This section covers the fourteen full domes built by Budd and delivered to the Santa Fe in 1954.
They were lower than the short domes at 15'7", the lower height being accomplished by elimination of the central air conditioning duct in the ceiling. The cars had a large semi-circular register in the wall of the blind end of the dome, with air flowing to the stairwell.
The first 8, ATSF#506-513 were for "El Capitan" and "Chicagoan"/"Kansas Cityan" service, had a 28 seat bar-lounge downstairs and a room for a courier-nurse. Two years later, the "Cap" went hi-level, and the domes moved to the "Chief".
The last six, ATSF#550-555 were for the "San Francisco Chief" and had a reduced size lounge and a crew dorm that slept 12.
All of the cars had 57 coach seats and 18 lounge seats under the dome area.
Although none of these cars "officially" moved on to Amtrak, they actually were operated for Amtrak under short term lease in the first month or so of operation by Santa Fe on Amtrak trains until other cars could be substituted (Amtrak was unable to meet the ATSF price for the cars).
After "retirement", Auto-Train grabbed the 13 available (ATSF retained one).
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