Passenger Trains > Pacific Parlour Cars on No. 4, Sunday 2/18/18 Ocular Proof

Here is ocular proof that two Pacific Parlour Cars (Columbia Valley #39970 and Napa Valley #39972) are on No. 4 today at Albuquerque. It departed on time 12:10PM MST.

Please forgive the lack of artistic photography. It's hard to be arty at the ABQ station at high noon on a sunny day.

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Of course both those cars spent the majority of their careers on those rails serving as the lounge on Santa Fe's El Capitan.

Thanks for posting your shots. It is good you took them at Albq.
Another example of ATSF history will be out of service for now until they find a new owner .

I didn't know that. I bet I saw one or both when I was a kid. Makes the photos more meaningful.. Thanks.

Thanks for the post! The last 2 are suppose to go on tonite's # 4..I will try to see them at FUL..

Yeah that's tough light at Albuquerque; thanks for posting though!

Andy

Great pics!

How many years were these cars used by AT&SF as opposed to
how many years they have been in use by Amtrak?

Realist Wrote:
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> How many years were these cars used by AT&SF as
> opposed to
> how many years they have been in use by Amtrak?

In service on El Capitan From July 1956 to April 31, 1971 with Santa Fe and May 1, 1971 to present with Amtrak.

Realist Wrote:
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> How many years were these cars used by AT&SF as
> opposed to
> how many years they have been in use by Amtrak?

16 years on the El Capitan
23 years on the Coast Starlight

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> Realist Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How many years were these cars used by AT&SF as
> > opposed to
> > how many years they have been in use by Amtrak?
>
> 16 years on the El Capitan
> 23 years on the Coast Starlight


Thank you. I thought the statement that they served on
Santa Fe the majority of their careers was in error.

They are on # 4 tonite, saw them at FUL ..

Realist Wrote:
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> DevalDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Realist Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > How many years were these cars used by AT&SF
> as
> > > opposed to
> > > how many years they have been in use by
> Amtrak?
> >
> > 16 years on the El Capitan
> > 23 years on the Coast Starlight
>
>
> Thank you. I thought the statement that they
> served on
> Santa Fe the majority of their careers was in
> error.

Well, they were still on Santa Fe rails under Amtrak until 1980, when they were sent to Topeka for HEP conversion.
After that, they appeared on various long distance trains.

Here is one of the Hi-Level lounge cars operating on the westbound El Capitan, taken on July 2, 1972. Still in original Santa Fe decor and the train still operated with the Super Chief / El Capitan names.

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That's a great photo of a piece of American history. Thank you for sharing it.

Slumbercoach Wrote:
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> Here is one of the Hi-Level lounge cars operating
> on the westbound El Capitan, taken on July 2,
> 1972. Still in original Santa Fe decor and the
> train still operated with the Super Chief / El
> Capitan names.

Now THAT'S how they're supposed to look inside! If that's how they still looked during their years as Pacific Parlor cars, I may have ridden darn near every trip. Outstanding photo. That made my day.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/18 06:52 by Topfuel.

Thanks very much or the great photos of these wonderful cars, Prophoto. They are really good -- and the sun angle was no problem.

Slumbercoach --
Thanks for that great interior photo from long ago, when the cars still had their Santa Fe decor. Looks much better than the brown and tan they now have -- looks more cheerful.

I really, really hope all of these cars go to good homes, and will be well cared for.

Topfuel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Slumbercoach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Here is one of the Hi-Level lounge cars
> operating
> > on the westbound El Capitan, taken on July 2,
> > 1972. Still in original Santa Fe decor and the
> > train still operated with the Super Chief / El
> > Capitan names.
>
> Now THAT'S how they're supposed to look inside!
> If that's how they still looked during their years
> as Pacific Parlor cars, I may have ridden darn
> near every trip. Outstanding photo. That made my
> day.

Gotta agree, that photo depicts the way I remember the cars , with the original interior and Indian décor! The PPC version was tolerable and glad they had a run on the Starlight but nothing like the original Santa Fe accoutrements.

Wouldn't it be nice if BNSF bought one (or a few) of these, refurbished it, returning it to its El Capitan markings, and put it on display and/or added it to their fleet?

What are the chances?

If BNSF wanted any old Santa Fe hi-levels, they would have acquired a few by now, including transition cars.