Does anyone remember the lovely hostesses on the Amtrak silver service trains from New York to Miami and Tampa? They were great. I met one of my fiancee's that way. They would give a fashion show, hold Bingo games, play with the kids, etc. all in the club cars. What a shame that it's no more. They originally were on the payroll of the Seabord Railroad.
Posted by panamaclipper (Member # 3058) on :
Sounds like the Zephyrettes on the old CZ.
Posted by JFB (Member # 2520) on :
I didn't realize Seaboard's famous hostesses lasted into the Amtrak era. When did they last ride?
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
There was also the "Stewardess-Nurse Service" on the Northern Pacific. They wore airline-like uniforms and caps. In the radio/tv ads they would say "Here comes Sue, the Stewardess-Nurse! Whaddya say Sue?" I was too young to pick up any fiancees though.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
I have been riding AMTRAK almost since its beginnings back in the early 70's, and I don't remember the hostesses on Silver Service. Of course I didn't ride the Silver Service trains much back then, since I was living in Michigan and not Florida, where I am now.
I do remember one trip on one of the Silver Service trains, where I seem to recall they had a "coach" diner and a separate "first class" diner -- I believe the "coach" diner was a "lunch-buffet" car, where you sat at a long table, kind of like in an old-fashioned country diner, with the servers behind the counter. I also believe they may have had a piano player on one of those trains...????
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
I think the last hostesses on Amtrak silver service trains were in 1973. My then fiancee Teresa (an Amtrak hostess) worked last when let-go, I think, in late 1973. They wore red stewardess-like uniforms. She then took a job with Delta Airlines as a stewardess.