John West Wrote:
> >
> I'm surprised they sold those births for revenue
> service. I rode the Idaho Falls setout sleeper a
> few years earlier in a roomette, and had my
> "meals" in that buffet. I assumed the remaining
> berths were assigned to the crew. Any one here
> know what train had the last regular line open
> section for revenue sale in the U.S.?

Okay, I pulled out my collection of UP public timetables. Last ones were April 28, 1970 and April 28, 1970 (revised).. The listing for Trains 35 & 36 "Butte Special" (running tri-weekly) in both issues says:
Sleeping Car-Snack Bar ... Salt Lake City - Butte ----- 4 Sec., 6 Rmtte., 4 Dbl. Bdrm. Snack and beverage service.

However looking at Official Guides, in this time frame I only have May 1970 and April 1971. The May 1970 has the same information as above.. But the Apil 1971 (month before Amtrak) only indicates "Snack and Beverage Service available on Trains35 and 36 between Salt Lake City and Butte.

So we have sections available to some time in 1970 if not later. The cars used were two modified "American" series cars of the pre-war design; but, built post-war,

The annual Ski Trains that the UP operated from Los Angeles carried two of the more modern "National" series 6-6-4 cars and a whole bunch of chair cars the last several years.

Brian Norden