The Pioneer Zephyr is a name that has become synonymous with the word "Streamliner: and needs no introduction. Almost all railfans the world over instantly recognize the name. While the Union Pacific was running their M-10000 "Streamliner" some months before the Zephyr was put into service in May of 1934, the Zephyr stole the public relations show and is better-known and more widely remembered than the UP's M-10000.

The Zephyr's distinctive nose began making the newspapers and newsreels. As a symbol, the train had a distinctiveness, a sleekness, an "image" if you will, that made it easy for the pulbic to identity. When it made ists record breaking 1015 mile run on May 26th from Denver to Chicago,it gained even more PR. It traversed the 1015 miles non-stop in 13 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds to arrive at the Opening of the Century of Progress Exposition.

It was one of the biggest attractions at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago during the summer of 1934. Before it went into regular service in the Fall of 1934, it was taken on tour. During 1934 it traveled to over 220 different American cities and was toured by over 2 million People.