GOLDEN AGE OF RAILROAD TRAVEL
See California on Southern Pacific’s Daylight Limited. Circa 1928.
This 1928 travel poster, painted by Maurice Logan, promotes travel on the Southern Pacific Daylight Limited train and features scenery from California.
Southern Pacific was famous for its California passenger trains, most notably the Daylights between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The train ran on Southern Pacific's coastline tracks which was considered to be the most beautiful route of all their passenger trains.
Weekend-only rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles was initiated in 1922, and by 1923, became a daily service. To make the most of the scenery, two-thirds of the train's observation car was open-air.
As early as 1923, Maurice began designing posters for the Southern Pacific Railway. By the late 1920’s, Logan’s palette increasingly emphasized the brilliant colors emblematic of the California landscape. He made increasing use of the impasto technique, applying heavy, textured swirls and strokes of oil paint to achieve depth and contrast.
Founded in 1865, the Southern Pacific Railway played a pivotal role in shaping California’s development. It connected rural towns to major urban centers, allowing farmers and businesses to transport goods more efficiently. The railroad also encouraged the growth of tourism, bringing visitors from all over the country to explore California’s natural beauty, such as Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Coast.
The Southern Pacific Railway used travel posters more than other railroads for advertising. As the 1920s progressed, Southern Pacific management gradually came to the realization that their line's advertising would be more effective if it focused on a single memorable theme … California's romantic appeal.
The Original Vintage Poster which hangs in the Buffalo River library, has been archivally scanned and enhanced. We offer this Museum Quality Giclée Reproduction Print.
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