Can anyone identify this pasenger train, the locale, or approximate date? (I hope I’m doing this correctly - it’s the first image I’ve tried to include). In case the photo is not clear, the E unit is numbered 8 and there are 5 cars. Thanks!
Appears to be one of the two El Capitan trains of February 1938. These were the only five car streamliners launcxhed about that time. Each train was comprised as follows.
Baggage 13 Crew Dormitory 32 Seat Coach with conductors desk.
52-seat Coach
14-Seat Lunch Counter 24 Seat dining Car
52-seat Coach
50-seat Coach Observation
Al - in - Stockton
On our screens it isn’t clear whether the train is only five cars. In the original pic it’s five for sure?
In 1938 Santa Fe put seven new diesel trains onto four routes: Wayner says the two El Capitan consists both started out with five cars (but the first car should have some crew-bunk windows that we don’t see here); the one San Diegan was five cars, and could be this train for all I know; the two Golden Gate trains and the two Chicagoan/Kansas Cityan trains were both seven cars, says Wayner.
All were powered by E1 diesels as in the pic. It all looks new, so 1938 is the obvious guess at the date, but I doubt anyone can help you with the locale.
AT&SF – (February 22, 1938)****2,223 milesThe inaugurated a pair of Coach streamlined trains on the same fast 39-3/4 hour timing as the ’s finest the all Pullman SUPER CHIEF between
Keep in mind this appears to be a posed picture, probably set up by the ATSF’s publicity department to show off their new streamlined equipment and passenger diesels. It may not actually represent any particular train.
It appears that the locomotives headlight is missing from its housing on the nose. Would a railroad send a passenger train out that way?
Thanks,
Road Fan
It also appears that the thin cloud cover was airbrushed onto the sky - not quite obscuring a building with a pyramidal tower. Not being familiar with the cities on the route, was there a moderately tall building in LA with a steep pyramid ‘steeple’ visible from the tracks?
Chuck
The Baggage Crew Dormitory car is definitely from the El Capitan they had no windows in the dormitory section. The number 8 diesel was originally assigned to the Kansas Cityan/Chicagoan before being reassigned to the Oakland -Bakersfield trains. I to believe that the train consist in the photo was put together for publicity photo op.
Al - in - Stockton
I think the headlight is in there. Remeber, this is an early E, and various changes were made before the 7’s, 8’s and 9’s, which are most familiar to us were produced.
Johnny
Totally agree there. The large baggage door being way down on one end is another characteristic. These are the cars that later got the transition hood added for the hi-level 1955 cars.
I think that is the reflection of a window with open venetian blinds (making the lines) and curtains drawn back at the center sides of the window (making the point). Of course that would mean this photo was taken behind some sort of glass, but the position with respect to the track would indicate not. ??? Or maybe it is an internal reflection from the developing lamp and the lines are the internal reflection of the focusing accordian. In that case I don’t know what would make the triangle shape though. Internal lens reflections are usually hexigonish shaped.
If they were airbrushing the photo or using other dark room tricks, they most certainly would have taken care of the flash glare just under the engineer’s window.
Edit edit - I see it now. This is a photo of a photo. All the glare and the funny triangle things are NOT in the original photo. That explains everything. The triangle IS a window reflecting in the picture frame glass.
A picture of a picture through a picture window reflecting City Hall?
Now, that is a cool picture. Do you know if the light over the front truck is always on or is that a special parked & maintenance thing? I’ve never noticed them before.
I would guess that is a US district court house in the back ground. Looks exactly like the one in St. Louis and one other I’ve run across somewhere. But that is definitely not what is in the photo, the angles and lower structure is all wrong. Trust me, I’ve had years of formal photo interpretation classes.
edit edit - silly me. Tens of Santa Fe books sitting on my shelves… Sure enough I have the exact photo. Page 84 of Santa Fe’s Early Diesel Daze by McCall.
This is a Santa Fe publicity shot of the train The Golden Gate taken at Fresno CA. February 25, 1938. Apparently right before its first revenue run.
Consist is:
Locomotive #8
Baggage Chair car #3490
Chair car #3115
Chair car #3117
Lunch-Counter-Tavern-Diner #1501
Parlor-Observation #3243
Mystery solved, excellent. I have no idea about the light on the front truck.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca1300/ca1312/photos/012256pv.jpg
You guys are great! I’ve had this picture for 30 years, and never knew anythig about it. As was surmised, this is a photo of a framed picture beneath glass. The phantom building in the back is indeed the reflection of a window with curtains and mini-blinds (kudos for sleuthing that out!). Not sure what is being referred to as the light above the front truck. There is significant camera flash glare right beneath the cab, though.
I’m not sure about a truck light on the fireman’s side, but many locos have lights under the engineers side of the cab. This gives him a clear view of the ties when starting in the dark or fog. If the tie moves, you are moving. If the tie stays put the drivers are spinning.
Phil
Forgot that Otto Perry showed us the El Cap baggage car, with the crew-bunk windows that are missing in the Golden Gate pic
I think it is so cool how you guys figured this thing out!!
That’s what teamwork is all about!
I love it!
These are E1 units. The headlight is recessed into the nose. The EA and TA engines had a similar headlight arrangement.
Originally, #8 & #9 were assigned to the Golden Gate trains. #5 & #6 were assigned to the El Capitan trains. This looks like a posed company publicity photo. The El Capitan was initially a 5 car train, and the Golden Gate was a 6 car train.
Jim