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===[[Steven Summers]]===
[[Image:1949 Santa Fe advert jpeg.jpg|thumb|300px|A [[1948]] print advertisement touting the many benefits of riding ''El Capitan''.]]
Subject of the page seems to be unremarkable [[User:Manikraina|Manik Raina]] 14:11, 14 July 2005 (UTC)
'''''El Capitan''''' was one of the [[List of named passenger trains|named]] [[train|passenger trains]] of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe]] railroad and second only to the ''Super Chief'' in terms of popularity and level of service provided. Its route ran from [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]] to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]].
*'''Delete''' vanitycruft. [[User:Friday|Friday]] 14:33, 14 July 2005 (UTC)
This all-coach, [[streamlined]] train began operations in [[February]] [[1938]] in response to the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]'s ''[[Trail Blazer]]'' which offered "low-cost passage with high-speed convenience." Santa Fe's extra-fare all-day coach train operated on ''Super Chief'' schedules and required the acquisition of two new [[Budd]]-built trains of five cars each out of [[lightweight]] [[stainless steel]]. Each of the two luxury trains were be capable of accommodating 188 passengers for a mere $5.00 upcharge over the price of a ticket on the ''Chief''.
''El Capitan'' was the first of Santa Fe's trains to utilize the "Big Dome" [[dome car]] lounges and "Hi-Level" [[coach]]es developed by Budd in the early [[1950's]]. These experimental units featured increased seating capacities and boasted better views of the [[Southwestern]] terrain the ''El Cap'' passed though; it eventually became an all Hi-Level train.
Today the route formerly covered by ''El Capitan'' is served by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Southwest Chief]]''; many of Amtrak's trains (especially in California) consist of a combination of refurbished former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars along with newer designs.
[[Image:ATSF El Capitan combined x3.png|thumb|300px|right|"[[Drumhead]]" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on ''El Capitan''.]]
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==Equipment used==
The initial equipment roster (per train) was as follows:
* a [[Baggage]]-Dormitory car (32 seats)
* a "Chair" car / [[Coach]] (52 seats)
* a Lunch counter-[[Diner]]-[[Lounge]] car
* a "Chair" car / [[Coach]] (52 seats)
* a round-end [[Observation car|Observation]] car (52 seats)
==Timeline==
[[Image:ATSF506-60.jpg|thumb|325px|right|One of Santa Fe's "Big Dome" lounge cars originally built by the Budd Company for ''El Capitan''; eventually, these cars would find their way into consists on nearly every main line. Unit #506 (shown above) was the only unit retained by the Santa Fe after [[1971]] (its designation changed to #60), all the rest have been sold to [[Auto-Train]]. The car "lives" today as a member of the [[Burlington Northern Santa Fe]] roster as BNSF31, the "Bay View."]]
* [[1937]]: ''El Capitan'' is conceived to compete with the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]'s low-cost, high-speed train the ''[[Trail Blazer]]''.
* [[February 20]], [[1938]]: Operations commence with weekly excursions based on the same "over-the-road" time as the ''Super Chief.''
* [[October 12]], [[1947]]: ''El Capitan'' trains begin operating on an every-other-day basis.
* [[February 29]], [[1948]]: ''El Capitan'' begins its daily schedule between Chicago and Los Angeles.
* [[1949]]: The [[Union Pacific Railroad]] reintroduces its popular all-coach ''[[Challenger (passenger train)|Challenger]]'' train, set to run on a 39-and-a-half hour schedule in order to compete directly with the ''El Capitan''. The [[UP]] also announces that there will be no added fare for this train.
* [[June 2]], [[1946]]: The line reverts to its prewar schedule of 39 hours and 45 minutes.
* [[September 29]], [[1946]]: The ''Super Chief'' begins an every-other-day departure schedule from Chicago and Los Angeles.
