and the Titche-Goettinger store mentioned here are now registered historic landmarks.)

Room #317 - Hotel White Plaza Main + Harwood Streets, Dallas 1, Texas - Jan. 8th 1958

My darling daughter Lana J.

It was nice to see you at Xmas-New Years time and enjoyed being with you sweet. The trip to Dallas was okay with friends from Denver and Colorado Springs meeting me at the depots. Honey-child, the Titche-Goettinger Store in Dallas is right alongside of this fine hotel on Main Street side, the hotel taking up corner. Will ship you the dress when new supply comes in. More later. Lots of Love (?)

Streetcar Sunday - Chautauqua Lake, New York

Imagine! You could take your mother on a nice outing for mother's day on this spectacular double deck streetcar with views of Chautauqua Lake. The message, written on March 15, 1908 says, "You should have some of these in Buffalo." Well, we should have some of these everywhere as far as I'm concerned (except maybe on those steep hills in San Francisco.)

There were double-deck streetcars in a number of places, but it is fairly rare to see them today. I wish I could tell you more about this card. What was the event? If you know more, please chime in.

Hawaii - Hilda has no ticket!

It was 53 years ago today, and the fun continued even after they left Hawaii. Meryle picked up  this card on her United Airlines flight and wasted no time in writing it even as she drank champagne on the plane.

Happy "Trees" to you!!

En Route 5/8/57

"Ginny" -

Here we are! Hilda has no ticket!! We're on champagne up here at 2300 feet and dragging one foot. Will attempt to get Hilda to LA with luggage on arrival at Frisco. We're sincerely grateful for all. "Thanks" is so inadequate! Our love to you + a big heartfelt Aloha to both "Tex" and a great gal. Love, Meryle