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The ''El Capitan'' was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ("Santa Fe") between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. It operated from 1938 to 1971; Amtrak retained the name until 1973. The ''El Capitan'' was the only all-coach or "chair car" (non-Pullman sleeper) to operate on the Santa Fe main line between Chicago and Los Angeles on the same fast schedule as the railroad's premier all-Pullman ''Super Chief''. It was also the first train to receive the pioneering Hi-Level equipment with which it would become synonymous. == History == The ''El Capitan'' debuted on February 22, 1938 on a twice-weekly schedule, using two five-car sets of streamlined equipment built by the Budd Company. Like the Pennsylvania Railroad's ''Trail Blazer'', it offered "low-cost passage with high-speed convenience." Fare Chicago to Los Angeles was $5.00 above the $39.50 regular coach fare in 1938. Originally conceived as the ''Economy Chief'', the name ''El Capitan'' was chosen to commemorate the Spanish conquistadors; it competed for passenger traffic with Union Pacific's ''Challenger''. Unique in charging an extra-fare despite being a coach train, it pioneered such features as "RideMaster" seats optimized for sleeping. On its inaugural run the ''El Capitan'' left the main line at Williams and traveled up the Grand Canyon Railway to Grand Canyon Depot. In regular operation passengers bound for the Grand Canyon would connect at Williams. In its first year and a half the ''El Capitan'' ran at 80% capacity, superior to similar services. Reservations had to be made weeks in advance. In 1942 the consist expanded to 12 cars. On September 29, 1946 the ''El Capitan'' began running every other day, departing Los Angeles and Chicago on odd-numbered days (except the 31st). Together with the ''Super Chief'' on even-numbered days, the two trains formed what the Santa Fe billed as "the first and only daily hour service between Chicago and California." In 1948 the Santa Fe received additional equipment which permitted the ''Super Chief'' and ''El Capitan'' to start operating daily; the new schedules went into effect on February 29. The extra-fare charges were dropped from both ''El Capitan'' and the ''Chief'' on December 14, 1953. ''El Capitan'' was one of the first Santa Fe trains to use the Budd-built "Big Dome"-Lounge cars, though these were soon given to the ''Chief'' in favor of new double-decker "Hi-Level" chair cars (coaches) developed by Budd and the railroad in 1954–1956. These experimental cars had a quieter ride, increased seating capacities, and better views. The Sante Fe combined the ''Super Chief'' and ''El Capitan'' on January 12, 1958. The combined train used the ''Super Chiefs numbers, 17 and 18, but the Santa Fe continued to use both names. On its formation Amtrak continued the combined ''Super Chief''/''El Capitan'' designation until April 29, 1973, when it dropped the ''El Capitan'' portion. Today the route of the ''El Capitan'' is served by Amtrak's ''Southwest Chief''. Many Amtrak trains used a combination of refurbished former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars with newer Superliner railcars until the early 2000s. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「El Capitan (train)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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