Super Chief to Superliner

“Best Railroad in America” – That was Fortune Magazine’s assessment of the Santa Fe in 1948. In that year, the “Super Chief” increased to a daily schedule. And, through advertising (some of this on Santa Fe’s own box and refrigerator cars) plus TV programs of the day, this and other fine streamliners were kept in the public consciousness. Santa Fe was not averse to being highlighted in non-traditional ways, such as Laurel & Hardy demonstrating how not to board a train (included in this video).

Laurel & Hardy and untold thousands more occupied sleepers and lounges of legendary trains running along the longest line under a single ownership. Fred Harvey Co. staff ensured they dined well. From the outside, images of a gleaming stainless-steel streak flashing against the endless horizon beckoned one to partake in the adventure – to visit the Grand Canyon or myriad other historic and scenic spots: Painted Desert, Navajo ruins, Historic Santa Fe.

“The Train of the Stars” wended its way through Cajon and Raton passes and into American lore. Sample the Hollywood connection including Gloria Swanson, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, Eleanor Powell, and Jack Benny. Go on board the sleepers, diners, lounges and Pleasure Domes. See motive power from the earliest E-Units to FP45s. In the Amtrak, we see early consists with thru New York sleepers, arrival of Superliners in 1980, and the mail and express experiment. See the history and transformation of this famous train!

Chapters
Historic overview. Hollywood connections, Stylish diesels, El Capitan
On the eve of Amtrak. 1960s through May 1, 1971. Chicago & LA.
Amtrak’s pre-Superliner years. The 1972 Chief, SDP40F and F40 diesels
1980s, the Superliner years. Amtrak’s Chief through the ‘90s.
Into the 21st Century: Challenges, Mail & Express, Semaphores, Wig-Wags
Santa Fe remnants: PAs, Pleasure Domes, Diesel survivors
“Better Way for the Santa Fe”. the 1959-60 Arizona line relocation