'' was one of the Named Passenger Trains of the Atchison, Topeka And Santa Fe Railway , and second only to the '' Super Chief '' in terms of popularity and level of service provided. Its route ran from Chicago , Illinois to Los Angeles , California .
This all-coach, Streamlined train (assigned Nos. 21 & 22) began operations in February, 1938 in response to the Pennsylvania Railroad 's '' Trail Blazer '', which offered "low-cost passage with high-speed convenience." Originally conceived as the ''Economy Chief'', the name ''El Capitan'' was ultimately chosen to honor the Spanish Conquistadors and their influence on Southwestern culture. Santa Fe's extra-fare all-day coach train operated on ''Super Chief'' schedules and required the acquisition of two new Budd -built trains of five cars each out of Lightweight Stainless Steel . Each of the two luxury trains were capable of accommodating 188 passengers for a mere $5.00 upcharge over the price of a ticket on the ''Chief''.
''El Capitan'' was the first of Santa Fe's trains to utilize the "Big Dome "- Lounge cars and Double-decker "Hi-Level" Coach es developed by Budd in the early 1950s . These experimental units featured a quieter ride, increased seating capacities, and boasted better views of the Southwestern terrain ''El Cap'' passed through; it eventually became an all Hi-Level train.
Today the route formerly covered by ''El Capitan'' is served by Amtrak 's '' Southwest Chief ''. Many of Amtrak's trains (especially those in California) consist of a combination of refurbished former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars along with newer '' Superliner '' railcar designs. In recent years, four " Mothballed " ''El Capitan'' lounge cars were removed from storage, refurbished, and placed into service on Amtrak's '' Coast Starlight '' as "Pacific Parlour" first-class lounge cars. These refurbished cars feature a service bar, booths, and chairs on the upper level, and a Theater on the lower level.
" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on ''El Capitan''.]]
( Colorado side) on June 26 , 1938 .]]
The initial equipment roster (two separate "pocket streamliner" consists) was as follows:
- EMD E1 A Locomotives #5 – #6
- Baggage - Dormitory -"Chair" car / Coach (32 seats) #3480 – #3481
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats) #3103 – #3104
- Lunch Counter- Diner #3105 – #3106
- "Chair" car / Coach (52 seats for Women and Children) #3105 – #3106
- Round-end "Chair" car / Observation (50 seats) #3198 – #3199
A typical ''El Capitan'' consist in the late 1940s :
- EMD F3 A Locomotive #23L
- EMD F3B Locomotive #23A
- EMD F3B Locomotive #23B
- EMD F3A Locomotive #23C
- Baggage -Mail #3405
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2891
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2864
- Lunch Counter- Diner #1599
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2911
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2888
- Club- Lounge #1347
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2865
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2905
- Lunch Counter-Diner #1553
- "Chair" car / Coach (44 seats) #2876
- Round-end "Chair" car / Observation (38 seats) #3197
"-
Between 1954 and 1956 , ''El Cap'' ran with virtually the same consist as is shown immediately above, save for the "Big Dome "-Lounge that replaced the mid-train club-lounge car.
On July 15 , 1956 a new, "Hi-Level" streamliner consist debuted:
- EMD F7 A Locomotive #327L
- EMD F7B Locomotive #327A
- EMD F7B Locomotive #327B
- EMD F7B Locomotive #44A
- EMD F7A Locomotive #44L
- Baggage #3521
- Baggage- Dormitory "Transition Car" 3480
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (68 Seats) #536
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #714
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #722
- Hi-Level Diner (80 seats) #653
- Hi-Level "Top Of The Cap" Lounge (88 seats) #577
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #700
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #709
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #717
- Hi-Level "Chair" car (68 Seats) #529
Santa Fe purchased enough "Hi-Level" equipment to create six complete, nine-car consists. Additionally, six of the railroad's older baggage-dormitory cars had a largely-cosmetic Fairing applied to the rear roofline in order to create the distinctive "transition" cars and maintain a streamlined appearance on ''El Capitan''. The dining cars rode on special six-wheel trucks due to their massive weight (all other cars rode on conventional four-wheel trucks). The "Big Domes" were transferred to the '' Chief '' pool.
