This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/web_lurker to TrainWeb.US/web_lurker.

"view from the dome"

A chronological history of new car deliveries, car sales, and wrecks from the first car thru Amtrak day 1... How did the idea for the 'modern' dome originate? Read about it HERE! pic below of model on monument in Glenwood Canyon {Bob Webber collection}

1945 June - CBQ 4714 "Silver Dome" built in CBQ shops - first by far 1947 May - GM "Train of Tomorrow" debuts on Monon December - CBQ "Twin Zephyr" - 10 Budd cars 1948 C&O "Chessie" - 6 Budd cars (ran on 'Pere Marquette" and 'Sportsman') March - CBQ/DRGW/WP "California Zephyr" - 30 Budd cars delivered over next year - CZ starts 3/49. June - MOPAC "Colorado Eagle" - 3 Budd cars 1949 May - B&O "Columbian" - 2 PS cars June - CBQ 4709 "Silver Castle" built in CBQ shops September - DRGW purchases 3 cars from C&O 1950 February - Wabash "Blue Bird" - 4 Budd cars September - UP purchases "Train of Tomorrow" December - B&O purchases 3 cars from C&O December - ATSF - 6 PS 'Pleasure Domes' 1952 CBQ 378 "Silver Lookout" backup observation car for 'CZ' from Budd August - Wabash 1602 - 1 PS "parlor" car August - MOPAC/IGN/T&P - 5 PS cars November - MILW - 10 PS "Super Domes" 1953 February - CBQ "Kansas City Zephyr" - 4 Budd cars May 31 - first serious wreck. MILW 50 burned, but returned to factory and rebuilt for service. 1954 ATSF - 14 Budd "Big Domes" NP/CBQ/SPS "North Coast Limited" - 20 Budd cars July - Canadian Pacific "Dominion" / "Canadian" - 36 Budd cars over next year July - SP homebuilt "3/4" domes - 7 cars debuted thru 5/55 December - UP - 35 ACF cars delivered thru 5/55 1955 GN/CBQ/SPS "Empire Builder" - Budd - 16 short domes, 6 full domes 1956 October - CBQ "Denver Zephyr" - 6 Budd cars 1957 NP 2 Budd backup cars for 'NCL' 1958 December - UP/Wabash - 6 PS cars for "City of St Louis' - (last cars built) 1959 First fatality - CP 15405 "Fundy Park" wrecked 1964 CN purchases 6 'Super Domes' from MILW N&W inherits Wabash 6 cars - leases them but operates in Wabash colors 2 ex GM "Train of Tomorrow" cars scrapped by UP 1965 3rd ex GM "Train of Tomorrow" car scrapped by UP 2nd wreck fatality - CP 508 "skyline" car 1966 N&W purchases 6 Wabash cars 1967 January - Central of Georgia leases ex-Wabash car from N&W MOPAC 895 retired (later scrapped) June - IC purchases remaining 7 cars from MOPAC (1 for parts - MP 893) 1968 December - Central of Georgia buys first ex-Wabash car from N&W 1969 February - UP 9006/9014 to Auto Train startup September - Seaboard Coast Line buys 3 cars from B&O 1970 June - Auto Train purchases WP 811 thru 817 October - Central of Georgia buys 2nd ex Wabash car from N&W SP 3600 retired (later scrapped) CBQ 252 "Silver Roundup" burns May 1, 1971 Southern takes over Central of Georgia cars Amtrak, Auto Train, Alaska RR, railroad business cars, private owners and others disburse the fleet.