San Francisco- Los Angeles train timetable.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — This Gun for Hire
vonhangman — 18 years ago(September 05, 2007 08:38 PM)
In the early 1940s, how long did it take to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles by train? I have never actually done the trip myself, so I don't know exactly how long it would take even nowadays, so even if someone could tell me that, that would be good. The movie gives the impression it was an overnight trip. I loved the train porter announcing the first service of breakfast by travelling the length of the train, playing the same three notes on the xylophone over and over.
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Mononoke-hime — 16 years ago(March 15, 2010 04:47 PM)
The Southern Pacific San Francisco Oakland Los Angeles route is 470 miles long.
The Southern Pacific "Lark" left the respective stations at about 9 pm for an overnight trip and arrived at 9 am. The "Lark" was an all-Pullman train.
In the film they use the Southern Pacific "Coaster", which also has chair cars in addition to sleepers. The "Coaster" was an overnight train, too.
That overnight trip isn't fast compared to todays standards, but you could have dinner, sleep and have breakfast.
Compare that to nowadays where you are hassled at airports! And scanned naked. Grrr.
Cheers
Mononoke-hime
(Actually, I think if you use Amtrak, it will take about 10 hours. But I am not sure.)