Hey,
Everyone I didn't answer the Southern Pacific post on being the 7th railroad being involved with the California Zephyr. I do have the book Portrait of a Silver Lady and I knew about the pictures that were pointed out on page 300 of a 4-6-0 SP helper on the front of the CZ along with a SP F-unit Black Widow on the point of the CZ as well. I didn't consider this another railroad involved with the CZ because they were detours and I still haven't found where SP was a friendly participant like the 6 railroad previously mentioned. This is partially explained in the next paragraph. If anyone wants the full document of where I got this send me an e-mail with your address and I'll send it to you free of charge.
Although railroads have a long history of competition, they decided long ago that it made sense to cooperate in times of crisis. To provide a contractual framework for such cooperation, the American Railway Association in 1905 adopted a "Standard Form for Detour Agreement" which railroads could sign to govern emergency operations over each others' lines. Though modified over the years, this modest document, printed on both sides of a single sheet of legal-size paper, continues to control most detour movements today.
This is not meant to insult SP fans as I'm one as well but to clarify why in my original answer SP wasn't included. Again thanks everyone for your participation in this successful endeavor.
Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company
