Santa Fe Super Chief Question...

Greetings all. I own the Kato Super Chief set and am wondering if I’m being correct buy running the included cars along with one addition bedroom car up front behind the RPO and baggage car to simulate what the train might have appeared like in its declining years of the late 1950s. I realize that there is a four car add on set but then that would make it the complete train which according to period video I’ve seen it wasn’t by the late 50s and was being pulled by a set of A,B,B units. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Tracklayer

The Santa Fe Super Chief used various combinations of cars and placed them in various orders throughout the years. In the mid to late 1950s, this was a typical consist in order.

Baggage

RPO

Sleeper(s)

Dome

Diner

Lounge

Sleeper(s)

Observation

Hope this helps.

Rich

Okay. So I’m good to go then I guess. I realize the #1 rule of the hobby is that it’s my railroad and I can do what I want and all that jazz but I’d really rather be a correct to the actual train as possible - especially with the Super Chief…

Thanks Rich.

Tracklayer

You’re darn right about that, Tracklayer.

I forgot to ask. What are the 5 cars that you are working with?

Rich

Hey Rich. It’s the complete Kato eight car set. After I bought it last year I realized that there was a four car add on set available but it wouldn’t have been correct for the era I model so I bought a single Walthers bedroom car to add to it in hopes that it would make up the difference and appear like the version I saw in the video. I just wanted to make sure I was right to do so.

Thanks again.

Tracklayer

Tracklayer,

Here is a link to a Santa Fe Passenger Train Website:

http://santafe.gmbus.com/

Click on the Super Chief link on the left, and scroll down.

Jerry

OK, sorry, I was thinking 4-car set, plus the bedroom car.

So, your 8-car consist, plus the bedroom car, would be correct.

Before adding the bedroom car, here is the order of those 8 cars.

Baggage-Express

RPO

ACF 10-6 Sleeper “Palm Dome”

Pleasure Dome #500

Diner #601

Dormitory Lounge

ACF 4-4-2 Sleeper “Regal Court”

Sleeper-Lounge-Observation “Vista Valley”

Is this your order?

Rich

It will be after tonight… Thank you Rich. I really appreciate your help with this. I was really surprised in the lack of interest in the Super Chief on other train forums. One guy even said it was the most boring passenger train there ever was. I’m sorry he felt that way because in my book it’s the greatest train there ever was but then that’s just me.

Tracklayer

No, it’s not just you. I feel the same way.

I run four Santa Fe Super Chief consists on my layout, all into and out of the northern terminus of the Santa Fe system at Dearborn Station in Chicago.

What could be prettier than a red/yellow/silver Warbonnet set of locos?

Rich

Thanks Jerry. I very much appreciate it. I’d be lost without you guys…

Tracklayer

FYI - The reason the diner is always directly behind the dome with the kitchen to the front is that the Turquoise room was in the short section of the dome. That way the kitchen was close and could easily get food to the Turquoise room without having to go the entire length of the dome or diner.