The National Old Trail

Before Route 66, there was the Santa Fe Railway, and before the Santa Fe Railway was the National Old Trails Road. 

You see as you study the history of our nation, you will find that over and over again their are very few routes cut direct from the wilderness, and most tend to be built and rebuilt on, or near each other over and over. The National Old Trails Road itself essentially followed pre-existing trails from the pioneer era such as the Santa Fe Trail, and the National Road. 

The Santa Fe Railway does not follow the National Old Trail directly, since its main routes like those of the California Limited and later the Super Chief started their westward trek in Chicago. These trains would finally catch up with the National Old Trail near Kansas City, MO and follow it closely to Los Angeles. 

Route 66 travels the National Old Trail in a both direct and indirect way. Route 66 like the Santa Fe's premier passenger liners started its westward trip in Chicago. For the most part Route 66 and  the Santa Fe crisscross each other between Cicero and Joliet, IL, when the finally go their separate directions meeting up again in Las Vegas, NM or Albuquerque, NM depending on the alignment of Route 66 at the time. 

Route 66 catches up with the National

Old Trail in St. Louis, MO. However, a Route 66 breaks southwest after St. Louis, as to where the National Old Trail continues west. Route 66 meets up again with the National Old Trail in either   Las Vegas, NM or Albuquerque, NM, the the latter indicating one of the later alignments of Route 66 in which Las Vegas, and Santa Fe, NM where bypassed. 

The National Old Trail and Santa Fe Trail basically served as templates for both the Santa Fe Railway, and Route 66. Part of the reason is because this southern route allows travel from the Easts last big city to the west coast through terrain that is devoid of the mountainous terrain found further north, terrain that was taxing on locomotives, cars, and particularly travelers. 

If you study old trails you will find this type of planning common. Look at the way the Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail,Transcontinental  Railway route, Lincoln Highway, US 30, and now modern I-80 all follow along the same basic path and terrain. This is a perfect example of how terrain and primitive trails can dictate travel, and interstate commerce, as is what we see with the routes predating Route 66, and Santa Fe.   

Vintage Trailers on Route 66

Route 66 is, and forever will be associated with vintage automobiles. But there are times when we truly forget about the other types of transportation that once you should travel the route. By this I mean semi trucks and also Classic RVs and travel trailers.

When we think about the 1950s and classic travel trailers I think we often call to mind the Lucille Ball movie the Long, Long, Trailer. The movie doesn't actually take place on Route 66 or even anywhere near it outside of being in the general Los Angeles area. But there are definitely some very classic images of the 1950s and of cars and of travel trailers and just of a general way of living.

When it comes to the topic of travel trailers though we need to keep in mind that there was a wide variety of travel trailers in the 1950s just as there are now. Travel trailers back then though were definitely unique and considering the era definitely had a 50s look and feel to them. Often the travel trailers came in unique colors with unique interiors often very bright and cheerful. Not exactly what you see today in modern travel trailers which tend to be very simple looking and even uncomfortable. Travel trailers of the late 40s to early 60s came with bright blues, reds, yellows on the exteriors and interiors that had classic looking refrigerators and stoves on the inside places for cute little pieces of art, And all those special little touches indicative of the era.

Traveling the route nowadays I sincerely doubt that she will see any vintage traveler Trailers on the route with you. But don't give up hope yet. There is actually a special rendezvous that takes place every year sponsored by the Southwest Vintage Camper Association, specifically for showing off vintage trailers. 

Although this years event will take place in Canon City, Colorado the association openly serves Route 66 through the Southwest and has had rendezvous's in the past in Albuquerque. 

Check out there Facebook page for information and upcoming events. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southwest-Vintage-Camper-Association/203089096378304

With all the really cool motels and hotels on route 66 I think we often forget that many families used to actually camp along the route some in tents, and some in RVs or in travel trailers like those you will see on the Associations page, and elsewhere.

 There are still many places to camp along route 66 both in the traditional tent form and also in the RV form it is just a matter of looking for such places, since I would strongly suggest against sleeping in an open field as they used to in the past. You can find state parks and KOA's, as well as other private camping grounds.

No matter what your accommodations are or where you choose to stay you still have to admit spending part of your time sleeping in a vintage trailer along the route does sound intriguing. So go ahead and check out the Southwest Vintage Trailer Association if that interests you as well.