A typical ''El Capitan'' consist from the late 1960s (combined with the '' Super Chief ''):
- EMD FP45 Locomotive #104
- EMD FP45 Locomotive #101
sporting Santa Fe's classic ''Warbonnet'' paint scheme) pulls into Track 10 at Los Angeles' Union Passenger Terminal ( LAUPT ) on September 24 , 1966 .]]
- Baggage #3671
- Baggage #3553
- Baggage- Dormitory "Transition Car" #3478
- Hi-Level "Chair car" / Coach (68 Seats) #549
- Hi-Level "Chair car" / Coach (72 Seats) #731
- Hi-Level Diner (80 seats) #654
- Hi-Level Lounge (88 seats) #575
- Hi-Level "Chair car" / Coach (72 Seats) #725
- Hi-Level "Chair car" / Coach (68 Seats) #542
- Sleeper ''Pine Cove'' (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
- Sleeper ''Indian Mesa'' (11 double bedrooms)
- "Turquoise Room"-"Pleasure Dome "-Lounge #504
- Fred Harvey Diner #600 (48 seats)
- Sleeper ''Indian Flute'' (11 double bedrooms)
- Sleeper ''Palm Leaf'' (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
- 's low-cost, high-speed train the '' Trail Blazer ''.
- February 20 , 1938 : Operations commence with weekly excursions based on the same "over-the-road" time as the ''Super Chief.''
- October 12 , 1947 : ''El Capitan'' trains begin operating on an every-other-day basis.
- February 29 , 1948 : ''El Capitan'' begins its daily schedule between Chicago and Los Angeles.
- reintroduces its popular all-coach '' Challenger '' train, set to run on a 39-and-a-half hour schedule in order to compete directly with ''El Capitan''. The UP also announces that there will be no added fare for this train.
- . Locomotives #19L/A/B/C derail and burst into flames, causing seven cars (including #2865 and #2878) to leave the tracks.
- , and is subsequently struck by train No. 10 (the '' Kansas City Chief ''), traveling at 55 miles-per-hour. A general derailment ensues.
- Company unveils concepts for a double-decked coach based on similar commuter cars manufactured for the Chicago And North Western Railway and Burlington railroads. The Santa Fe plans to upgrade the cars on the '' Chief '' with the new design.
- December 14 , 1953 : The extra-fare charges are dropped from both ''El Capitan'' and the ''Chief''.
- March Company.
- July 1954 : Two experimental "Hi-Level" intercity coaches arrive and are placed directly on ''El Capitan'' instead of the ''Chief''. The railroad trial tests the units for over a year.
- March 25 , 1955 : The Santa Fe orders 47 Hi-Level cars (35 chair cars, 6 domed diners, and 6 full-length domes) from Budd, enough rolling stock to equip ''El Capitan'' on a daily basis with a few cars as spares, making it the first widespread use of such cars to over-the-road streamliners.
- along the " Surf Line Route" to promote its new "Hi-Level" cars.
- July 8 , 1956 : Hi-Level trains commence running, simultaneously, from both ends of the line. Ticket stubs bear the verbiage "''I traveled the HI-LEVEL Santa Fe way''" and "''Every seat is on the scenic HI-LEVEL.''"
- January 12 , 1957 : The ''Super Chief'' and ''El Capitan'' are combined into one train during the off-peak travel season on a 39½-hour schedule.
- June 18 , 1957 : Train No. 21 crosses over a loose tie plate while traveling at 79 miles-per-hour, causing the 8th and 9th cars to decouple; the rear section of the train then collides with the front section.
- February 1963 : Santa Fe orders an additional 24 Hi-Level chair cars, bringing the total inventory to 71 units (enough for a 12-unit consist per train).
- is formed and takes over operation of the nation's passenger service, thus ending the reign of ''El Capitan''. Amtrak retains the use of the '' Super Chief '' / ''El Cap'' names, with the Santa Fe's concurrence. Amtrak subsequently acquires a number of Santa Fe passenger cars, including the Hi-Level coaches; the revolutionary cars serve as the inspiration for Amtrak's '' Superliner '' fleet of coaches, sleepers, diners, and lounge cars in the late 1970s .
- 1973 : Amtrak drops the ''El Capitan'' designation.
''circa'' 1901 .]]
, near Lynn , New Mexico . Four EMD F3 units, led by engine #20, power the 11-car consist. The debut of the line's signature "Big Dome" and "Hi-Level" passenger cars is still four years off.]]
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