Santa Fe El Capitan

Just say “Santa Fe” to anyone in the realm of railroading and they’ll likely think “Super Chief”! Truly, that Chicago-Los Angeles first-class-only streamliner was about as top notch as they got here in North America — but here I’m focusing on the Super’s companion train, the all-coach El Capitan — specifically the 1956 version.
...
Ridership on Santa Fe trains remained super strong into the early 1950s, and by this time, the railroad had learned not to ignore the coach-travel market. Even in the 1930s Santa Fe felt there was a market for a fast, deluxe, all-coach train with high-end appointments (e.g., lounge-observation cars and full-service diners) whose schedule mirrored that of the Super Chief. Thus was born, in 1938, El Capitan. As with the Super Chief, the El Cap operated on a 39¾ -hour schedule between Chicago and L.A., though initially it was just twice weekly. El Capitan was an immediate hit.

Like so many U.S. railroads, Santa Fe got caught in the post-World War II euphoria that prompted new, streamlined trains or the re-equipping of earlier trains with modern, lightweight equipment. In 1947, both the Super Chief and El Capitan were re-equipped, and both put in daily service. By the end of 1951, both trains had received still more new equipment, including the Super Chief’s new Pleasure Dome lounge cars, complete with a private dining room, no less — but that’s another story.
...