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| imagesize = 300px
| imagesize = 300px
| imagealt =
| imagealt =
| caption = An Astra Dome lounge-observation car brings up the rear of the ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]'' in the 1950s.
| caption = Dome lounge-observation car on the ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]'' circa 1955
| interiorimage = Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland Astra Dome dining car.JPG
| interiorimage = Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland dome dining car.JPG
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption = The upper-level dining area in an Astra Dome dining car.
| interiorcaption = Upper level in a dome dining car
| service =
| service =
| manufacturer = [[American Car and Foundry]]
| manufacturer = [[American Car and Foundry]]
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| notes =<ref name="trainweb" />
| notes =<ref name="trainweb" />
}}
}}
The '''Astra Domes''' were a fleet of [[streamliner|streamlined]] [[dome car]]s built by the [[American Car and Foundry Company]] ("ACF") for the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] in 1954–1955. ACF built a total of 35 cars including [[Passenger car (rail)|coaches]], [[dining car]]s, and [[observation car]]s. After the Union Pacific exited the passenger business in 1971 the [[Auto-Train Corporation]] purchased most of the fleet and operated them for an additional ten years.
[[American Car and Foundry Company]] ("ACF") built a fleet of [[streamliner|streamlined]] [[dome car]]s for the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] in 1954–1955: 35 cars including [[Passenger car (rail)|coaches]], [[dining car]]s, and [[observation car]]s. After the Union Pacific left the passenger business in 1971 the [[Auto-Train Corporation]] purchased most of the fleet and used them for ten years.


==Design==
==Design==
ACF produced three types of domes for the Union Pacific: coaches, dining cars, and observation cars. The ten dining cars were unique: the only dome dining cars (aside from GM's ''Train of Tomorrow'') ever built for a United States railroad.<ref name="wegman" />{{rp|146}} The cars featured seating on both levels: 18 in the upper level in booths and 18 in the lower level at tables. Also located on the lower level was a kitchen, pantry, and private dining room with seating for 10. A [[Dumbwaiter (elevator)|dumbwaiter]] connected the two levels.<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|166}}
ACF built three types of domes: coaches, dining cars, and observation cars. The ten dining cars were the only dome dining cars (aside from GM's ''Train of Tomorrow'') ever built for a United States railroad.<ref name="wegman" />{{rp|146}} They seated 18 in the upper level in booths and 18 in the lower level at tables. The kitchen, pantry, and private dining room with seating for 10 were on the lower level; a [[Dumbwaiter (elevator)|dumbwaiter]] connected the two levels.<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|166}}


The coaches could seat 24 in the dome area and an additional 36 in the lower level. The center section was given over to men's and women's lounges.<ref name="trainweb-coach-diagram" /> The lounge-observation cars were square-ended instead of the rounded-off design favored by many railroads. Like the coaches, the upper-level dome area could seat 24. In the lower level, starting at the vestibule end, was a card room (seating for five), cocktail lounge (seats for nine) and bar, stairs up to the dome level, and finally the observation area itself with seating for 19.<ref name="trainweb-lounge-diagram" />
The coaches had 24 seats beneath the dome and 36 on the lower level. The center section was given over to men's and women's lounges.<ref name="trainweb-coach-diagram" /> The lounge-observation cars were square-ended. Like the coaches, the upper-level dome area could seat 24. In the lower level, starting at the vestibule end, was a card room (seating for five), cocktail lounge (seats for nine) and bar, stairs up to the dome level, and finally the observation area itself with seating for 19.<ref name="trainweb-lounge-diagram" /> In 1956 all the observations lost their end-of-train windows and neon signs and ran midtrain thereafter.


In 1958 Pullman-Standard built six dome coaches to the ACF design. These (five for the Union Pacific, one for the Wabash) were assigned to the [[City of St. Louis]].
⚫
==Service history==

⚫
The Union Pacific was a comparative latecomer to the dome scene when it ordered the Astra Domes from ACF in 1954; most western railroads already operated domes, some since the late 1940s.<ref name="pm197810" /> ACF delivered the 35 cars to the Union Pacific in 1955 at the cost of {{USD|10000000}}. The Union Pacific assigned the cars to its various transcontinental streamliners:<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|166}}
⚫
==Service==
*Five coaches to the new ''[[Challenger (train)|Challenger]]''
⚫
The Union Pacific was a latecomer when it ordered domes from ACF in 1954; most western railroads already operated domes, some since the late 1940s.<ref name="pm197810" /> ACF delivered the 35 cars to the Union Pacific in 1955 at the cost of {{USD|10000000}}. The Union Pacific assigned the cars to:<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|166}}
*Five coaches and five lounge-observations to the new ''[[Challenger (train)|Challenger]]''; these lounge-observations went to the ''[[City of St. Louis (train)|City of St. Louis]]'' later in 1955.
*Five coaches, five dining cars and five lounge-observation cars to the ''[[City of Portland (train)|City of Portland]]''
*Five coaches, five dining cars and five lounge-observation cars to the ''[[City of Portland (train)|City of Portland]]''
*Five dining cars and five lounge-observation cars to ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]''
*Five dining cars and five lounge-observation cars to ''[[City of Los Angeles (train)|City of Los Angeles]]''
*Five lounge-observation cars to the ''[[City of St. Louis (train)|City of St. Louis]]''
⚫
The Union Pacific found it necessary to assign a second steward to the upper-level dining area.<ref name="porterfield" />{{rp|66}} The Union Pacific gave great publicity to the novelty of dome dining cars operating between [[Chicago]], [[Portland, Oregon]] and [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="burness" />{{rp|213-214}}