* [[February 29]], [[1948]]: The AT&SF receives the first post-War equipment order from [[Pullman]]-Standard and places these into service on the ''Super Chief''. The railroad now has five ''Super Chief'' trainsets and the frequency of operation is upgraded to daily.
* [[1952]]: The [[Budd]] Company unveils concepts for a double-decked coach based on similar commuter cars manufactured for the [[Chicago & Northwestern Railway]] and [[Burlington]] railroads. The Santa Fe plans to upgrade the cars on the ''Chief'' with the new design.
* [[December 14]], [[1953]]: The extra-fare charges are dropped from both ''El Capitan'' and the ''Chief''.
* [[March]] [[1954]]: Six full-length dome-lounge cars (called "Big Domes" by Santa Fe's employees) are delivered for use on ''El Capitan'' by the [[Budd]] Company.
* [[July]] [[1954]]: Two experimental "Hi-Level" coaches arrive and are placed directly on ''El Capitan'' instead of the ''Chief''. The railroad trial tests the units for over a year.
* [[March 25]], [[1955]]: The Santa Fe orders 47 "Hi-Level" cars (35 chair cars, 6 domed diners, and 6 full-length domes) from Budd, enough rolling stock to equip ''El Capitan'' on a daily basis with a few cars as spares.
* [[July 8]], [[1956]]: "Hi-Level" ''El Capitan'' trains commence running, simultaneously, from both ends of the line.
* [[January 12]], [[1957]]: The ''Super Chief'' and ''El Capitan'' are combined into one train during the off-peak travel seasonon a 39½-hour schedule.
* [[February]] [[1963]]: Santa Fe orders an additional 24 "Hi-Level" chair cars, bringing the total inventory to 71 units (enough for a 12-unit consist per train).
* [[May 1]] [[1971]]: [[Amtrak]] is formed and takes over operation of the nation's passenger service, thus ending the reign of ''El Capitan''.
==References==
* {{Book reference|Author=Duke, Donald|Year=1997|Title=Santa Fe...The Railroad Gateway to the American West, Volume 2|Publisher=Golden West Books, San Marino, CA|ID=ISBN 0-87095-110-6}}
* {{Book reference|Author=Frailey, Fred W.|Year=1974|Title=A Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists|Publisher=RPC Publications, Godfrey, IL|ID=}}
* {{Book reference|Author=Strein, Robert, et al|Year=2001|Title=Santa Fe: The Chief Way|Publisher=New Mexico Magazine|ID=ISBN 0-937206-71-7}}
* {{Book reference|Author=Wayner, Robert J., ed.|Year=1972|Title=Car Names, Numbers and Consists|Publisher=Wayner Publications, New York, NY|ID=}}
* {{Book reference|Author=Zimmerman, Karl|Year=1987|Title=Santa Fe Streamliners: The Chiefs and Their Tribesman|Publisher=Quadrant Press, Inc., New York, NY|ID=ISBN 0-915276-41-0}}
==See also==
* Amtrak ''[[Southwest Chief]]''
* ATSF ''[[California Limited]]''
* ATSF ''[[Chief (passenger_train)|Chief]]''
* ATSF ''[[Grand Canyon Limited]]''
* ATSF ''[[San Diegan]]''
* ATSF ''[[Super Chief]]''
==External links==
*[http://www.bnsf.com/ Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway]
*[http://www.csrmf.org/ California State Railway Museum]
*[http://www.atsfrr.com/ Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society]
[[Image:CHS.J1745.jpg|thumb|525px|left|A map depicting the '''"Grand Canyon Route"''' of the [[Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway]] ''circa'' [[1901]].]]
[[Image:OP-2149.jpg|thumb|225px|left|[[April 26]], [[1950]]: Train #21, ''El Capitan'', rolls down the [[Raton Pass]] near [[Lynn]], [[New Mexico]]. Four [[EMD F3]] units, led by engine #20, power the 11-car consist. The debut of the line's signature "Big Dome" and "Hi-Level" passenger cars is still four years off.]]
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[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
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