The Santa Fe #502 is on a private siding on the north end of Affeldt Mion Museum. The restoration project is a collaboration between the Winslow Arts Trust (owner of the car) and Affeldt Mion Museum. Our plan is to focus on a hybrid approach: restore the aesthetics/appearance to the 1957 Santa Fe rework of the car, and repair and update mechanical systems as needed, with a focus on serviceability versus true restoration.

While the total project cost will be hefty, the rarity of the #502 justifies the investment. The #502 is more than a static display; it is a “full-circle” historical asset. During its active service, this car frequently stopped at the very Mary Colter-designed depot where it now resides. If you are interested in supporting the project, you can make a tax deductible donation to the Winslow Arts Trust. On the final checkout page, you can add a note to earmark for the #502.

In January of 1951, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway revolutionized luxury travel with the introduction of the Pleasure Dome on the legendary Super Chief—the preferred train for Hollywood celebrities traveling between Chicago and Los Angeles. Built by Pullman-Standard, these six cars were designed to be the ultimate in rail travel.

All six Pleasure Domes have been preserved, but our Plaza Lamy #502 is the only one still located on the original Chicago to Los Angeles line!

The Pleasure Dome, with its famed “Turquoise Room” private dining room, contributed to the Super Chiefs reputation for elegance and luxury. The name is derived from a line in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan.

The Pleasure Domes were designed specifically to give passengers an unobstructed view of the stunning Southwestern landscapes, like the Raton Pass. Unlike standard “dome” cars of the era, the Pleasure Dome featured a revolving parlor seat section in the dome, allowing passengers to turn their chairs to face any direction.

The Pleasure Domes weren’t just about the view; they were social hubs divided into several distinct zones:

• The Dome | Upper Level | Observation area with 16 revolving seats and 18 fixed seats.
• Main Lounge | Lower Level | A plush social area with a cocktail bar and comfortable sofas.
• Turquoise Room | Lower Level | A private dining room (the only one of its kind on a scheduled train).
• Lower Lounge | Lower Level | A more intimate lounge space.

The #502 was used on the luxury Super Chief, which went through Winslow from 1937 to 1971.

In 2015, Allan Affeldt discovered the Santa Fe #502 on a siding in Lamy, New Mexico. He and friend Richard Tower purchased the railcar and donated it to the Winslow Arts Trust. The BNSF railway graciously moved the car to a private siding at Affeldt Mion Museum in 2016 for one dollar with the eventual goal of opening the #502 to the public.