Santa Fe Super Chief by Richardphotos

Photography • Transportation • posted on Aug 13, 2008

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Description

In 1947 the Super Chief began daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles, and in 1951 the train was entirely re-equipped with new cars. The Super Chief was an all-room, first class, extra-fare train that ran on the fastest 39 Â¾ hour schedule possible. Train number 17 was westbound, number 18 was eastbound. The latest cars purchased by the Santa Fe in 1950 and 1951 were preferred for the Super Chief, but cars were protected and supplemented by other new cars from the late 1940s. Santa Fe drew on all three major builders of light weight, stainless-steel cars: most of the cars for the 1937 and 1938 Super Chief came from Budd, Pullman Standard and Budd added cars in 1947 to make enough cars for daily service, and ACF and PS shared most of the construction of the 1951 Super Chief. The 1951 Super Chief had a basic consist, but some substitutions and addition of extra sleepers for summer and holiday periods did occur. Sleepers were usually the popular 4-bedroom/ 4-compartment/ 2-drawing-room or 10-roomette/ 6-bedroom types. Sectioned Pullman sleepers were very unpopular after the war. Cars during this time were owned by Santa Fe and labeled Santa Fe in the letterboards, but were operated by the Pullman company and had Pullman in smaller letters near the car doors. Most of the cars were initially delivered with side skirts. Later service crews removed them to gain easier access to battery boxes, brake cylinders, etc. Santa Fe purchased the F units (normally for freight service) with high-speed passenger gearing. The war-bonnet paint scheme, introduced on the first E units with the first Super Chief, indicates these are passenger engines. The B-units had steam generators for passenger car heat and air conditioning. The A-B-B-A set of F3s generated 6,000 horsepower. Kato makes F3 and F7 locomotives ready to run out of the box, but diaphragms or close couplers can be added. the local museum is restoring their huge collection for the move to a neighboring city Frisco The RPO cars of the type carried on the Super Chief were usually those built by Budd in 1940, or by ACF in 1947. The RPO is a 60’ car. The RPO space rented by the Post Office was either 30’ or 60’, thus there was no mail storage space in this car. Postal workers had to pass into the mail storage car to get and return bags of mail as they were processed. The RPO was switched into the Super Chief in Kansas City for mail work on the way to Los Angeles. A group of sleepers was in the consist in front of the central diner-lounge cars, and another group was behind. The basic consist leaving Chicago would have a 10-roomette/ 6-bedroom sleeper behind the storage mail car. On and just before weekends, a 4-bedroom/ 4-compartment/ 2-drawing-room sleeper would follow it. Then, in Kansas City, the RPO and another 10/6 would be cut in between the storage mail car and the first 10/6. The 10/6 sleepers were in the “Palm” series and were usually from a 13-car American Car and Foundry order from 1951. thanks for viewing and any comments.dedicated to who ever loves trains

Comments (105)

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allnaydi

11:05AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Great capture and background. Excellent work.

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hipps13

11:05AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

love trains wonderful capture, Richard warm hug with a smile, Linda

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photostar

11:13AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Georgous and colorful shot of this, Richard. Thanks, also for the informative narrative accompanying the photo.

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shadownet

11:14AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Now there's a train! What memories she most hold!

blackbeltbound

11:32AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

My Family all Love Trains and this is an excellent 3/4 view!!!!! Sante Fe is our favorite with Alaska Rails coming in 2nd.

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angelbearzs

11:39AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

that is great image :)

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Bampster

11:45AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Super shot---my grandson will love this picture!!!!!

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magnus073

11:58AM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Cool pic Richard and for someone who loves trains like myself it is a classic.

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annie5

12:02PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Very impressive shot and thanks for the info and sharing with us! :)

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brycek

12:04PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Fantastic capture Richard and wonderful information!!

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DarkStormCrow

12:20PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Excellent capture, well done...

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MarciaGomes

12:27PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

INCRIVEL FOTO MEU AMIGO FANTÁSTICA LOCOMOTIVA ESPLENDIDO ANGULO EU ADOREI OS DETALHES.++++++++++5

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loligagger

12:28PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

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Bossie_Boots

12:32PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Wow fantastic capture and thank you for the narative superb work hugs lou x

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clydedough

12:36PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

WOW o WOW...what a gorgepus machine, 51 is my year! Stunning sharp shot of this "lightweight stainless steel"(hehee) beauty. Thanks too for the interesting info bro!

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Kelena

12:55PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

fantastic!!!

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rainbows

1:01PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

A fine shot dear Richard. A superb vehicle. Hugs and kisses. Diane. xx

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DennisReed

1:09PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

Classic Train capture!

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drag

1:11PM | Wed, 13 August 2008

So shiny and brand spanking new looking. I love trains, grew up just a few house from the tracks. When I was in Kansas a couple years ago my dad took me to a train museum. My husband use to work for the railroad.

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