In the years following World War II, passenger trains on the CPR consisted of a mixture of prewar heavyweight and pre- and post-war lightweight cars, even on its flagship transcontinental "The Dominion" and its eastern extension, "The Atlantic Limited". While these cars were serviceable, American trains of the early 1950s, such as the "California Zephyr", had already adopted streamlined all-stainless steel consists featuring domed observation cars. Following an evaluation in 1949 of the dome cars featured on the General Motors / Pullman Standard demonstrator "Train of Tomorrow", CPR management, including then Vice President Norris Crump, resolved to upgrade its rolling stock.