It all started with a plain, Manila envelope, complete with old-fashioned, typewritten label. “What is this?” Maria asked, a tad concerned.
Inside, a letter from “Deputy Chief of Police W.H. Parker,” dated June 1, 1949 and on City of Los Angeles stationery (Fletcher Bowron, mayor. Phone number MIchigan 5211.), suggested that we help apprehend a criminal at Union Station. An enclosed invitation from Southern Pacific Lines also invited us to the inauguration of their newest Pullman Club-Lounge car, the Overland Trail.
A third piece of information detailed the State Prison of Southern Michigan escapee: A Detroit farm laborer who looked suspiciously like historic preservationist — and Los Angeles magazine associate editor — Chris Nichols.
Of course, Chris emailed us a few days ago to get our address, so it didn’t actually take us long to figure it out. But nonetheless, with an invite this cool and this elaborate, it called for a baby sitter. We were heading to Union Station — yep, the scene of our wedding more than five years ago — to help celebrate Chris’ birthday.
We actually didn’t finally commit to doing so until the day of the party. (Getting a sitter is such an ordeal, we hemmed and hawed until finally deciding we should.) As a result, we didn’t have any time to find actual 1940s style wear, as the invite subtly suggested. I wound up wearing a suit, and Maria a nice dress, and I think we did OK.
Whatta well thought-out party. We parked at the MTA tower and walked behind Union Station and up a ramp, past the Mosaic apartments and the old Post Office building to find several old, lovingly restored Pullman cars. Turns out there are several private railcars parked near Union Station and available to be rented for events, including the Overland Trail.
Classic cars greeted us, and we were soon walking between parked Pullman train cars, and eventually found ourselves in line for…
… Philippe’s dip sandwiches. Damn, I told you Chris thought of everything. As you may have read, I’ve been jonesing for a Philippe’s lately — so how perfect was this?
The Overland Trail was crowded with folk, mostly in the proper 1940s wear. Someone chastised me for using a digital camera — not quite in the spirit of the era. But I saw plenty of people taking cell cam shots, so I was pretty discreet in comparison.
Highlights on the Overland included an actual barber cutting hair in the train’s mini barber shop. Gotta wonder how many bloody nicks and scratches resulted from actual on-board train haircuts through the years.
Meanwhile, the other rental train car, the Tioga Pass, was once a sleeper car. Among the highlights:
Bunk beds! and
Shower!
Thanks to Chris for the invite. We had an awesome time, and even ran into a few familiar faces, including Eating L.A.’s (and oh yeah, Variety’s) Pat Saperstein.
