Fun ride offers customers appreciation

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad took a trip back in time Thursday night with a special dinner in a very special dining car.

The company imported the Silver Lariat, a restored Vista-Dome dining car built in 1948 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's California Zephyr service.

The event also featured a “customer appreciation” ride at lunch in addition to the public event in the evening, both of which ran from Santa Maria to Guadalupe and back. Along with the special car came a gourmet chef who prepared the meals in the Silver Lariat's fully equipped kitchen. Above, the dinner tables are set with white table cloths in the Vista-Dome of the California Zephyr passenger train, and at top, the train sits in the Santa Maria Train Depot. At right, guests board the train in Santa Maria for their special evening.

Nov. 10, 2006

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