I am proud of the job Mr. Bernstein did for the Rio Grande dining car department.  The food was awesome.  That was an experience I will never forget!  We have lost a great man....Clear greens and RIP, Mr. Bernstein .,

BLESS YOUR HEART You KIND soul !!
I can not thank you enough for keeping
the "Rio Grande Zephyr" passenger running until April 1983 from Denver to Salt Lake City (and return to Denver).
Your TIRELESS efforts gave me and my generation a final chance to experience the truly "Golden Age" of passenger rail travel as a kid of about 10 years old.   When Amtrak took over the national passenger system I was about 3 years old.

Thank you so very--very--very much for KEEPING REAL PASSENGER TRAINS ALIVE for an extra 12 years after Amtrak was originally formed in 1971.  That left only your Denver and Rio Grande Western - “Rio Grande Zephyr” and the Southern Railway “Crescent” as the major non-Amtrak passenger trains through most of the 1970s.   I did not get the chance to ride the Southern Crescent so your “Rio Grande Zephyr” was my very LAST LINK to the truly GLORY DAYS of passenger trains in the United States. 

I will ALWAYS remember enjoying my Chicken Noodle Soup in the "Silver Banquet" dining car. I will ALWAYS remember fondly my Dome Car ride through the Moffat Tunnel with the AWESOME - FRONT WINDOW VIEW of that 6.2 Mile LONG Tunnel going westbound - WOW !!!

My Family and I were BLESSED to ride the Rio Grande Zephyr 2 times.
IN 1979 we rode from Denver to Salt Lake City and return to Denver on the RGZ.

For this 1979 trip my father was so very very kind to drive the family car from the SF Bay Area to Denver.   This allowed my mom, my brother and me to ride the Amtrak SFZ from Oakland to Denver and your DRGW Rio Grande Zephyr on a Denver to Salt Lake City to Denver vacation excursion trip.
Out family did this as part of a 3 week long vacation trip to the truly BEAUTIFUL Colorado Rockies area.  I just LOVED visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park then.

We were blessed to be able to ride the Union Pacific 8444 steam train excursions in this magical and special time period also. In 1978 we rode the UP 8444 from Denver CO  to Laramie WY and return.   In another year we rode the UP 8444 from Denver CO to Sterling CO (thru La Salle, CO).  sadly much of the Union Pacific trackage from La Salle  EAST to Sterling CO has now been removed.

In 1983 I remember that we rode some sort of "LAST Rio Grande Zephyr" excursion trip operated by the now late Dick Reynolds.  we started this trip by riding the Amtrak - 
"San Francisco Zephyr" from Oakland thru Reno--Ogden--Rawlins--Laramie--Denver.  At Denver we boarded your tri-weekly Rio Grande Zephyr train and rode to Salt Lake City.
My mom remembers that we were the NEXT to LAST train to pass THISTLE UT before that landslide disaster.

I believe that we took some sort of road transportation from Salt Lake City to Ogden to connect with the westbound Amtrak "San Francisco Zephyr" .  Sadly I do NOT remember anything about this segment of that 1983 trip. AT Ogden we of course boarded the Amtrak SFZ and returned westbound over Donner Pass to Oakland.

This early 1983 One Way trip from Denver to Salt Lake City was sadly our last ride on your most EXCELLENT Rio Grande Zephyr.

I will now close my memories by repeating my very HEARTFELT THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU for making my vacation memories so very special in those very special years of the late 1970s and early 1980s .
 ---- Daniel

Mr. Bernstein was the classiest person I've met and always an exemplar professional.  I'm proud to have known Mr. B and to have learned from him, he will be missed.

Mr. Bernstein, You are now at your final station!!!!!!

Leonard Bernstein was a Good Person Real Joy to Work with and know God Bless and Best Wishes May you hold Dear all the Loving Memories

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Memories of the great passenger trains are a legendary part of America's heritage. The California Zephyr was one of the greatest, due to the effort and talent of railroaders like Leonard Bernstein, who faithfully served travelers on that train from its first trip until its last.

He continued to uphold the fine service on board the successor Rio Grande Zephyr, giving it a world famous reputation as described on the front page of the November 20, 1981, Wall Street Journal. Leonard was on hand to christen the Amtrak California Zephyr prior to its inaugural trip through the Colorado Rockies.

After his retirement, he became a loyal supporter of the Colorado Railroad Museum. We will remember him as a friend and as a courteous gentleman of the old school.

Charles Albi, Director Emeritus
Colorado Railroad Museum

OBITUARY

Leonard Joseph Bernstein

September 22, 1916 – January 4, 2012

Swan-Law Funeral Directors

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