Exit Corduroy Frog .... Enter Golden Rocket!
...don't worry, there's still a little amphibian in the rocket.
But like the Frog, the story of the "Golden Rocket" ties to an enigmatic
ill-fated attempt at prosperity.
Probably only grizzled veterans remember the story of the Golden Rocket.
Old fogeys like me n' Black Bart and Joe Bftysttk. In the 1940s, the Southern
Pacific RR had a state-of-the-art route from Chicago to L.A, and called it
the "Golden State" after its California destination.
The presitigious midwest railroad, the Rock Island, and the Southern Pacific
decided to collaborate on a passenger train, the likes of which the world had
never seen. Golden (after the existing route) and Rocket (after Rock Island).
In the late 40s, the two railroads inundated radio and magazines with slick
commercials. All cars were Pullman plus, and food was to be catered afresh
from various stops along the way. The distance was to be covered in 40 hours.
All cars on the Golden Rocket were to be painted with Red on the top half,
like all Southern Pacific passenger trains, and golden hue on the bottom. The
entire nation awaited the unveiling of the Golden Rocket. New singing sensation,
Hank Snow from Canada, released a hit song "Golden Rocket" which the
promoters thought they were synchronizing with the maiden voyage. In the
mid-50s, Oldsmobile transformed its model Rocket 88, into a futuristic "Golden
Rocket" for display in auto shows around the world.
Mysteriously, the Southern Pacific pulled out of the joint venture. The "official"
reason was a vague I.C.C. ruling, but there was considerable speculation about
the real reason. It is known that after the schism, the SP poured hordes of
dollars into its existing "Golden State" route, and continued to advertise that
its goal was to reduce the journey to 40 hours.
The Southern Pacific RR no longer exists, neither does the Rock Island.
For that matter, Hank Snow died a few years ago, after releasing a number
of well-known songs over the course of his lifetime.
Many of the old magazine advertisements for the "Golden Rocket" can be found
on the internet, as well as the lyrics for Hank Snow's song. I actually heard his
song on old-time radio program a few weeks ago.
Any resemblance between myself and the Golden Rocket is a coincidence.
For those of you reading through this to find anything relevant to taxes, be
patient. I'll be around for awhile..
If you decide to reply with a post, please stay on-topic. This is a tax forum.
...don't worry, there's still a little amphibian in the rocket.
But like the Frog, the story of the "Golden Rocket" ties to an enigmatic
ill-fated attempt at prosperity.
Probably only grizzled veterans remember the story of the Golden Rocket.
Old fogeys like me n' Black Bart and Joe Bftysttk. In the 1940s, the Southern
Pacific RR had a state-of-the-art route from Chicago to L.A, and called it
the "Golden State" after its California destination.
The presitigious midwest railroad, the Rock Island, and the Southern Pacific
decided to collaborate on a passenger train, the likes of which the world had
never seen. Golden (after the existing route) and Rocket (after Rock Island).
In the late 40s, the two railroads inundated radio and magazines with slick
commercials. All cars were Pullman plus, and food was to be catered afresh
from various stops along the way. The distance was to be covered in 40 hours.
All cars on the Golden Rocket were to be painted with Red on the top half,
like all Southern Pacific passenger trains, and golden hue on the bottom. The
entire nation awaited the unveiling of the Golden Rocket. New singing sensation,
Hank Snow from Canada, released a hit song "Golden Rocket" which the
promoters thought they were synchronizing with the maiden voyage. In the
mid-50s, Oldsmobile transformed its model Rocket 88, into a futuristic "Golden
Rocket" for display in auto shows around the world.
Mysteriously, the Southern Pacific pulled out of the joint venture. The "official"
reason was a vague I.C.C. ruling, but there was considerable speculation about
the real reason. It is known that after the schism, the SP poured hordes of
dollars into its existing "Golden State" route, and continued to advertise that
its goal was to reduce the journey to 40 hours.
The Southern Pacific RR no longer exists, neither does the Rock Island.
For that matter, Hank Snow died a few years ago, after releasing a number
of well-known songs over the course of his lifetime.
Many of the old magazine advertisements for the "Golden Rocket" can be found
on the internet, as well as the lyrics for Hank Snow's song. I actually heard his
song on old-time radio program a few weeks ago.
Any resemblance between myself and the Golden Rocket is a coincidence.
For those of you reading through this to find anything relevant to taxes, be
patient. I'll be around for awhile..
If you decide to reply with a post, please stay on-topic. This is a tax forum.
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