Here Comes Walthers Next Hot-Selling Name Train!

If you thought Walthers plated Santa Fe Super Chief went fast, wait 'til you see the all-new El Capitan'. Starting in October 2011, we're rolling out the complete consist in both standard and limited-run Deluxe Edition versions of the famous coach streamliner.

Based on the 1956 consist with its unique Hi-Level cars, the new HO Scale El Capitan has built-in appeal — and these cars can also be run with Walthers Super Chief, just as the Santa Fe did after 1958!

The El Capitan set of cars and engines is complete with all the cars used on the prototype, including Baggage Car, Railway Post Office, Baggage-Dormitory "transition car" with rooftop shroud, Hi-Level 68-Seat Step-Down Coach, Hi-Level 72-Seat Coach, Hi-Level "Sky Lounge," Hi-Level Diner, and Hi-Level 68-Seat Step-Down Coach with Tail Sign to bring up the rear.

Each car comes fully assembled with Walthers real metal "stainless steel" finish, factory-installed grab irons, prototypically tinted windows, correct trucks and much more.

Customers who reserve all eight First Edition cars by August 31, 2011 receive an El Capitan Travel Poster Print, Brochure Replica and Enamel Conquistador Pin — this exclusive package is available only for customers who purchase at least eight cars, and will ship with your final car!

Walthers has also decided to produce new PROTO 2000 37-Class F7s which are perfect for El Capitan and the Super Chief. Finished in Santa Fe's classic Passenger Warbonnet scheme and highlighted by a plated metal finish, choose Sound and DCC versions with full-function Tsunami decoders, or Standard DC models, each with multiple unit numbers, to meet your needs. Typically the El Capitian would consist of 5 F7's in an A-B-B-B-A configuration.

Here is information from Wikipedia regarding what a typical train would consist of if you wish to build it up from component parts:

On July 15, 1956 a new, "Hi-Level" streamliner consist debuted:

• EMD F7A Locomotive #327L
• EMD F7B Locomotive #327A
• EMD F7B Locomotive #327B
• EMD F7B Locomotive #44A
• EMD F7A Locomotive #44L
• Baggage #3521
• Baggage-Dormitory "Transition Car" 3480
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (68 Seats) #536
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #714
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #722
• Hi-Level Diner (80 seats) #653
• Hi-Level "Top Of The Cap" Lounge (88 seats) #577
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #700
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #709
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (72 Seats) #717
• Hi-Level "Chair" car (68 Seats) #529

Santa Fe purchased enough "Hi-Level" equipment to create six complete, nine-car consists. Additionally, six of the railroad's older baggage-dormitory cars had a largely-cosmetic fairing applied to the rear roofline in order to create the distinctive "transition" cars and maintain a streamlined appearance on El Capitan. The dining cars rode on special six-wheel trucks due to their massive weight (all other cars rode on conventional four-wheel trucks). The "Big Domes" were transferred to the Chief pool.

Based on unprecedented sales Walthers had of the plated Super Chief, we expect the El Capitan to sell out very soon after arrival. In fact we talked to Walthers this morning and they were already 50% sold out (Pre-orders) by Dealers. Remember by ordering now prevents missed opportunity and disappointment, and it qualifies you to get the added extra's (El Capitan Travel Poster Print, Brochure Replica and Enamel Conquistador Pin).

All standard cars and locos will be open stock (You will be able to but what ever consist you want) — but please don't wiait to order as we expect the El Capitan will sell-out quickly!

PROTO 2000* Santa Fe 37-Class F7 Diesels

• Prototype Specific Details including:

• Leslie 5-Chime S5T Horn

• 36” Dynamic Brake Fan

• Mars Light

• Vertical FarrType Stainless Steel Grilles

• Real Metal Finish — (Matches Walthers Plated El Capitan & Super Chief Cars)

• Tyically Operated in A-B-B-A Lashups

• Available with Full-Featured Tsunami Sound & DCC Decoder or Standard DC

History:

"Drumhead" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on El Capitan.

El Capitan was one of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was the only coach, or chair car (non-Pullman sleeper) train to operate the Santa Fe main line from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California on the same fast schedule as the road's premier Pullman Super Chief.

This all-coach, streamlined train (assigned Nos. 21 & 22) began operations in February 1938. Not unlike the Pennsylvania Railroad's Trail Blazer, it offered "low-cost passage with high-speed convenience." Originally conceived as the Economy Chief, the name El Capitan was ultimately chosen to honor the Spanish conquistadors and their influence on Southwestern culture, though it didn't hurt that the name seemed to outrank the Union Pacific's Challenger train, with which it was designed to compete. Unique in charging an extra-fare despite being a coach train, it pioneered such features as "RideMaster" seating optimized for sleeping. The original consists were two new Budd Company-built trains of five cars each made of lightweight stainless steel. Each of the two luxury trains were capable of accommodating 188 passengers; fare Chicago to Los Angeles was $5.00 above the $39.50 regular coach fare (in 1938). The 80-foot cars had 52 seats on 41-1/2 inch centers; postwar 85-foot coaches had 44 seats on 52-inch centers.

El Capitan was the first of Santa Fe's trains to utilize the "Big Dome"-Lounge cars, though these were soon given to the Chief in favor of new double-decker "Hi-Level" coaches developed by Budd and the railroad in 1955. These experimental units featured a quieter ride, increased seating capacities, and boasted better views of the Southwestern terrain El Cap passed through and made this train unique and revolutionary. Amtrak's Superliner equipment, which was placed in service along many of Amtrak's long distance routes, were based on the Santa Fe Hi-Level design. The Superliners were designed to be operated along with older Hi-Level cars.

In 1958 the train was combined with the Super Chief and operated under train numbers 17 and 18 through the end of Santa Fe passenger operations. Today the route formerly covered by El Capitan is served by Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Many of Amtrak's trains (especially those in California) consist of a combination of refurbished former Santa Fe Hi-Level cars along with newer Superliner railcar designs. In recent years, four "mothballed" El Capitan lounge cars were removed from storage, refurbished, and placed into service on Amtrak's Coast Starlight as "Pacific Parlour" first-class lounge cars. These refurbished cars feature a service bar, booths, and chairs on the upper level, and a theater on the lower level.