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. Amtrak retained all six cars and continued to operate them until 1980 when they were retired. All six were preserved. 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. Built by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, only six of these cars were ever produced (numbered #500–505).
Plaza Acoma#500 – United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey
Plaza Laguna # 501 – The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (Cumberland, MD)
Plaza Lamy #502 – WINSLOW ARTS TRUST @ LA POSADA HOTEL
Plaza Santa Fe #503 – Heber Valley Railroad (Heber City, Utah)
Plaza Taos # 504 – Arizona Railway Museum (Chandler, AZ)
Plaza Zuni #505 – Niles Canyon Railway (Sunol, CA)
They were designed specifically to give passengers an unobstructed view of the stunning Southwestern landscapes, like the Raton Pass.
The Dome: 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 Glass: The dome used heat-resistant, non-glare “Solex” glass to keep the desert sun from overheating the interior.
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.
Each Pleasure Dome included a step-down bar, and a step-up dome with 360-degree views. On one end was a large lounge with lit-and-perforated ceiling panels that twinkled at night like the heavens. On the other end was the legendary ‘Turquoise Room’ – the finest private dining room on rails, and the namesake of our wonderful restaurant at La Posada. Mary Colter designed the Mimbreno china used in the dining car; china that remained in use until Amtrak took over service in the 1970s.
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.
