The Pioneer Zephyr

Rating:
Summary: THE PIONEER ZEPHYR By R. W. Rediske
Review: A Review
By E.L. Nelson

On May 26, 1934 a new and elegant passenger train set out on a "dawn to dusk dash" from the Denver Union Station in Colorado to the Halstedt Street Station in Chicago Illinois. Seeking to set a new speed record, the Pioneer Zephyr, made the 1117 mile trip in a record time of 17l2 hours. More importantly, it ushered in a new era of railroad passenger service that was to continue for decades.

It is probable that the only person alive who made that historic trip is the author of this fascinating book. As the thirteen year old son of a Burlington Railroad executive, he was to spend the entire trip in the engine room of this remarkable train. For the author, this childhood experience left an indelible record of the people and events leading up to this trip. In telling the story of The Zephyr, he relates the detail in a vivid and natural style. The book features many photographs and images that allow the reader to gain an insight into the background of this story. If you are a railroad buff, you must have a copy of this book in your library.

Rating:
Summary: Only For The Completist
Review: Author Rediske obviously has first-hand experience and lots of facts about the CB&Q's 1934 Pioneer Zephyr. Unfortunately, what he doesn't have is the literary skill to pen a worthy book. This volume should be purchased ONLY by the railfan who MUST have every written word about the first diesel-powered, stainless steel streamliner. For everyone else, there must be a better reference book.

I received this volume as a gift although I desired it and asked for it sight unseen. Had I examined a copy first, I would not have wanted it. The cover illustration is wonderful, but don't expect that crisp detail within the book. Photographic reproduction quality is much less than what is acceptable today. It isn't that the pictures are old (after all, many were taken seventy years ago), it's that they appear as fuzzy, gray-and-white images, not sharp black-and-white photos. Where the author has included vintage articles, menus, etc, they, too, are nearly impossible to read.

My criticism is not limited to the book's production quality. The writer's lack of skill in forming complete sentences is without compare.

If I was to reproduce every incomplete sentence in the book, I would have a volume almost as long as his effort.

I began reading these constant mistakes to my wife one evening: "Comments made concerning the Colorado Burro that eventually made the trip on this train." "Undoubtedly a decision predicated on specifications real or not understood." As an example, there are a total of fifteen "sentences" on page 66. Of these, five are incomplete. In fact, one entire paragraph has not a single complete sentence within it. That's just on ONE page.

One of the book's clever features is a box on many pages of "Railroad Workers Jargon" with interesting phrases and their definitions. They begin on page one and occur sporadically. Unfortunately, the terms on page seventeen are repeated on page twenty-one. This repetition continues throughout the book.

Repetition within the book's thin text is a problem, too, as the author makes a point, or shares an interesting fact, and then repeats it again and again.

To be sure, author Rediske has much interesting information and a first-person experience with the famous Zephyr. What he needs is a competent author ---or, at least, an editor--- to make this book readable.

I suspect this was a vanity press publication as I cannot imagine any bonafide publisher accepting this woeful manuscript and releasing it without major revision.

There are other books about the Burlington's incredible train. ANY of them would be a better choice than this poor effort.