In 1971 Amtrak, “America’s Railroad”, was born, and with it was born the responsibility of maintaining America’s passenger services. Taking up among others the Santa Fe’s luxury “Super Chief” and coach class “El Capitan” trains, Amtrak quickly set about attempting to create its own image for these classic stainless trains, adorning them with bold red, white and blue stripes and the Chevron logo (known today as Phase I colors) which would be synonymous with Amtrak service for nearly three decades.

Amtrak continued to operate the “El Capitan” and “Super Chief” trains in combined consists for a number of years before retiring the historic “El Capitan” name, but the legacy of the train’s double decker cars would live on, both in the form of first-class “Pacific Parlour” lounge cars and in the design of the Superliners which would take form and inspiration from the Hi-level car’s revolutionary design.

1. Brand new paint and numbering for the Santa Fe Cars to represent their post1971 appearance.
2. 10 Car boxed set with display Unitrack and special packaging, unique from previous “El Capitan”
   releases.
3. Sleek, smooth rolling low profile all-wheel electrical pickup allow interior lighting of all cars with optional
   11-211 or 11-212 Version 2 interior lighting kits!
4. Will be released with matching “Yellow Bonnet” EMD F7A and F7B locomotives to match the train’s
   early Amtrak operations.
5. For Locomotives to pull this era train click here

Following the very successful release of the California Zephyr, the Broadway Limited, the Coast Daylight and the Super Chief, we are now excited to bring you "El Capitan"

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).

Santa Fe's “El Capitan” offered coach travel between Chicago and Los Angeles. As re-equipped in 1954 with hi-level coaches, a diner and lounge, its double decker high-level cars provided a greater passenger capacity than previous trains.

• Specific interior and exterior details
• Shock absorber construction gives even traction and performance, even on the roughest track
• Hi-level coach with a continuous lighted drumhead and red marker lights
• All detail parts installed
• Interior of cars can be lighted with optional installation of #11-210 Interior Light Kit
  with white LED
• DCC friendly
• Designed to be pulled by KATO “F-Units”
• With (8) 20-000 straight track and (1) type C bumper)

Click above for full size view