Santa Fe- El Capitan?

[Sunset Limited]

Can somebody refresh my memory on those Santa Fe boxcars of the 40'& 50's that had the 'El Capitan' logo on them. Was this one of Santa Fe's route to the city of Capitan New Mexico or the Sierra Blanca montains which overlooked the Capitan peak? Or was it something else.

Thanks for you input!

[Anonymous]

The slogans advertised the Santa Fe's "El Capitan" all-coach Chicago - Los Angeles streamliner. The train's drumhead depicted a Spanish Conquistador, complete with polished, visored helmet

According to Karl Zimmermann's "Santa Fe Streamliners: The Chiefs and Their Tribesmen", the name was selected in preference to "Economy Chief", "Little Chief", "Conquistador", "Paramount", and several others.

The best-known El Capitan is the rock formation in Yosemite National Park, a site which was not served by the Santa Fe or any other railroad.

[Sunset Limited]

Thanks for the information fiverings! I always liked those Santa Fe boxcars.

[passengerfan]

The El Capitan was one of the few extra fare coach streamliners in the Unitesd States. The two five car streamliners with a passenger capacity of 186 were inaugurated in February 1938 operated on the same fast 39-3/4 hour schedule as the Super Chief. between Chicago and Los Angeles. Originally assigned an E1A for power The Budd consists consisted of a Baggage Crew Dorm 32-seat Coach followed by a 52 seat coach trailed by a 14-seat Lunch Counter 24-seat Dining Car, Another 52-seat Coach and finally a 50 seat Coach Observation.
After WW II the Santa Fe made the EL CAPITAN daily trains with 14 cars per consists with passenger capacity of 392 or 390 for two of the six consists. Full length domes replaced the mid-train lounge cars in 1954.
The Santa Fe EL CAPITANs became Americas first hi-level trains in 1956 and each 11 car consist had a capacity of 496 passengers and became the finest all Coach extra fare streamliners ever built. When most railroads were discontinuing trains the Santa fe was stiull purchasing the finest equipment available. New Hi-Levels were purchased in 1962-64 and that completed the EL CAPITAN purchases. The EL Capitan ran combined with the SUPER CHIEF except during peak travel periods beginning in 1959. But the Hi-Level EL CAPIATAN and SUPER CHIEF might as well been two trains as passengers from one were never allowed access to the other.