The El Capitan was Santa Fe’s premier all coach passenger
train. In 1956, it received new Hi-Level
cars for the entire train. It lasted 18
months as an independent train before being consolidated under the Super Chief
numbers (17 and 18). The Super Chief, was Santa Fe's premier sleeper train for decades beginning in 1937.
The combined train operated in two divisions, with the El Cap cars in the front and the Super Chief in the rear. This is how it might have looked in the off season (non-summer) in 1971 (just prior to Amtrak in May), when passenger traffic was down.
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| Leaving Needles, CA |
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| Dining Car-Lounge-Chair Car |
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| 17 Roomette Sleeper-Dome Lounge-DiningCar |
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| Combined El Capitan and Super Chief Entering Barstow Yard |
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| Barstow Station |
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| Baggage Dorm car-Chair car Consist
Baggage
Baggage Dormitory Car
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Dining Car
Hi Level Lounge CAr
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Chair Car
Hi Level Chair Car
4-4-2 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
17 Roomette Sleeper*
Dome Lounge Car
Dining Car
17 Roomette Sleeper*
10-6 Sleeper
*I substituted two 17 Roomette Sleepers for the 11 double Bedroom cars as no car "sides" of 11 double bedroom cars are available from M&R. The window patterns are close, though.
A video of this train can be found on YouTube at:
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