Life on El Capitan

[The Commodore]

Thanks for posting all the pictures.  They look great and from that era black and white shots look more natural. Never caught a train out West but, did travel a lot on Southern, Atlantic Coast Line, and Seaboard.

All the best.

[passengerfan]

Had the opportunity to explore the Hi-Level EL CAP when leaving Albuquerque westbound when it was combined with the SUPER CHIEF. I was travelling on the SUPER CHIEF and twice had tried to get up to the EL CAP and been stopped bot times so the porter suggested I get off with my ticket in Albuquerque while the train was serviced and accidently get on the EL CAP as we were departing.

One smart porter as I pulled it off and when I encountered the Conductor collecting tickets in the EL CAP he told me to keep walking until I came to the stairs going down at the end of the EL CAP section and get back on the SUPER. I did as he told me and got a chance to see the entire EL CAP except for the crew dormitory baggage car. I came away believing it was the best coach train in the US and still think so all these years later. I have rode the Superliners on many occasions in sleeper and quite honestly I even liked the old SUPER better. Maybe it was the train crews or Santa Fe it is difficult to explain but there was always something special about the Santa Fe trains.

Al - in - Stockton

[al-in-chgo]

 

     These reminiscences are wonderful!  Looks like ATSF's legendary kindness to customers extended to the coach level as well.  And riding up high must have been quite a privilege.  (Is it just me, or do the 1956-and-following Hi-Levels look an awful lot like today's Amtrak Superliners?) 

     Hopefully there will be more postings. . .  it's so wonderful to hear about those railroad companies who kept trying to retain and attract passengers up until the Amtrak takeover in 1971.  I haven't seen anything yet about El Cap's food service.  I'm guessing it wasn't the white-napery-full-dining experience, but don't know.  Could an adult get a drink?  Curious!  -  al-in-chgo 

 

 

 

 

[erikem]

al-in-chgo

    Is it just me, or do the 1956-and-following Hi-Levels look an awful lot like today's Amtrak Superliners?)  

You've got it backwards, the Amtrak Superliners look an awful lot like the El Cap Hi-Levels. The reason is that Amtrak was very pleased with the functioning of the Hi-Levels they got from the AT&SF and used the design of those cars as a starting point for the design of the superliners.

- Erik

[daveklepper]

Wherever and whenever the AT&SF operated a dining car, it was always excellent.  Sure the Super Chief was extra special, but all their diners had excellent service and excellent food.   In addition to the SC, I used them on the El Cap, the SF Chief, and the Texas Chief.  Never was dissapointed in the slightest respect.