A Summer Trip on the Rails

The California Zephyr train route serves as a lens for examining the intersection of railroad history, labor rights, and California’s agricultural development. Once a symbol of luxury, dining on the rails relied heavily on the labor of Black porters and stewards, who faced systemic racism while simultaneously building a foundation for the Civil Rights Movement through the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Beyond labor, the expansion of the transcontinental railroad transformed California into an agricultural powerhouse, enabling the rapid transport of produce like oranges via refrigerated cars. This infrastructure not only connected remote regions but also fueled the state's economic growth and fostered a romanticized image of the "Golden State." Today, the train remains a unique vantage point for witnessing both the breathtaking landscape and the complex legacy of exploitation and innovation that defined the American West.