Imagine the year is 1929. The economy is rolling along and people are calling the decade "The Roaring Twenties". You're living in New York City, have a good job and about ready for a vacation. How about a trip across the country to see the newly developing Pacific Northwest and perhaps even go on across the Pacific Ocean to the Orient (as they called it back then). You might stop by a Travel Agent's office to see what's available and pick up the brochure you see below. Remember, there are no planes, so the fastest and most relaxing way to travel is by train. This brochure, published by the Great Northern Railway, in 1929, is designed to introduce you to the train. Can you, for just a moment, mentally go back in time and imagine how this trip might look to you?
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| The Oriental Limited Great Northern Railway's name train across the continent. Published 1928 |
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| [Click on images for larger view.] |
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| Great Northern Railway passenger representatives are travel experts well qualified to aid you in planning your trip. |
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| The efficient crew, veterans all, and natty in their dark blue uniforms, are all attention to welcome the Oriental Limited's guests. |
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| All about The Pullman Sleeping Cars |
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| Separate dressing rooms for women and men |
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| A complete barbershop is available as well as Valet Service! |
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| A daintily furnished boudoir and lounge room, with a shower, provides for the feminine guest. A ladies' maid is available for a manicure! |
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| All about the Dining Car |
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| Seasonable delicacies, prepared in spotless kitchens and served at reasonable prices, are features of the menus on the Oriental Limited. |
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| All about the Observation Car |
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| Extra high windows make it possible to view, with the greatest ease, the diversified and beautiful scenery en route. |
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| Telephone service at terminals is but one of the many little conveniences that add to travel enjoyment. |
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| Splendid views along historic river highways are obtained from the Oriental Limited's deeply recessed rear platform. |
The reason we collect these old brochures is that we love trains, but more than that, we have a fascinating look back at the culture of these times. Just months after this brochure was published the Stock Market crashed in October, 1929. The Great Depression ensued and was not declared over until ten years later. So, we're curious how many people still made the trip across country or, even further, to Asia.
From the Journal ...
Third trip this summer to Volunteer Park Dalhia Garden ...
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| Bee at work! |
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| All of these dahlia photos taken on the morning of August 23rd 2016 |
If you like the dahlia photos, be sure to see our earlier posts on July 15th and August 5th.
Ships Spotted ...
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| First morning Ferry from Bainbridge Island enroute Seattle August 19th 5:38 AM |
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| Hyundai Container August 24th 7:33 AM |
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| August 24th 4:58 PM Afternoon sunshine turns the Sound into a sea of sparkles |
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| Afternoon Sailing on Puget Sound Afternoon of August 24th |
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| Bainbridge Ferry near entrance to Eagle Harbor August 25th 6:35 AM |
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| Luxury Yacht Tamsen The taller mast must be near 100' ... wow! August 25th 7:17 AM |
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| NYK Deneb August 25th 6:16 AM |
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| NYK Deneb Info from VesselFinder.com |
August Skies ...
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| Easy to see the smoke from forest fires in the Olympic Mountains in this sunset snap. August 19th 8:20 PM |
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| August 23rd 8:00 PM How do you like the clouds? |
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| August 24th 7:53 PM Sunset --- Olympic Mountains |
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| August 26th 8:17 PM Smoke from fires in the Olympic Mountains added to the colorful sunset. |
This will be our last post for August. We're taking a little end-of-summer break and will see you again in September. Thanks for stopping by John's Island.
