I agree! The Bachmann full dome is a stand-in at this time.... better than nothing, but not up to the standard of the Kato cars by a long shot: But, it is what's available to place a Santa Fe Big Dome on your 1954 El Capitan. Wasn't there a great article on this Santa Fe train by Mike Kominsinki in a recent N Scale Railroading magazine?
"The feature of the daily San Francisco Chief was its new full-length dome. AT&SF had taken delivery of 14 of these behemoths, which Santa Fe called its "Big Dome" lounges, from the Budd Company in 1954. They were among the heaviest streamlined passenger cars ever built. El Capitan also received these new cars, adding yet another enhancement for that train." - Streamliners: History of a Railroad Icon by Mike Schafer and Joe Welsh (pg. 56) I enjoy your posts Rick. But isn't Barstow a long way from Big Bear? Best! Lownen
Barstow? Lownen wrote: I enjoy your posts Rick. But isn't Barstow a long way from Big Bear? Best! Lownen Lownen and all tuned in, Big Bear Lake is nestled in the mountains just about 62 miles directly south of Barstow, Ca., in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 20 miles north of San Bernardino (as the crow flies). Big Bear Lake is the location most Barstowites have gone to for years to cool off from the ever present summer heat. My great grandparents had a cabin at Green Valley Lake due west of Big Bear Lake. No trains in Big Bear although some have tried to plant a logging railroad here back when the area was opened up. The train hot spots I like best...San Bernardino, Devore, Victorville, Barstow, Cajon Pass and Lucerne Valley's spur to the Mitsubishi Cement Plant. They are all about an hour away. We are cool (no doubt) with the most snow we've seen in 50 years (as per the old timers). The only difference they say is the lake would freeze over solid and it hasn't quite done that this year. Winter isn't over yet and another storm is predicted for tonight and Sunday. We got 18 inches of snow with the storm last weekend. Did you hear about the two Amtrak trains stuck in the snow on Donner Pass...last night or yesterday? A snow plow or blower (uncertain to all the details) derailed blocking both tracks. Got to get. A somewhat busy day ahead. Got to shovel snow. Thanks for the comeback. Have fun.
John Sing and all tuned in, I do like what you did with your full dome. It appears you applied new lettering and changed out the couplers so the cars are at a prototype distance apart. Nice job! It also appears that you've done some detailing on the car and it's interior. I like the way you captured the spirit of New Mexico with your scenery or is it Arizona? Thanks for the pic's. Have fun.
Found it - the July-Aug 2007 N Scale Railroading had a nice 4 page spread on Mike Komosinski's 1954 El Capitan, starting on page 50. Go here to see the cover of that issue: http://www.nscalesupply.com/NAN/NAN-NSR0707.html Mike built a right-on copy of the entire train, using: - standard Kato Santa Fe RPO (this from the 2000 run) - standard Kato Santa Fe corrugated baggage car (from the 2000 run) - baggage-dormitory using M&R sides - two chair cars, the split-windows, using the recent Con-Cor issue (get those now, they're probably disappeared from the LHS shelves). These are very prototypical for the 1954 El Capitan, I believe - lunch counter diner using M&R sides - two more split-window chair cars, using the Con-Cors - full dome using Bachmann car, Mike put M&R sides on it (I did not on mine) - two more split-window chair cars, using the Con-Cors - 2nd lunch counter diner, again with M&R sides - three more split-window chair cars, using the Con-Cors - a round-end observation, a brass model model from Pecos River Brass Hope this helps. There's your 1954 El Capitan, all ready to go.
Hi, BarstowRick, thx for the compliments, you are kind. Yes, I did remove the Bachmann too-big lettering, relettered the 'Santa Fe'. I painted the interior, worked on the trucks (used styrene to create a view block to hide the excessive truck-body space), and mounted Kato couplers. The scenery is supposed to be an approximation of the southern end of the Santa Fe's "Peavine Line" (i.e. Williams - Phoenx branch) in Arizona. The scenery is not real close, but I grew up in Phoenix, and I suppose that helped get the look somewhere in the vicinity . Here's a little more on it: http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing/Peavine_Layout_Overview.html Thx. Anyway, back to the main stream of this thread.... Mike Komosinski's article is a real nice gem, you can order that back issue of N Scale Magazine if need be, and the 1954 El Capitan info is all there in great color.
John, I did visit your website. Nice...very nice. Isn't it amazing how you can tuck so much railroading into a small space. Nice job, John. Have fun!
While not a complete answer it would seem to me that many of the sides for cars you are looking for are available from M&R Models, which is available from N-scale Supply... http://nscalesupply.com/MRS/MRS.html
Well, I guess there are others interested in this train. The cars we talked about needed to build this train were in stock over the weekend. I talked to my buddy Monday, he said go ahead and round them up, ordered today and they were all out of stock.........UGHHHH!!!!!
Walthers has all the Con-Cor cars this thread discussed either in Santa Fe or undec. Except the regular coach. They do have the split window coach in undec. Don't know if your dealer buys direct from Walthers but your buddy can. Full retail price of course. And the round end Budd observation will be a good stand in for the El Capitan observation. Con-Cor expects delivery of it about now. Ben
I am the dealer and when ordered from Walthers, they were out of stock. Their online page is not up to date for some reason. I tried to order a few of each coach and a parlor car. Going to use the rest of the cars from a Kato A set even though not quite right to fill in. The std coach was the only one available.
Just wondering are any of these passenger consists still running as a regular service in the United States.
Full Dome Hi Just found this thread. In the book "Classic American Streamliners" by Mike Schafer & Joe Welsh. Page 57 has a picture of the "San Fransisco Chief" with a full dome in the centre of the consist a "Superdome lounge car" Its dated June 12th 1954 & the train is less than a week old. Hope this info is of some use. Regards. Peter.:tb-biggrin:
Not wanting to wear this subject out. Here's a resource you might find helpful. SANTA FE PASSENGER There are timetables still available that will give you any one of the Santa Fe's Name Trains and their scheduled stops. http://www.qstation.org/Timetable1963/ This map resource should help you: Images for santa fe railroad map
