I don't think the Q and it's subsidiaries had set naming conventions for the prewar cars, with some exceptions. Certainly the 1936 DZ was the first train to which the Silver adjective was applied and only the second streamlined train -- the first being the Mark Twain Zephyr -- to which car names were applied. And the Silver reference may have been related to the fact that the train served Colorado, since the car names of the trains following, the second set of Twin Zephyrs, had a Greek diety theme. Certainly, while the non-articulated cars that followed were also of the Silver series, only the ones for the Mark Twain, Silver Streak, and Texas Zephyrs had themes to their naming, and those pertained to the train's name and service. The exception was the diners, but not the diner observation parlor cars. These had names pertaining to food service.
With the Vista-dome Twin Zephyrs, we begin to see theming based on car accommodations. Observation cars have names pertaining to places to observe (Silvers Lookout, Tower, Solarium, Penthouse, Veranda, Chateau), and panoramas (Vista, View, Horizon, Sky, Crescent, Planet). Buffet cars names pertain to lounges, buffets, or places to meet or have light meals (Lounge, Salon, Club, Roundup, Buffet, Shop, Hostel, Chalet) 10 roomette, 6 bedroom cars are named for geographical entities (Bay, Creek, Arroyo, Canyon, Ridge). 6 bedroom 5 compartment cars are named for birds (Crane, Swan, Pelican), all section cars for trees (Aspen, Pine, Larch, Cedar), etc. The exception seems to be coaches, for which names relate to the train, e.g. Ranching and western themes for CZ and 1956 DZ cars.
On May 30, 2015, at 12:45 AM, "'Rupert & Maureen'
gamlenz@ihug.co.nz [CBQ]" <
CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
I’ve been wondering about how the Burlington selected names for its “Silver” passenger equipment. Some names relate to the equipment’s function, such as Mail and Messenger for RPO’s, Chest and Treasure for baggage cars, Banquet and Grill for dining cars, Slumber and Siesta for sleeping cars. Some names are in groups such as the 1948 CZ trees (Larch, Maple, Pine) or the 1952 flowers (e.g. Gladiola, Hyacinth, Iris)
Others, though, seem to have been chosen completely at random. For example, the Denver Zephyr‘s 12 section sleeping cars were named State, Tip, Arrow, Skates, Screen and Tone Someone managed to come up with Grill and Service for dining cars, or Herald and Courier for RPO-baggage cars, but Skates for a sleeping car?
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