1954 #20 Santa Fe Chief in N Scale

This 1954 version of the Santa Fe Chief consists of both Chair cars and Sleepers.  This train, however, is not the carrier of trancontinental sleepers as in the past.  The trans con sleepers have now been transferred to the Super Chief.  It is labeled as the #20 (even numbered) as it is an eastbound train from Los Angeles to Chicago.  It remains a vital train on the Santa Fe.

 

Following the Budd baggage car, No. 3448, we see the "San Fernando", No. 1382, a Budd built Baggage Dorm Lounge.  The Dormitory section had berths for the crew, and a toilet in the baggage section.  The car was built with M&R brass sides and American Limited frames.

Two chair cars, Nos. 2900 and 2908, poised in front of the Barstow station.  Santa Fe defined chair cars as having reclining seats with footboards for more comfort.  Coach cars had no such amenities.



Chair car no 2884, one of four on the Chief,  comes from the Pullman Car Co. order of 1947.  This is how the car would have looked at delivery, with full skirting between the wheel sets.  Built from M&R brass sides and American Limited frames.

 

No. 2871, from the same 1947 Pullman order, 2861 class, 44 seat cars, with side skirting removed. Built from M&R brass sides and American Limited frames.



The Lunch Counter diner is a modified Kato car.  The reverse side of the car has an M&R side in place of the diner side as produced by Kato.

The diner Cochiti is from the from Oriental Limited, Santa Fe Super Chief set. Prototype manufactured by Budd in 1937. 

Shown here is a Bar Lounge Dorm, no.1347, built by Pullman.  A Budd built car would be more appropriate, but M&R has not produced "sides" for those Budd cars. Built from M&R brass sides and American Limited frames.

The first of the sleepers is a 10-6, named the Pine Leaf, manufactured by Budd. I modified a Kato CB&Q car by opening up the wheel wells and removing the side skirting.  The prototype often had skirting removed for easier maintenance.  See below for explanation of the 10-6 room arrangement.

Next, is a 4-4-2, the Mojave, manufactured by Pullman in 1939. Bedroom cars were becoming more in demand as passengers desired greater privacy.  The 4-4-2 remained popular on the Santa Fe for decades. Built from M&R brass sides and American Limited frames. Painted with Alcad Polished Aluminum paint. 



This is a stock Kato car from the Smooth Side passenger Set E.  The two tone gray on the Monument Valley 6-6-4 was correct for the time as the shadow stripe paint scheme had been phased out by this time.

The Tonto is a 17 roomette, 1 section car.  Built by Pullman in 1938, part of an eight car order.  Built from M&R brass sides and American Limited frames.

Bringing up the rear, the 3-2-1 lounge observation sleeper Navajo.  This car was the only Budd built sleeper observation on the Santa Fe.  Other Budd observation cars were chair cars.  The model is from the Super Chief set from Oriental Limited.  The lounge area is, of course, at the rear of the car.

                        PASSENGER CAR DESIGNATIONS

10-6                      10 Roomette, 6 Bedroom

4-4-2                    4 Compartment, 4 Bedroom, 2 Drawing Room

6-6-4                    6 Section, 6 Roomette, 4 Bedroom

17-1                      17 Roomette, 1 Section (for porter)

3-2-1                    3 Compartment, 2 Drawing Room, 1 Bedroom Lounge-Obs

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A video of this train can be seen on YouTube at:

              https://youtu.be/DmOMy0csc1Q