Kato Santa Fe Super Chief & Amtrak Southwest Limited Passenger Cars

In 1935 the Santa Fe inaugurated its premier first class sleeping car only train the "Super Chief". The "Super Chief", often referred to as "The Train of the Stars", was frequently patronized by Hollywood stars because of its fine accommodations, fine dinning and fast 39 hr 45 min trip between Chicago and Los Angeles through the rich scenery of the American Southwest. Setting a new standard for luxury rail travel, it quickly became the most recognized train in the United States with its sleek silver and red warbonnet painted F units in the lead.

Consists -

While a full and complete consist is possible with the use of all three of our car sets, we understand that layout size limitations can sometimes put a damper on even the most enthusiastic railfan's plans. Shown below are some consists possible using one, two, or all three sets of our Santa Fe Super Chief passenger car sets!

Passenger Car Features -

- Each car has a beautiful "stainless steel" body
- Each car is equipped with low flange wheels, KATO magnetic knuckle couplers and shock absorber construction for smooth and reliable operation
- Pleasure Dome with accurate "straight-shaped dome" and Sleeper-Lounge-Observation with unique illuminated "Super Chief" tailsign
- Interior of cars can be lighted with optional installation of #11-209/210 Interior Light Kit with White LED (Light Kit with White LED is DCC friendly)

Not pictured - Baggage-Express #3466, RPO #82, Palm Star, Palm Haven, Palm Stream (ACF 10-6 Sleeper), Pleasure Dome #503, Diner #600, Dormitory Lounge #1342, Regal Arms, Regal Gate, Regal Hunt (ACF 4-4-2 Sleeper), Vista Heights (Sleeper-Lounge-Observation)

When Amtrak took over the Santa Fe's Super Chief train, it originally retained the name of the classic silver streamlined service. In 1974, the name was changed from Super Chief to Southwest Limited, a name it retained for 10 years before becoming the Southwest Chief. Like the Super Chief, the Southwest Limited was made up of a mixture of ACF, Pullman and Budd-built stainless steel cars, the same basic consist as the original Santa Fe Train. Like the Santa Fe had done before it, Amtrak combined the ex-Super Chief and ex-El Capitan Hi-level cars in its Southwest Limited service, the single-level cars being used as the 1st class portion of the consist.

The Kato Southwest Limited set consists of various cars from their Super Chief set done up in Amtrak livery (Baggage #1171, Pullman Sleeper "Indian Mesa", Budd Sleeper "Pine Leaf", ACF Sleeper "Regal Dome", Dome-Lounge #9350, Dining Car #8070, Budd Sleeper "Pine Dale", Budd Sleeper "Pacific Falls"). The Indian Mesa, Pine Leaf and Pine Dale sleepers are new tooling (available exclusively in this set).