This photo shows that the Daylight truly is a Coast Daylight, literally running on the beach. Diesel has replaced the steam-powered locomotives at the head of the train, but the distinctive red and orange of the Daylight remains the same.

In fact, Southern Pacific used steam power to pull its streamliners long after most of the other railroads had already switched to diesel locomotives.It wasn't until 1957 that Southern Pacific had given over entirely to diesel power.

This card was mailed to an airman at Sheppard AFB in Texas by his mother in August of 1960. It has an "S.F.S. Jose & L.A. RPO" postmark– mailed right from the train! A restaurant, bar, post office on board, and every seat a perfect view of the California Coast. Was there ever a better mode of overland travel?

By the way, they had a fine time in Los Angeles, and Al will be picking them up in San Francisco at 6 PM.

One more quick note: This postcard also illustrates one of the immutible laws of passing trains. If a train is rumbling through in the vicinity of people, the people will stop what they are doing to watch and wave at the train.

Here's another nice shot of the diesel-powered Daylight, riding at cliff's edge as the Pacific pounds the beach below. What a magnificent view– and what a way to travel.

And this streamliner doesn't just sneak a peek at the beach for a mile or two, and then slink back inland for the rest of the trip. No sir, this train runs on the edge of America for 113 miles– every one of them breathtaking.