I Have heard that sometime before the hi-level El Capitan came out, Santa Fe sent the new budd cars (sporting a "san Francisco chief" drumhead) up into the tehachapis as a demonstration, to show off the new equipment. It had to be a special because the SFC never ran with hi-levels on the end, that I know of.
I have also seen a picture of this train, but only the end car with the drumhead.
My questions are:
1. When exactly did this happen (maybe early 1956?)
2. What was the consist; did it include all of the car types in the el capitan (step downs, coach, lounge, diner, transition, etc)?
if you haven't guessed, I'd love a decent reason to pull a set of the walthers cars over my tehachapi layout. I already have the hi-level coaches that ran in the San francisco chief, so I figure I'm at least part of the way there...
snaremattI Have heard that sometime before the hi-level El Capitan came out, Santa Fe sent the new budd cars (sporting a "san Francisco chief" drumhead) up into the tehachapis as a demonstration, to show off the new equipment. It had to be a special because the SFC never ran with hi-levels on the end, that I know of.
What you might be thinking of is an experiment proposed in 1969 where trains 23 & 24 were to be dropped and the SFC was going to be run into Los Angeles where it would have connected to SP trains to get it on to San Francisco. This never happened obviously.
I also found a reference that says "The two [high level] cars were operated on an experimental basis on the El Capitan in 1954."
You've got the Chief, the El Capitan, the SuperChief, the Fast Mail, and the Grand Canyon why do you need a SFC also? All the equipment on the SFC was used on one or the other of these trains at one time or another.
Thanks for the reply Texas Zepher,
Thats interesting about the hi-levels on the end behind the dome. All of the pictures and consist info i've seen shows them ahead of the dome with only sleepers behind the dome. Have you seen any pictures of this?
Unfortunately there isn't a date with the photo.
Looking again, and expanding my search. Yes, I have found two photos of the high levels ahead of the domes on the SFC. One is dated 1969. The other not dated. So apparently either is acceptable. It is interesting to note that running them infront requires two 68 seat step up coaches, while running them at the rear would require only 1.
Unfortunately I am 500 miles away from my library so I've only got a few references here with me.
Here's a write up and the consist of the "Hi-Level special" that went to San Francisco from the book Santa Fe's Hi-Level Cars:
"the Santa Fe quickly assembled an exhibition train of some of its newly-delivered hi-level cars. This exhibition train toured the entire system during early 1956, and was opened for public inspection at each major terminal along the line. The consist of this exhibition train was as follows:
Here's a pic I found online of (presumably 709) with the San Francisco Chief drumhead:
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Southwest ChiefHere's a write up and the consist of the "Hi-Level special" that went to San Francisco from the book Santa Fe's Hi-Level Cars:
Texas Zepher So basically it was a mini size El Capitan.
So basically it was a mini size El Capitan.
Yep, and a pretty easy consist to replicate with the Walthers cars. Especially since the dorm car (3479) matches the model Walthers made.
Not sure on the locos. I believe Athearn Genesis did some 300 series F7s, however I think they were 1960s or even later era with lots of extra grab irons.
Walthers might have done a 300 series F7 as well, although I'm not sure.
You can always renumber a warbonnet F7 AB to 307L and 307A with Microscale Set 87-101.
Wow, that's EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you so much for looking into that for me.
That consist looks like it was made for model railroading, I cant believe it isn't online anywhere. Interesting too that it toured the whole system- that means this would be good for almost any Santa Fe modeler that is interested in the mid 50's (Lot of people).