Santa Fe de Luxe
Passenger train / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Santa Fe de Luxe was the first extra-fare named passenger train on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (April 2011) |
Santa Fe de Luxe | |
---|---|
Overview | |
First service | December 12, 1911 |
Last service | May 1, 1917 |
Former operator(s) | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway |
Route | |
Termini | Chicago Los Angeles |
The de Luxe (meaning something luxurious, or elegant) started on December 12, 1911, on a seasonal weekly schedule between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. It was the first train the Santa Fe called "Extra Fast - Extra Fine - Extra Fare." It was conceived by company president Edward Payson Ripley as the Santa Fe equivalent to the 20th Century Limited (New York Central) and Broadway Limited (Pennsylvania Railroad).
The trip took 63 hours each way and the sixty passengers paid a surcharge of $25 each way. Passengers could only board in Chicago, Los Angeles, Kansas City, or at Williams, Arizona (where those heading to the Grand Canyon boarded a train of the Grand Canyon Railway.
On arrival at Summit in Cajon Pass in California eastbound passengers were presented with orchid corsages (for the ladies) and engraved pigskin wallets (for the men). On the westbound run, ladies received a bouquet of flowers and a basket of California oranges, while the men got the usual wallet.
The de Luxe was not essential to the war effort and was withdrawn on May 1, 1917.