I have a Walthers HO Scale Budd dome car (not a full dome) in Santa Fe livery. Was this ever prototypical? I thought ATSF’s only domes were made by Pullman-Standard.
BNSF4ever Hope this helps.
Atchison
Topeka
&
Santa Fe Dome Cars
(AT&SF)
By Al
The Santa Fe owned a total of 20-dome cars, 6-short domes from Pullman Standard and 14-big domes from the Budd Company.
The Santa Fe went daily with the SUPER CHIEF in February 1948 with new sleeping cars and new sleeper Observations for four of the five consists.
At the end of 1950 the Santa Fe once again added new cars to the SUPER CHIEF receiving 7-new 36 seat dining cars 600-606 in November-December 1950. In December the Santa Fe received 6-Pleasure Domes with the famous Turquoise dining room numbers 500 - 505. These cars were coupled directly behind the new diners and the Turquoise room located in the forward part of the Pleasure domes was served from the dining car. During peak travel periods it served as extra dining space for twelve. At other times the Turquoise room was available for private luncheon or dinner parties. Many an evening the Turquoise rooms served as private cocktail lounges for Hollywood stars and their guests or captains of fortune 500 companies. This Turquoise room was located in the short end on the main floor and this was always the front of the car coupled to the dining car ahead. Beneath the dome of these cars was a lounge seating ten with bar. In the larger room at the rear of the car on the main level was a lounge with seating for 18. A desk and chair was tucked behind the stairway leading to the dome level.
The dome seating was unique to these dome cars, on each side in the center of the dome was four swiveling parlor seats revolving a full 360 degrees. At the front of the dome and the rear of the dome on each side of the aisle was a pair of seats. The two pair of seats at the rear of the dome faced rearward an unusual arrangement not found on any other short domes, except for those seats in the UP Dome Dining cars where half of the eighteen seats faced rearward at the tables. This gave the Santa Fe pleasure d
Several of the Santa Fe domes went to the Auto Train in 1972 when it was a private entity. Auto Train recieved these cars in their Santa Fe livery and interior decor. Auto Train painted the car’s exteriors into their then current red/white/purple scheme. The interiors were left pretty much intact, and featured their well known southwestern theme.These cars were recieved in excellent mechanical condition, and were very popular with Auto Train patrons. These were the Budd built cars. They were virtual heavyweights, and had excellent riding qualities.
Any of this equipment running today?
One of the former AT&SF Big Domes is part of the BNSF Business Fleet and several still operate in Alaska owned by cruise ship operators.
One is now operating in Southern Colorado.
Most of the short former Santa Fe domes built by Pullman Standard are owned privately.
TTFN