Lunch Anyone?

Lunch Counter Diner

Build Date: 1948

Builder: Edward G. Budd Company

Road: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1550

Beginning in the early 1930s, the railroads began a program of modernizing passenger trains using railroad cars of lighter, streamlined passenger trains constructed of aluminum or stainless steel. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's "Pioneer Zephyr," began operation in 1934 and caused a sensation with its record breaking inaugural run. The entire three car stainless steel trainset weighed 197,000 pounds - less than a single "heavyweight" Pullman car. The streamlined train came to represent the newest and finest in rail travel as the railroads sought to compete with airlines and the interstate highway system, and largely replaced the once common heavyweight Pullmans. Indeed, sleeping cars built by the Edward G. Budd company and owned by the railroads were a direct challenge to the traditional Pullman built, owned and operated sleeping car. The museum's most recent acquisitions are five stainless steel cars of similar construction to the Pioneer Zephyr, which illustrate the evolution of railroad passenger car construction following the heavyweight era.

Santa Fe's all - coach, extra fare streamlined El Capitan increased in frequency from bi-weekly to daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles in 1948. The large number of patrons on the El Capitan required two lunch counter dining cars to be used on each train. Fourteen could be seated at the lunch counter and another 20 at tables, and the menu included a la carte and table d'hote meals by Fred Harvey. Lunch counter diners could be also be found in service on the Texas Chief and Grand Canyon, especially after the El Capitan was equipped with new hi-level equipment including 80 seat dining cars in 1956. Lunch counter car 1550 was retired by the Santa Fe and was used as a restaurant, but still retains its original Southwestern inspired décor from its days on the Santa Fe. Santa Fe lunch counter diner car 1550 was purchased in 2005. Sister car number 1554 is also owned by the museum and was a gift from Katherine Schulz.