Texas Chief

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

For those not aware I am currently building the MR project RR from 1982 the Washita & Santa Fe in N scale. I wish to model the Texas Chief which ran on this stretch of track circa 1960/5 my query is; the Kato car sets issued for the Santa Fe Super Chief can these be used for the Texas Chief if so what are the changes needed for them to represent the Texas Chief

many thanks

Shaun

2

“A Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists” by Fred Frailey has Texas Chief listings for summer 1959 and summer 1967 (sorry nothing for 60-65). But hopefully this helps (the book mentions the 1967 consist was the largest Texas Chief consist ever):

Texas Chief (summer of 1959) trains #15 and #16 (all lightweight)
storage mail Kansas City Fort Worth (on #15 only)
ex-SU RPO Chicago Houston
RPO-baggage Chicago Houston
baggage-mail-exp (TBM) Chicago Houston
coach (partiton) 52-seat Chicago Houston (3187-89 assigned)
coach 48-seat Chicago Houston
coach 44-seat Chicago &nb

3

Matt thanks for that, it is very useful information.

Shaun

4

What year did the hi levels hit the Texas Chief? It had to have been late (after the second order of chair cars arrived), but I am not sure.

I have seen pics with Regal, Palm, and Pine series cars used on the Texas Chief. I will try to find them. I am in HO, but I believe that the Kato sets include 10-6 Palm sleepers, and the ACF built Regal 4-4-2 sleepers. It is a shame they couldn’t squeeze some Pines in an otherwise awesome set of passenger cars. At least they got the consist right, unlike the Walther’s HO scale Super Chief run (what happened there?!?!).

5

Spring of 1968. The second order for Hi-Level coaches was in 1964, guess it took some time before they arrived and then were put on the Texas Chief.

6

I couldn’t remember off hand. I have the consist info somwhere, but I was at work at the time. I knew that they took the second order in '64 (that is when they got the cool convertibles[8D]). Thanks.

7

I have been collecting cars in N scale a number of years to model the Texas Chief in the Galveston and Houston area 1955-1957. But I don’t expect to have the 20 x 30’ train palace anytime soon to build the entire area, so I am concentrating on Galveston.

Computer visualization:

#15 SB/16 NB TEXAS CHIEF (consist as seen at Houston)

ALL LIGHTWEIGHT/STREAMLINED

Storage mail in heavy seasons, Weds & Thursdays only(FW-Hou)

RPO-Bagg(Ch-Hou)1 throughout 50s

Bagg(Chi-Hou) 1 throughout 50s

Bagg(Hou-Gal) 1 throughout 50s

Partition coach 1 throughout 50s*

44-seat Coaches usually 2; 3 in summer (late 50s, sometimes hi-levels)

Diner 1 throughout 50s

Bar lounge-dorm 1 throughout 50s (late 50s, sometimes fulldome)

2 Sleepers: 6-6-4 “Valley”; 24 rmt “Indian” in 1949.

4-4-2 “Regal”; 10-6 Pine/or/Palm" through 1950s

(Coach/Obs ran only in 1959 on Galveston stub)

9 or 10 cars north of Houston; 1 less south of Houston

*(Santa Fe had only 3 Lightweight partition coaches in the streamline era, built specifically to provide 3 sets of equipment for the Texas Chief. The cars had “separate but equal” coach accomodations for whites and negros in intrastate travel as required by Texas law. Unlike most streamlined coaches, these had vestibules and steps at both ends of the car.)

MODEL CONSIST put together quite a few years ago.

F7 ABBA &nb

8

Thanks for the info it’s very much appreciated

Shaun

9

I guess I may have to go back to the drawing board with my chosen prototype. I was basing my layout on the MR project layout from 1982 (Washita & Santa Fe) on which the Texas Chief ran. Getting hold of stock here in the UK can be a bit hard sometimes unless it’s current models, I can get hold of the Kato Super Chief set quite easily.

Shaun

10

Remember to include the prominent underframe details on the Texas Chief. Most modelers usually forget to include the lavatory recycling catch tanks and associated plumbing so that Aggie showers could be provided for passengers.

11

I have just spent the day searching for an alternative layout theme only to be shot down in flames every time due to the lack of space.

Shaun

12

Keep what you have and run the Kato Super Chief. Who cares if you’re not 100% accurate. At least you have a base to work from. And maybe one day a readily available Texas Chief will come to N scale.

13

Now that would be nice

Shaun

14

Man, I haven’t seen my handle used this much since I started using it.

Dick

Texas Chief

15

Texas Chief Texas Chief Texas Chief, just to mention you handle a few more times just in case you are on a commission

Shaun

16

I grew up in Oklahoma, with the Santa Fe Main line within a block or so most of my life. Seeing that Texas Chief fly by with its shiny aluminum cars is an indelible picture in my mind. I’m also modeling the TC and if you looked at the last car (observation) in my string and you can read the Super Chief. I’m betting It will be going so fast no one will be able to read it anyway! [:D]

Joe

17

I just recieved to videos from the US this morning of 16mm colour film from the 50’s & 60’s and there’s plent of footage of the various named train of that era and some corking freigh footage to boot.

The W&SF project is on a slight hold at the moment as we decide what to do as it’s going to be hard to get the right stock here in the UK so were working on our other project at the moment(it’s either a HO switching layout or a Montana Rail Link layout in N) We are looking at moving the ATSF layout maybe to Kansas?

Shaun

18

Hi Shaun,

You can get a little closer to the “Texas Chief” consist than just using the Kato “Super Chief.” The “Super” had no chair cars, but they were always included in the “Texas Chief.” The 500-series Pleasure Dome lounge cars were unique to the “Super.” When the “Texas Chief” got domes (which wasn’t until 1968), they were the Big Dome lounge cars as made by Bachmann in N scale (see www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-74352, but ignore the erroneous “dome coach” labeling: this is a full-length lounge car). Finally (no pun intended), the “Texas Chief” never included an observation car. In fact, neither of the two major streamliners the Santa Fe launched after WWII, the “Texas Chief” and the “San Franciso Chief” used observation cars.

Good luck,

Andy

19

No reason why you can’t build that railroad and call it something else from the southwest. With that scenery it could represent any portion of the ATSF between Texas and nearly all the way to LA.

20

The thing is the plan is just what I am after it fits my space and needs, were about to come to the US in a few weeks for our annual visit of our relatives so I will be giving some serious thought. It looks as if it may turn out to be a long slow project but everytime I think this will do instead I keep seeing those red warbonnets and I am back to the W&SF. Also looking at that video keeps me on track so to speak. I am sure I will complete the Texas Chief as long as information is forthcoming like it is here.

My wife has agreed to give me a subscription to the ATSF Historical Society for a Christmas present but is the Classic Trains magazine worth subscribing to? I have never seen it here in the UK, only the Trains & MR are available.

The only thing that confuses me is the plan is 25 years old but Mr Sperandeo doesn’t look a day over 21 ?

And yet again a big thank you to the various people who have answered my query (appologies for my starting the sentence with “And” my English master will turn in his grave)

Shaun