The Southern Pacific's Train No. 52, the San Joaquin Daylight, pulled by four EMD F-units with an SP-built "Stairway to the Stars"
Dome-Lounge car, traveling through the Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California. Photo courtesy Southern Pacific.
(Lyman E. Cox, Sacramento, CA, Public domain, W. Lenheim Collection)
SOUTHERN PACIFIC "STAIRWAY TO THE STARS" DOME CAR
The Southern Pacific Railroad built six of their own full-length dome cars in house from older cars, as existing manufactured cars from Budd and Pullman were too tall for the SP's tunnels. The cars were numbered 3600 - 3606 and built in 1954-1955.
The first car, No. 3600, was built in 1954 and was formerly round end parlor-observation car No. 2950, built in 1937. It was 81 ft. long and the only car that was actually a 3/4 length dome. The remaining 1/4 space was used as sleeper space for the crew. This car was used on the San Joaquin Daylight and retired by the SP in 1970. It was finally scrapped in 1973.
For clearance purposes, the dome extended only 20 inches above the roofline. This eliminated forward visibility and space for amenities under the dome area such as restrooms, or passageways was unavailable. Passengers climbed upstairs, then downstairs, as they passed through the cars.
As the stairs went from the lounge to the dome and were a main focal point, Southern Pacific decided to name them "Stairway to the Stars".
A Southern Pacific print ad touting the Stairway to the stars, ca. 1955.
(Southern Pacific, W. Lenheim Collection)
No. 3601 was built from Texas & New Orleans parlor car No. 700, originally manufactured by Pullman-Standard in 1937. It went into service in March of 1955 on the San Francisco Overland. The main level had a small cocktail lounge at one end of the car. The dome extended over it, and the windows in the lounge were 5 ft. wide. With an 11 foot high partial glass ceiling, the view from inside was spectacular. This car and all to follow were 85 ft. long and had a full-length dome with a 3/4 length upper floor beneath the glass.
No. 3601 received smooth sides in 1970 and was sold to Amtrak (No. 9370) in 1972. It was wrecked in 1977, retired and sold for scrap in 1978.
An interior view of an SP full-length dome car, ca. 1955.
(Southern Pacific Transportation Company, via W. Lenheim Collection)
No. 3602 was former lunch counter-tavern-lounge car No. 10311 built by Pullman-Standard in 1937. This car seated 34 in the dome. Beginning in April of 1955 it was used in San Francisco Overland service, and sold to Amtrak (9371) in 1972. It was last sold to a private individual in 2005 and was to be restored.
No. 3603 was former lunch counter-tavern-lounge car No. 10310 built by Pullman-Standard in 1937. This car seated 34 in the dome. Beginning in April of 1955 it was used in San Francisco Overland service, and sold to Amtrak (9372) in 1972. It was retired and sold in 1980. It was rebuilt and in 2001 was in use on the Panama Railway as Rio Chagres.
No. 3604 was former No. 3000, a 29-seat, one drawing room car built by Pullman-Standard in 1937. In May of 1955 it went into service on the San Joaquin Daylight. It was given smooth sides in 1968-1969, and retired in 1970. It was leased by Amtrak in 1971 (SP 9374) and sold to Amtrak (Amtrak 9374) in 1972. It was again retired in 1981, later saw dinner train service in Minnesota and was last seen in use as a stationary restaurant.
No. 3605 was rebuilt from tavern car No. 10312, built by Pullman-Standard in 1937. The upper-dome lounge could seat 48. It began service on the Shasta Daylight in May of 1955. The car was given smooth sides in 1969 and sold to Amtrak (9374) in 1972. Purchased by the Royal Gorge Railway, who planned restoration, it has now been acquired by the Canadian Pacific Railway and renovated as an executive car; it carries the number CP 3605 and is named "Selkirk."
No. 3606 was rebuilt from ex-Texas & New Orleans No. 950, a round-ended diner-lounge-observation car built by Pullman-Standard in 1937. In May of 1955 it began service on the Shasta Daylight. It received smooth sides in 1968, and was retired in 1970. It was rejected for use by Amtrak and sold for scrap in 1971. It was last seen in use as stationary retail space in Rocklin, CA.