The “Pleasure Dome” lounge cars were introduced by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) in 1950. They were the crown jewels of the legendary Super Chief—the “Train of the Stars” that ran between Chicago and Los Angeles.
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. Built by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, only six of these cars were ever produced (numbered #500–505). Amtrak retained all six cars and continued to operate them until 1980 when they were retired.
All six have been preserved, but our Plaza Lamy #502 is the only one still located on the original Chicago to Los Angeles line!
We never imagined finding one of these fabled railcars or having one in Winslow for our visitors. The 502 was purchased by Allan Affeldt and Richard Tower for the Winslow Arts Trust in 2015, and BNSF Railway moved it to Winslow for $1!
The AMM and Winslow Arts Trust will be restoring the car and eventually opening it to the public. If you’d like to contribute to the project click the button below.
