I was a frequent passenger on the "Texas Chief" from 1956 to 1973. Besides the upgrade to hi-level coaches, the "Big Dome" lounge car was, by far, the nicest improvement on the TC. I rode from Temple, TX to Chillicothe, IL. I spent many hours in the dome. During holiday season, it wasn't always easy to find a seat. When coach was sold out, the overflow passengers were seated in the dome. The Houston-Chicago sleeper was often "Pine Beach", another Budd passenger car. It was a wonderful ride, especially when we hit 90-mph ATS territory. Amtrak never equaled the service and amenities of the Santa Fe. I am very happy to see that a "Big Dome" survives and is providing passengers a glimpse into mainline passenger railroading.
Nice tour of a beautifully maintained car. I work for the Reading & Northern Railroad in eastern Pennsylvania where we have three full-length dome cars - 1 Budd and 2 Pullmans. They're our most popular cars, and I very much enjoy riding and working in them. Great to see others still in use at other railroads too. Hopefully I'll visit your railroad and go for a ride someday.
I was pleasantly surprised when you climbed the stairs and I saw the roof overhead. IIRC, other roads (MILW and another of the Northern Route companies) had full-length dome cars built with "greenhouses" up there. I'm sure the glass was tinted, but imagine the temperature of the summer sun heating up everything beneath all that glass! It must be a lovely way to see the country through which you're traveling---instead of a fluffy carpet of clouds beneath you and nothing to the sides. I've flown, taking along enough reading material to occupy my time, and I've traveled by train, where my only reading was done while I ate lunch. Too much to see outside my window and from the rear vestibule seen through the open tops of the Dutch doors and out the back, above the folding gate. Thanks for the tour.
Rode in first class when I went up to Duluth. Amazing experience. On our trip back, a man was loitering around the track and he eventually just moved off the track.
When the San Francisco Chief was running, I rode number 3 and 4 several times. I remember riding in these dome cars. I road the last east bound from Amarillo to Pampa, Texas when I was sixteen.
I rode an all dome train on Amtrak on July 4th a few years ago! At La Crosse, Wisconsin the train stopped on the bridge ! As we ate "All American Hotdogs" we watch fireworks shooting over our car!
My family did a an Auto train trip in the 70s We had dinner in the dome car however, it was an evening train run..not much to see. Before The Auto Train went under it did have a derailment. Soon after it left the station in Lorton VA .a bunch of the car carriers left the track. No one was injured thank goodness! The company decided to uncouple the wrecked cars and continued to Florida..LOL ( leaving passengers cars in the wrecked carrier..no wonder they got out the business)
Just FYI, you should let your social media person know that "Sky View" is two words. You can see the space between them right on the side of the car. Also, "dome car" is two separate words. That's a stainless steel car, by the way. Definitely not aluminum. TIG stands for "Tungsten Inert Gas", but the welding process used by Budd is called "Shot Welding" and was invented by Earl J. Ragsdale, a Budd mechanical engineer. If you people want to call yourselves a railroad museum, I suggest you do your due diligence and perform research on a piece before posting a video like this. Oh, and get a social media person/station master who has better grammar skills.
I was a frequent passenger on the "Texas Chief" from 1956 to 1973. Besides the upgrade to hi-level coaches, the "Big Dome" lounge car was, by far, the nicest improvement on the TC. I rode from Temple, TX to Chillicothe, IL. I spent many hours in the dome. During holiday season, it wasn't always easy to find a seat. When coach was sold out, the overflow passengers were seated in the dome. The Houston-Chicago sleeper was often "Pine Beach", another Budd passenger car. It was a wonderful ride, especially when we hit 90-mph ATS territory. Amtrak never equaled the service and amenities of the Santa Fe. I am very happy to see that a "Big Dome" survives and is providing passengers a glimpse into mainline passenger railroading.
Nice tour of a beautifully maintained car. I work for the Reading & Northern Railroad in eastern Pennsylvania where we have three full-length dome cars - 1 Budd and 2 Pullmans. They're our most popular cars, and I very much enjoy riding and working in them. Great to see others still in use at other railroads too. Hopefully I'll visit your railroad and go for a ride someday.
I rode Santa Fe passenger trains in the early 1960’s. That included the double deck El Capitan. Santa Fe was a class act.
I was pleasantly surprised when you climbed the stairs and I saw the roof overhead. IIRC, other roads (MILW and another of the Northern Route companies) had full-length dome cars built with "greenhouses" up there. I'm sure the glass was tinted, but imagine the temperature of the summer sun heating up everything beneath all that glass! It must be a lovely way to see the country through which you're traveling---instead of a fluffy carpet of clouds beneath you and nothing to the sides. I've flown, taking along enough reading material to occupy my time, and I've traveled by train, where my only reading was done while I ate lunch. Too much to see outside my window and from the rear vestibule seen through the open tops of the Dutch doors and out the back, above the folding gate. Thanks for the tour.
