[Attachment(s) from LZadnichek@aol.com included below]
June 16, 2015
Pete and Group - Attached is a brochure from 1937 describing Aeolus, the streamlined Class S-4-A No. 4000 that was protection power for the first Denver Zephyr. The last page ties-in with the how the Q named its stainless steel Zephyr fleet of passenger
cars. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 6/16/2015 2:54:04 P.M. Central Daylight Time, CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Burlington's Zephyrs Karl Zimmerman
Page 57: OVERNIGHTING BY Zephyr
The Denver Zephyr of 1936 was another pioneer among Zephyrs. It was the first overnight Zephyr and thus the first to carry sleeping cars. It was the first Zephyr with double-unit cab-booster (A and B units) locomotion.
IT INTRODUCED THE CONVENTION OF NAMING ALL CARS WITH THE PREFIX SILVER, SO APPROPRIATE FOR THESE TRAINS OF GLEAMING STAINLESS STEEL..
Page 61............Penultimate paragraph: The Silvery shine of that stainless steel was recognized FOR THE FIRST TIME in the naming of of the Denver Zephyr cars. ,
BEGINNING A TRADITION THAT WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF ZEPHYR BUILDING, which came in 1956 with the completion of the second edition of the Denver Zephyr. All the cars, including the power units (or more properly, locomotives in the case of the
Denver Zephyr and second Twin Zephyrs WOULD HAVE SILVER PREFIX NAMES.
Depending on whether you think Mr. Z has his facts straight, I think that the above offers the definitive answer to the origin of the Silver "moniker" which I've always thought was correct.
If you doubt Mr. Z I guess you'll have to look elsewhere
Pete