Santa Fe Super Chief, 1948-1951

Fred Klein, 2015, 2016

The lightweight Super Chiefs of 1937 and 1938 introduced a high level of first class all-Pullman service between Chicago and Los Angeles. But the weekly, then twice weekly schedule was not enough to satisfy demand. Additional trains were added as new cars became available and were reassigned from other trains until service every other day was started in 1946. It was not until post-war car production resumed that Pullman Standard could deliver a flock of new streamlined cars in 1948. Then Santa Fe could support daily service with five trainsets. The train modeled below is an example of a 1948 train. In 1951 the trains were completely re-equipped and included Santa Fe’s first dome car. Pictures of the Super Chief taken before 1951 do not have the dome car. The Super Chief was all Pullman (no coaches) and extra fare. The sleeper cars during the war and before had Pullman in the letterboard. Pullman Standard was forced to divest its sleeper car business in 1948 and sold its cars to the host railroads, so Santa Fe carried its name in the letterboard instead of Pullman. Pullman then operated the sleepers under contract with its own attendants.

 

A super chief led by four F3 diesels circa 1948.

 

The super chief in Raton Pass New Mexico in 1946. A pair of E7s, which are under-powered for mountain service, are helped by a Texas type 2-10-4 number 5000 in full steam up the grade. The 1948 train appearance is very similar to this 1946 photo.

 

The super chief west of Trinidad Colorado on September 1, 1946. Power is a quartet of FTs in warbonnet paint. Otto Perry photo.

 

The cars in this model train are from various sources including brass cars and brass car sides applied to plastic car bodies. Some cars are available factory made in plastic (Regal and Vista series for example), and some cars must be assembled from brass sides (Blue series). Model car substitutions can readily be made because every train was not identical. The consist of this 1948-1951 train is from the Super Chief Wikipedia page and should be “typical” for 1948.

 

 

 

Diesel power and head end cars

 

The F3 diesels are Kato models and provide more than enough power for the train. The baggage car for a 1947 prototype is made from brass sides applied to a plastic car body. The buffet lounge car is similar to the one in the original consist, but does not have a baggage compartment of its own. The lounge car is a plated Pecos River brass model.

 

First sleeper section

 

The first sleepers are a pair of 10-roomette 3-compartment 3-double bedroom cars in the Blue series. The prototype cars were made in 1948. The models have brass car sides attached to plastic car bodies. Next is a 4-compartment 2-drawing room 4-bedroom car in the Regal series. This is a Pecos River brass model, though plastic Regal cars are also made by Kato.

 

Lounge, diner, and more sleepers

 

The lounge and diner cars were in the center of the train. The prototype train had a dormitory-club-lounge car #1392, but I only have a model of the club-lounge car #1389. Without dorm space, the dining car crew would have to share space with the revenue passengers, but I do not know if this was ever done. The model diner is similar to the prototype diner, but has more seats. The lounge and diner are Pecos River brass models. The next two Regal series 4-2-4 sleeper models are old Des Plaines Hobbies kits with brass car sides.

 

The round-end parlor-observation lounge car is a Pecos River brass model.

 

   

 

REFERENCES

Randall, David, From Zephyr to Amtrak, Prototype Publications, 1972.

Repp, Stan, The Superchief; Train of the Stars, Golden West Books, 1980.

Wayner, Robert, Car Names, Numbers and Consists, Wayner Publications, 1972.

Zimmermann, Karl, Santa Fe Streamliners; the Chief and their Tribesmen, Quadrant Press, 1987.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Chief

 

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