Super Chief vs California Zephyr - Classic Trains Magazine

From personal experience, I can say the food on both trains was excellent and served well.   I am not aware of any differences in the food served in the Turquose Room and that in the regular dining car, since the same menue and kitchen served for both.  In the 1950's, the CZ was better only because of the scenery, and both trains were clean, well maintained, comfortable, etc.  Perhaps the speed of the SC made up for the marvelous scenery of the CZ.   In the 1960's however, the CZ got a slightly threadbare and worn look, while the SC kept to a very high standard up through Amtrak and even for some months afterward.   Also timekeeping on the CZ became rather miserable, while again the SC kept mostly on time.   I still prefered the CZ, but only because of the marvelous scenery.   The CZ did continue to serve Rocky Mountain Trout in the diner between Denver and Salt Lake City, and that was tops for me for the food on both trains, but that was strictly personal preference, and others may have enjoyed a specialty of the SC more.   The french toast on both trains was terrific. but not featured at all breakfasts.   Crews remained helpful and friendly on both trains, but obviously the moral was better on the SC.   Note that the SC operated up to and through Amtrak.   In fact, the ONLY change I notice on the SC was the use of ABBBA F-units instead of two more modern passenger locomotives, after the Amtrak takeover on 1 May 1971.   But the CZ stopped running around 1 January 1969 (correct the date if you wish), and the replacement service required a change of trains in Ogden to the SP City of San Francisco with no Western Pacific passenger service.   The lounge-obs and diner ran only Salt Lake City.