The thing that made dome cars habitable was massive air conditioning units.
You are so lucky to have the Budd dome car. It is lucky to be in the care of the LSRM!
What an outstanding passenger car……have always loved the dome cars. Thanks for sharing 👍
The material is NOT aluminum, it is stainless steel. And the process that Budd developed to join it is shotweld.
I can't wait to ride on it!
Rode in first class when I went up to Duluth. Amazing experience. On our trip back, a man was loitering around the track and he eventually just moved off the track.
I cant believe that a car like that is worth so much! RIP mic wind cover! Thanks for your awesome channel!
The royal George has a bunch of these cars and there really cool to ride in !
The train car is made from Stainless Steel not Aluminum. Budd worked out how to weld Stainless Steel.
I'm glad you said it, now I don't have to say it. LOL
Wasn't one of the first uses of the new SS welding (shot welding, yes?) technique to build the Burlington Zephyr?
I was always taught TIG stood for "tungsten inert gas". Not sure what "Ignatius" has got to do with anything. 🙄
Money. They care more about that then preservation.
When the San Francisco Chief was running, I rode number 3 and 4 several times. I remember riding in these dome cars. I road the last east bound from Amarillo to Pampa, Texas when I was sixteen.
I always enjoy the history about each of the Railroads I learn from you guys.
Thank you.
Royal Gorge RR in Canon City Colorado has one. i've been on it. it was quite the treat.
I rode an all dome train on Amtrak on July 4th a few years ago! At La Crosse, Wisconsin the train stopped on the bridge ! As we ate "All American Hotdogs" we watch fireworks shooting over our car!
I always thought the dome cars were made out of stainless steel?
That's what I thought it really looks like stainless to me..
All Budd cars were “shot-welded” stainless steel.
I have two of these on my N scale model railroad in Westtour paint I got in a Bachman set 13 years ago.
Nice cars. I have 2 Santa Fe full domes in HO brass.
The ultimate private varnish if you can make it happen. Lounge, king bedroom & bathroom with hot tub all under that glass dome. Sign me up
I've agreed to Ken's situation which are in true topics!
Cheers!
My family did a an Auto train trip in the 70s We had dinner in the dome car however, it was an evening train run..not much to see. Before The Auto Train went under it did have a derailment. Soon after it left the station in Lorton VA .a bunch of the car carriers left the track. No one was injured thank goodness! The company decided to uncouple the wrecked cars and continued to Florida..LOL ( leaving passengers cars in the wrecked carrier..no wonder they got out the business)
This car previously was with Iowa Pacific before it went bankrupt. It is Amtrak certified as well.
How could a museum not know this car is made of stainless steel, not aluminum. Big error.
Yep. Not really a museum I guess. Just a money making adventure instead of preservation.
Hello! The stove, does work with gas? And the oven? Both work with gas? Thanks for your attention
I have a Inquiry about the North Shore Scenic, does it allow Passengers to view from the Open Vestibules and walk around to the Open Baggage Car?
Great video. Just subbed your channel.
I remember when my family went to see it it’s nothing as it looks on video in really life
Santa Fe had the best big dome cars of all railroads including Amtrak.
Dome cars needed very big air conditioning units.
Love your videos, but this one misses. That is a stainless steel car. Tell the story of stainless steel, not aluminum!
TIG = Tungsten Inert Gas...
Stainless Steel mate not aluminium
That is stainless steel, NOT aluminum. Only Union Pacific had aluminum dome cars, and all were short domes. Do your research before posting videos.
Thank you for the update. I always thought that the Budd Company pioneered shot-welded stainless steel, not aluminum.
Stainless steel, not aluminum. Get your facts right
Just FYI, you should let your social media person know that "Sky View" is two words. You can see the space between them right on the side of the car. Also, "dome car" is two separate words.
That's a stainless steel car, by the way. Definitely not aluminum. TIG stands for "Tungsten Inert Gas", but the welding process used by Budd is called "Shot Welding" and was invented by Earl J. Ragsdale, a Budd mechanical engineer. If you people want to call yourselves a railroad museum, I suggest you do your due diligence and perform research on a piece before posting a video like this. Oh, and get a social media person/station master who has better grammar skills.
I remember when my family went to see it it’s nothing as it looks on video in really life
Better or worse?
@@memahselfni a lot better