I rode on Amtrak's El Capitan in 1971, a few months after Amtrak began operations. It followed a schedule similar to today's Southwest Chief. At the time, there was also another train, named "The Chief". It ran about the same schedule as El Capitan, but about 12 hours off. I remember that El Capitan was a nice looking train, with good employees. When we passed The Chief, it was comprised of various colored cars from various different railroads.
Looking back, I am wondering why Amtrak kept two Santa Fe trains on the same route, and when Amtrak stopped running The Chief.
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
Posted by Super Chief (Member # 665) on :
The El Capitan did not normally run as its own train during 1971. It was part of the combined Super Chief/El Capitan which dates back to 1958. The El Cap would however run as its own section during peak travel periods, which I suspect is what you experienced. The other train you saw must have been the Super Chief. Although you mentioned that it had a rainbow consist, which has me puzzeled. The Amtrak Super Chief/El Capitan consist was practically identical to the Santa Fe's as a third of Amntrak's own cars in 1971 were of Santa Fe heritage. So it puzzels me why the Super Chief would have a rainbow consist. The only other possibility might be that the year you said may be a little off. Because in 1973, Amtrak revised the Chief for three months during the summer. This train most likely would have had a rainbow consist. Also by then many Santa Fe cars were wearing Amtrak red white and blue. But the El Capitan name was dropped from the Super Chief/El Capitan to become just the Super Chief in 1973 as well. So the time when you could ride the El Capitan and see the Chief, in 1973, was for a very brief period. Another interesting note about these trains is that the Santa Fe withdrew the Chief name from all Amtrak trains in 1974, because of much lower quality of service then Santa Fe standards. Thus the Super Chief became the Southwest Limited and the Texas Chief became the Lone Star. When Amtrak put Superliners on the Southwest Limited in 1984, the Santa Fe allowed Amtrak to use the Chief name again. Thus was born todays Southwest Chief. Hope this info can help.
Posted by Konstantin (Member # 18) on :
Actually, the train I rode on was the Super Chief/El Capitan. I remember that we were not supposed to go back in the Super Chief, but we did anyway. I have a picture of myself in the dome car. And it was in 1971, not 1973. I think it was May or June.
We rode from Flagstaff to Albuquerque. The El Capitan arrived early in the morning, and the Chief arrived in the evening. We were thinking about going to Albuquerque on one and returning on the other, but we ended up going on the El Capitan both ways.
I remember when Santa Fe took away the Chief name. I believe they still own the name, and might still use it in the future again.
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
ATSF dumped the Chief in 1968, leaving the Super Chief/El Capitan (17/18) and the Grand Canyon (23/24) as their last LA-Chicago services.
Amtrak brought back the Chief for a 90 day run in 1972, on its same old schedule. I rode it that year. It had 3 Hi-Level coaches, a flat-top lounge and diner, a couple of sleepers, and a slumbercoach.
John
------------------ The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
