Interesting Donovan. Perhaps David P. Morgan, who had a soft spot in his heart for Espee, was overlooking the equipment and service flaws. Harry Stegmaier wrote a book about the SP a few years back, and remarked that even after the triple unit "Cascade Club" diner-kitchen-lounge cars were retired in 1968 the Cascade was still a pretty decent operation, worth riding, and often sold out or close to it, at least with respect to sleeping car accommodations. My only first hand knowledge of the Cascade goes back to 1963, when I was only 5 years old and thrilled just to be on any kind of train trip. So I'll defer to your recall.