ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY

Lounge Observation Car "Vista Canyon"


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This observation car once ran on the Santa Fe’s premier "Super Chief" train between Chicago and Los Angeles. It had a lounge area at one end with rear facing windows, and private rooms at the other.

It was built as a round-end observation car in 1947, then the round end was squared off in 1956 to allow the car to be used as a mid-train bedroom lounge car for more flexibility.

In 1968 it was sold to a private owner in Enid, Oklahoma, then to Fred and Dale Springer who added a small buffet kitchen in 1994. They ran it for 50,000 miles as a private car on Amtrak trains until donating it to the Arizona Railway Museum in 2001. In 2006 it was leased to Cruising By Rail for five more years of running on Amtrak trains, until returning to the museum.

The "Vista Canyon" was built by Pullman-Standard as one of four cars in lot number 6757, plan 4115 for service on the "Super Chief," with 1 double bedroom, 4 drawing rooms, and a round-end observation lounge. The order was entered in July 1945, with delivery in November 1947. Its length is 82 feet 9 inches over end sills.

The Springers donated the car to the Arizona Railway Museum in 2001. To obtain it, a team from the museum traveled to San Antonio on March 31 of that year. It was attached to the Amtrak "Sunset Limited" and was dropped off in Tucson. A Union Pacific freight train brought it to Phoenix and it was delivered to the museum on April 1, 2001.

The car is being maintained to Amtrak certification standards and is available for charter.


11/23/2021 - View of private bathroom in drawing room and pass-through door (could be opened if adjoining rooms were booked).

11/23/2021 - View of drawing room (made up for sleeping).
11/23/2021 - View of double bedroom.
11/23/2021 - Lounge area.
Rear end of Vista Canyon.
2/27/2013 - Exterior view of car.
2/27/2013 - Interior view of lounge (looking toward front).
2/27/2013 - Interior view of lounge (looking toward rear).
1995 - Vista Canyon parked at Nelson, British Columbia.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Electrical cabinet.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - End of car with public toilet and water stand.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Double bedroom with toilet open.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Double bedroom with toilet closed.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Drawing room toilet.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Drawing room sofa.
11/28/1947 - Pullman construction photo - Public hallway.

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