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The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains of the Santa Fe railroad. Its route ran from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA.
Adding to the train's mystique were its gourmet meals and Hollywood clientele. The spirit of the Super Chief lives on through the Amtrak train, the Southwest Chief.
Equipment used
In 1937, the equipment used on the Super Chief was replaced with all lightweight stainless steel cars built by the Budd Company. For the new lightweight train, the equipment used was as follows:
- Baggage car 3430
- Sleeper Isleta (8 sections, 1 drawing room, 2 compartments)
- Sleeper Taos (6 double bedrooms, 2 drawing rooms, 2 compartments)
- Dormitory-lounge 1370 Acoma (also included a barber shop)
- Diner 1474 Cochiti (36 seats)
- Sleeper Oraibi (6 double bedrooms, 2 drawing rooms, 2 compartments)
- Sleeper Laguna (8 sections, 1 drawing room, 2 compartments)
- Sleeper-lounge-observation Navajo (1 double bedroom, 2 drawing rooms, 3 compartments)
Another baggage-mail car, number 3400, was built for this train, but was withdrawn before the train's inaugural run. This car instead became a part of the inaugural consist for the San Diegan on March 15 1938.
The five sleeping cars in the original consist were operated by Pullman but were owned by the Santa Fe. The car names were chosen to commemorate the Native American tribes, pueblos and cities found along the railroad's route.
In February 1938, the railroad added another trainset, also built by Budd, to handle the high demand for passage aboard the train. Its original consist was as follows:
- Baggage-dormitory-buffet lounge car 1387 San Acacia
- Sleeper Chinle (17 roomettes)
- Sleeper Wupatki (8 sections, 2 compartments, 2 double bedrooms)
- Sleeper Klethla (4 compartments, 2 drawing rooms, 4 double bedrooms)
- Dormitory-lounge 1377 Agathla (also included a barber shop)
- Diner 1485 Awatobi (36 seats)
- Sleeper Polacca (4 compartments, 2 drawing rooms, 4 double bedrooms)
- Sleeper Yampai (8 sections, 2 compartments, 2 double bedrooms)
- Sleeper-lounge-observation Chaistla (4 drawing rooms, 1 double bedroom)
Timeline
- May 12 1936: The Santa Fe inaugurates the all-diesel powered Super Chief
- May 18 1937: All heavyweight wood cars used on the Super Chief are replaced with lightweight stainless steel cars.
- February 1938: A second all-lightweight trainset enters service on the Super Chief.
- 1947: The Super Chief frequency is upgraded to daily.
- May 1 1971: Amtrak is formed and takes over operation of the Super Chief
References
- Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972), Car Names, Numbers and Consists, Wayner Publications, New York, NY
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