The Santa Fe El Capitan offered coach travel between Chicago and Los Angeles using hi-level coaches along with a diner and lounge, its double decker hi-level cars providing a greater passenger capacity than traditional single-level trains. The El Capitan was revolutionary in that it offered excellent service and a train schedule that matched the speed of first class sleeper trains such as the “Super Chief” while remaining affordable to the every-day passenger. In fact, in January 1958 the “El Capitan” and “Super Chief” trains were consolidated to run together, though in peak traffic times such as Chrismas or the summer months the two would still keep separate train schedules to accomodate the increased ridership.
Based off of the C&NW Bi-Level commuter cars, the El Capitan Hi-Level cars were the first of their kind to be used in long distance service, pioneering the concept of affordable, reliable service and providing the basis for today’s modern Amtrak fleets (the Amtrak Superliners were, in fact, built off the design of the original Santa Fe Hi-Level coaches and many Santa Fe cars ran alongside Superliners in the early days of Amtrak).
In the late 50’s, the Santa Fe would run the Super Chief and El Capitan as a combined train, with consists that could vary but were often upwards of 18-20 cars. Kato USA has put together a small video presentation featuring this combined consist, as accurately reproduced using cars from both of the classic name train series sets and their supporting add-on packs of cars. Click the image to the left or HERE to visit Kato USA’s youtube page and see this train in motion!
Stock #
Description
Road #
Msrp
Stock #
176-4120-DCC
Description
ALCO PA-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ Pre-Installed DCC
Road #
70L
Msrp
$170
Stock #
176-4120-LS
Description
ALCO PA-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ ESU LokSound DCC
Road #
70L
Msrp
$280
Stock #
176-4121
Description
ALCO PA-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet
Road #
74L
Msrp
$110
Stock #
176-4121-DCC
Description
ALCO PA-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ Pre-Installed DCC
Road #
74L
Msrp
$170
Stock #
176-4121-LS
Description
ALCO PA-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ ESU LokSound DCC
Road #
74L
Msrp
$280
Stock #
176-4122-DCC
Description
ALCO PB-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ Pre-Installed DCC
Road #
70A
Msrp
$160
Stock #
176-4122-LS
Description
ALCO PB-1 Santa Fe Warbonnet w/ ESU LokSound DCC
Road #
70A
Msrp
$270
Stock #
106-084
Santa Fe "El Capitan"
10 Car Set
Description
Baggage-Dormitory
Step Down Coach
Coach
Coach
Diner
Lounge
Coach
Coach
Step Down Coach
Baggage
Road #
3479
536
718
705
650
575
707
721
530
3505
Msrp
$280
Stock #
106-7117
Santa Fe "El Capitan"
2 Car Set
Description
Storage Mail
Coach
Road #
3530
703
Msrp
$55