Museum of the American Railroad - Lightweight Passenger Cars

"Lightweight" Railroad Cars

Beginning in the early 1930s, the railroads began a program of modernizing passenger trains using railroad cars of lighter, streamlined passenger trains constructed of aluminum or stainless steel. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's "Pioneer Zephyr," began operation in 1934 and caused a sensation with its record breaking inaugural run. The entire three car stainless steel trainset weighed 197,000 pounds - less than a single "heavyweight" Pullman car. The streamlined train came to represent the newest and finest in rail travel as the railroads sought to compete with airlines and the interstate highway system, and largely replaced the once common heavyweight Pullmans. Indeed, sleeping cars built by the Edward G. Budd company and owned by the railroads were a direct challenge to the traditional Pullman built, owned and operated sleeping car. The museum's most recent acquisitions are five stainless steel cars of similar construction to the Pioneer Zephyr, which illustrate the evolution of railroad passenger car construction following the heavyweight era

Pine Ring
Built: 1950
Manufacturer: Edward G. Budd Co.
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway/Amtrak

Pine Ring was one of 27 "Pine series" cars built in 1950 for the 1951 edition of Santa Fe's all first class Chicago - Los Angeles "Super Chief." It was a "10 and 6" sleeping car with ten single occupancy roomettes and six double bedrooms. Pine Ring was operated by the Santa Fe on the Super Chief and Texas Chief as well as in run through service from Washington, D.C. to Chicago on the Baltimore and Ohio Capitol Limited. The car continued in service from creation of Amtrak in 1971 and served as part of Amtrak's "heritage fleet" until retirement. Several of the "Pine series" cars remain in use on Amtrak as crew dormitories even after more than 55 years of service. Pine Ring was graciously donated by Ms. Katherine Schultz in 2005.

Southland/Loch Tarbet
Built: 1959
Manufacturer: Edward G. Budd Company
Missouri Pacific 699/Northern Pacific 329/ Amtrak 2028

The Slumbercoach design was built to provide economical sleeping quarters at the lowest cost to the traveler and was one of the last new sleeping cars built by Budd. These cars provided private sleeping accommodations and a lavatory at a cost only slightly higher than coach travel but did not include the first class status provided other sleeping car patrons. Southland, which contained 24 single rooms and 8 double rooms, was built in September 1959 for daily service between Washington, D.C. and San Antonio, Texas in conjunction with three similar cars leased from Budd by the Baltimore and Ohio. They operated on the B&O's National Limited east of St. Louis and the Texas Eagle west of St. Louis. Southland was the only Slumbercoach operated by Missouri Pacific. Upon expiration of its lease in 1964, it was sold to the Northern Pacific and served on the North Coast Limited and Mainstreeter until its sale to Amtrak in 1971. Very popular with budget minded travelers to the end, Amtrak did not retire its Slumbercoaches from service on its Silver Star and Silver Meteor trains until the late 1990s. The last of Amtrak's Slumbercoaches were sold at auction in 2001. The museum's Slumbercoach was purchased in 2005.

Gull
Built: 1954
Manufacturer: Edward G. Budd Company
Baltimore & Ohio 7102/Seaboard Coast Line/Amtrak

The Gull was part of a series of 16 roomette, 4 double bedroom cars built for the Baltimore and Ohio and served its National Limited and Capitol Limited trains, among others. It was configured so that the double bedrooms were located in the center of the car, which provided a quieter, smoother ride. These cars were later sold to the Seaboard Coast Line and used in economy sleeper service, and put into Amtrak service in 1971. The Gull was purchased by the museum in 2005.

Lunch Counter Diner
Built: 1948
Manufacturer: Edward G. Budd Company
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1550

Santa Fe's all - coach, extra fare streamlined El Capitan increased in frequency from bi-weekly to daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles in 1948. The large number of patrons on the El Capitan required two lunch counter dining cars to be used on each train. Fourteen could be seated at the lunch counter and another 20 at tables, and the menu included a la carte and table d'hote meals by Fred Harvey. Lunch counter diners could be also be found in service on the Texas Chief and Grand Canyon, especially after the El Capitan was equipped with new hi-level equipment including 80 seat dining cars in 1956. Lunch counter car 1550 was retired by the Santa Fe and was used as a restaurant, but still retains its original Southwestern inspired decor from its days on the Santa Fe. Santa Fe lunch counter diner car 1550 was purchased in 2005. Sister car number 1554 is also owned by the museum and was a gift from Katherine Schulz.

Round End Chair Observation
Built: 1940
Manufacturer: Pullman-Standard
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 3197

The round end observation car was the hallmark of the new streamlined passenger trains, usually carrying a colorful illuminated "drumhead" with train's logo. Car number 3197 was built for Santa Fe's El Capitan in 1940 and served on that train until 1956 when it received all hi-level equipment. Most round end observation cars were rebuilt with a conventional flat end for more flexible use in trains, but 3197 retained its original streamlined shape to the end. In its last years of service it was paired with motor cars M.160 and M.190 on Santa Fe's Clovis - Carlsbad, New Mexico train "The Cavern." Car number 3197 was donated by the Santa Fe railway along with "doodlebug" M.160 in January 1969.

Additional resources:

The Pioneer Zephyr Exhibit, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry