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Santa Fe Division Superintendent's Cars
Santa Fe had 18 short (52') observation style cars which served Division Superintendents. The best discussion will be found in Passenger Train Equipment of the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe, Volume 2, Business and Special Purpose Cars, 1975, by Frank M. Ellington and Joseph W. Shine.
The cars were numbers
These cars were rebuilt several times, so photos are needed to model a specific car. Air conditioning was inconsistent on these cars as can be seen on the assignment lists below. Also they wore a variety of paint schemes, including the shadowlined scheme.
Cars 400-403 and 422-425 are 60'4" over buffers. 404-409 and 426-429 are 61.6." Cars 400, 403-406, 422, 425-429 received package type air conditioning between 1953 and 1958. Cars 400, 422, 425, 427, 429 were retired from the passenger roster in 1960. All were originally painted standard green with black roofs but in later years their roofs were painted aluminum to reflect the heat. The only one to receive roller bearing trucks, solid observation platform railing and shadowlined sides was 406. (by Joe Shine). Robert Darwin reports that 7 of the cars received shadowlining and five were ultimately converted to Foreman cars for MOW service and numbered 194008-194012 with solid silver paint.
Hallmark produced a model of these cars in 1985 in brass and Walthers had a metal side kit (#6663/7863) in the 60s. Coach Yard has announced models for 2006.
The Hallmark model was reviews in the March/April 1985 issue of the Santa Fe Modeler. The model is of car # 400. The brake cylinder, roof vents, car end steps are undersize castings. The roof mounted expansion tank is also undersized. The underbody is largely void of details. The cast trucks are 8'9" instead of 9'.
Car assignments can be found on Russell Crump's Website:
The book, Watching the Trains Go By by Harry J. Briscoe, published by the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society, has some interesting information on the use of these cars. Briscoe writes of 1937, "In those days every Division Superintendent was provided with a business, or office, car. Santa Fe's were the 400 series, having a master bedroom and a secretary's room. Here was the real reason for the widespread use of male secretaries. The Superintendent visited all parts of his territory by placing his business car on the rear of the train, either passenger local, or short through freight. While seated at his desk in the small living room at the rear he could look out through the rear window and observe every portion of his division. He could have other division officers accompany him and discuss track conditions, bridges, drainage, weeds, fences, etc. When meeting trains, or passing through yards he could observe the compliance with the various operating rules on the part of train service or station employees. The crew consisted of a cook who was also the porter and housekeeper. The Superintendent and his secretary slept on the car in small staterooms as did the cook-porter in his own quarters. A mail bag was sent from headquarters on another train, which would be picked up by the secretary and the mail would be "worked" during the evening hours. Then the secretary would take the bag to the depot to be returned to the office on the next available train. The dining room area in the middle of the car had a small desk that held a fold-down typewriter well. Any dictated correspondence would be typed by the secretary either while the car was stationary or moving. Should it be necessary to send a telegram, all secretaries took pride in their ability to roll the telegram in a tight funnel shape, weigh the point end with a paper clip, and throw it off the rear platform of the fast-moving train, landing it at the foot of the operator, who was required to be on the platform inspecting the train as it passed." (page 11-12) He reports that 409 was the Superintendents car at Slaton in 1937, and was the Wellington car in 1959.
In 1959, the 409 was in coach green with a silver roof, now air conditioned as Briscoe wrote of Wellington. In 1962 he became Superintendent of the Eastern Division in Emporia. Since his family was unable to join him until school was out, he lived on car 404 which was usually parked in front of the depot until his family could join him. Briscoe further writes concerning 1968, "Periodically it was my custom to put business car 404 on the rear of our local passenger train No. 4 and go to Kansas City Union Station via the Second District, taking along the Division Engineer... We would check the riding qualities of the track, inspect the right of way, and observe freight train traffic. It occurred to me that Mr. (W. L.) White (Editor, Emporia Gazette, son of famed William Allen White) might enjoy such a trip, so I invited him. He readily accepted. No. 4 was scheduled to leave Emporia just before noon so we had opportunity for a nice lunch before we were placed on the rear of the train.... We were to return that same afternoon on the rear of No. 11, which used the First District through Lawrence and Topeka, so this trip allows us a fast look at all of our main line operations.... By great coincidence, this was the last trip for the business car. Shortly thereafter the Superintendent's business cars were discontinued and were replaced by a high Rail automobile." (p. 112)
404 was sold in 1969 and ended up at a museum in San Antonio. 409 was sold to the Yreka Western RR in February, 1966. Most of the cars was sold in 1968-71.
Click below to see photos of some of these cars which have been preserved.
