The Santa Fe Super Chief was one of America’s most celebrated passenger trains, providing first-class streamlined service between Chicago and Los Angeles. During the 1950s it represented the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway’s premier passenger service, combining fast schedules with private sleeping accommodations, dining and lounge facilities.
This TrainReference page preserves a period promotional look at the Super Chief and provides historical context for the train during its classic 1950s era.
At a Glance
- Railroad: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
- Train: Super Chief
- Train numbers: 17 westbound / 18 eastbound
- Route: Chicago – Los Angeles
- Service: First-class, extra-fare streamliner
- 1950s accommodation: All-private-room sleeping-car service
- Frequency: Daily
- 1952 scheduled time: 39¾ hours
The Super Chief in the 1950s
By the early 1950s, the Super Chief had become Santa Fe’s premier all-private-room passenger train between Chicago and Los Angeles. Santa Fe timetables advertised it as a daily lightweight streamlined extra-fare train, with westbound service operating as Train 17 and eastbound service as Train 18.
The train had become a daily operation by the late 1940s, and in 1951 it was re-equipped with new passenger cars. The resulting train combined streamlined styling with private sleeping accommodations and an extensive collection of onboard amenities.
Chicago to Los Angeles
A 1952 Santa Fe timetable scheduled the Super Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles in approximately 39¾ hours.
The route crossed the Midwest and Southwest through locations including Kansas City, La Junta, Albuquerque, Winslow, Needles and Barstow before reaching Southern California.
Unlike a conventional coach train, the Super Chief of this period was an extra-fare sleeping-car train built around private accommodations.
Life Aboard the Super Chief
Santa Fe promoted the Super Chief as much for the experience aboard the train as for transportation between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Period consists included several types of private sleeping accommodations along with dining and lounge facilities. One of the train’s signature cars was the Pleasure Dome lounge, which included the private Turquoise Room dining area.
Contemporary timetables also advertised radio and recorded musical programs. Meals were served in the dining car, continuing Santa Fe’s long association with Fred Harvey dining service.
Diesel Power
During the early 1950s, streamlined EMD F-series diesel locomotives in Santa Fe’s famous red-and-silver passenger colors were closely associated with the Super Chief.
Multiple locomotives were normally used to provide the power required for the long, fast passenger train across the more than 2,000-mile Chicago–Los Angeles route.
A Santa Fe Flagship
The Super Chief became one of the best-known named passenger trains in the United States. Its combination of streamlined equipment, private sleeping accommodations, dining service and fast transcontinental schedule made it Santa Fe’s flagship passenger train during the classic streamliner era.
The train continued under Santa Fe operation until the beginning of Amtrak in 1971. Its name and heritage remain closely associated with Santa Fe passenger service and the history of rail travel between Chicago and Southern California.
Original TrainReference Image
The original image preserved with this TrainReference article reflects the promotional presentation of Santa Fe’s Super Chief.
Historical References
Super Chief Model Trains
The Santa Fe Super Chief has been reproduced by numerous model-train manufacturers in several scales. Current listings related to Super Chief locomotives, passenger cars and train sets are shown below.
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 Lionel 2627110, 2627120 Santa Fe Super Chief Pullman 2 Pack A & B (4 21” Cars) |  KATO HO Scale Santa Fe Super Chief Starter Passenger Train Set 106-0018 |
LIONEL 6-28905 SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF FT A NON POWERED ENGINE-NEW
LIONEL SANTA FE SUPER CHIEF 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOXCAR freight MUSA 2338070 NEW
Lionel Series 1 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Super Chief F3
1958 Kellogg's Corn Flakes Santa Fe Super Chief Train Set Mantua Complete Box
