The president of the CB&Q had his own shops convert a coach into the first "pattern" dome car, "Silver Dome" (a coach), in 1945. This car (and a sister 'homebuilt') did not have depressed flooring below the dome, thus the center area had seating due to the low ceiling, and aisles down each side (car plans are displayed under the 4709).
Within six month, Burlington, Western Pacific, and DRGW placed a combined order of 30 domes to outfit the "California Zephyr", with Burlington's share of the "pool" being 13 cars (and a 14th "protection" car added later). They were delivered in 1948. See the link at the end of this page for an equipment roster.
Preceeding the "CZ" deliverys, Burlington ordered and received 10 domes in 1947 for the "Twin Zephyr", which were the first domes delivered with curved vs flat glass (8 coaches and 2 lounge/observations).
Additional cars were another "home built" coach in 1949 (to "balance out" the Twin Zephyr consists where the first home-built "pattern" dome was then assigned), 4 Budds for the "Kansas City Zephyr" in 1953 (2 coach/buffet/dorm/lounges and 2 parlor/observations), 4 for a "pool" share in the "North Coast Limited" in 1954 (2 sleepers and 2 coaches), 3 for a "pool" share of the "Empire Builder" in 1955 ("Great Dome Coaches"), and 6 for the "Denver Zephyr" in 1956 (2 each coaches, dorm/coffee shops, parlor/observations).
All Burlington domes were built by Budd except the 2 built in their own shops, and those were built from Budd cars with Budd assistance.
Also, the "norm" was for round-end observation cars, but the later KCZ and DZ observation cars were square-ended.
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