⚫
The Union Pacific found it necessary to assign a second steward to the upper-level dining area.<ref name="porterfield" />{{rp|66}}
⚫
After the Union Pacific exited the passenger business in 1971 it sold two of the dome coaches (#7004 and #7008) to the [[Alaska Railroad]] for use on its ''[[AuRoRa]]''<!--is this the correct link? [[Aurora Winter Train]]--> streamliner.<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|211}} UP retained dome coach #7006 and dome lounge-observation #9004 for company use and donated dome diner #8003 to the [[National Railroad Museum]] in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], where it remains today. The remainder of the fleet–seven coaches, nine dining cars and fourteen lounge-observation cars–were purchased by the new [[Auto-Train Corporation]] for use on the ''Auto-Train''. After Auto-Train's bankruptcy in 1981 the fleet was sold and dispersed. Many remain in private hands.<ref name="trainweb" />

⚫
After the Union Pacific exited the passenger business in 1971 it sold two of the dome coaches (#7004 and #7008) to the [[Alaska Railroad]] for use on its ''[[AuRoRa]]''<!--is this the correct link? [[Aurora Winter Train]]--> streamliner.<ref name="wayner" />{{rp|211}} UP retained dome coach #7006 and dome lounge-observation #9004 for company use and donated dome diner #8003 to the [[National Railroad Museum]] in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], where it remains today. The remainder of the fleet was purchased by the new [[Auto-Train Corporation]] for the ''Auto-Train''. After Auto-Train's bankruptcy in 1981 the fleet was sold and dispersed. Many remain in private hands.<ref name="trainweb" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="burness">{{cite book | last=Burness | first=Tad | title=Railroad Advertising: Riding the Rails Again | year=2001 | location=Iola, WI | publisher=[[Krause Publications]] | isbn=0873492749 | oclc=47780644 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TLcL29NisMsC}}</ref>
<ref name="pm197810">{{cite magazine | title=Kit/Product Reviews | magazine=Prototype Modeler | month=October | year=1978 | url=http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/778/50856/october-1978-page-60}}</ref>
<ref name="pm197810">{{cite magazine | title=Kit/Product Reviews | magazine=Prototype Modeler | month=October | year=1978 | url=http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/778/50856/october-1978-page-60}}</ref>
<ref name="porterfield">{{Cite book|author=Porterfield, James D.|year=1993|title=Dining by Rail: The History and Recipes of America's Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine|location=New York|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|isbn=0-312-18711-4 | oclc=26809358 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wfHPhP0HLLEC}}</ref>
<ref name="porterfield">{{Cite book|author=Porterfield, James D.|year=1993|title=Dining by Rail: The History and Recipes of America's Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine|location=New York|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|isbn=0-312-18711-4 | oclc=26809358 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wfHPhP0HLLEC}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:04, 2 April 2014

Template:Distinguish2

Astra Dome
Dome lounge-observation car on the City of Los Angeles circa 1955
File:Union Pacific Railroad City of Portland dome dining car.JPG
Upper level in a dome dining car
ManufacturerAmerican Car and Foundry
Constructed1954–1955
Entered service1955–1971
Number built35
Fleet numbersUnion Pacific:
  • 7000-7009 (coaches)
  • 8000-8009 (dining cars)
  • 9000-9014 (lounge-observation)
OperatorsUnion Pacific Railroad (1955-1971)
Auto-Train Corporation (1971-1981)
Specifications
Car length85 feet (26 m)
Width10 feet (3.0 m)
Notes/references
[1]

American Car and Foundry Company ("ACF") built a fleet of streamlined dome cars for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1954–1955: 35 cars including coaches, dining cars, and observation cars. After the Union Pacific left the passenger business in 1971 the Auto-Train Corporation purchased most of the fleet and used them for ten years.

Design

ACF built three types of domes: coaches, dining cars, and observation cars. The ten dining cars were the only dome dining cars (aside from GM's Train of Tomorrow) ever built for a United States railroad.[2]: 146  They seated 18 in the upper level in booths and 18 in the lower level at tables. The kitchen, pantry, and private dining room with seating for 10 were on the lower level; a dumbwaiter connected the two levels.[3]: 166 

The coaches had 24 seats beneath the dome and 36 on the lower level. The center section was given over to men's and women's lounges.[4] The lounge-observation cars were square-ended. Like the coaches, the upper-level dome area could seat 24. In the lower level, starting at the vestibule end, was a card room (seating for five), cocktail lounge (seats for nine) and bar, stairs up to the dome level, and finally the observation area itself with seating for 19.[5] In 1956 all the observations lost their end-of-train windows and neon signs and ran midtrain thereafter.

In 1958 Pullman-Standard built six dome coaches to the ACF design. These (five for the Union Pacific, one for the Wabash) were assigned to the City of St. Louis.

Service

The Union Pacific was a latecomer when it ordered domes from ACF in 1954; most western railroads already operated domes, some since the late 1940s.[6] ACF delivered the 35 cars to the Union Pacific in 1955 at the cost of US$10,000,000. The Union Pacific assigned the cars to:[3]: 166 

The Union Pacific found it necessary to assign a second steward to the upper-level dining area.[7]: 66 

After the Union Pacific exited the passenger business in 1971 it sold two of the dome coaches (#7004 and #7008) to the Alaska Railroad for use on its AuRoRa streamliner.[3]: 211  UP retained dome coach #7006 and dome lounge-observation #9004 for company use and donated dome diner #8003 to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where it remains today. The remainder of the fleet was purchased by the new Auto-Train Corporation for the Auto-Train. After Auto-Train's bankruptcy in 1981 the fleet was sold and dispersed. Many remain in private hands.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Union Pacific". Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  2. ^ Wegman, Mark (2008). American Passenger Trains and Locomotives Illustrated. Voyageur Press. ISBN 0760334757. OCLC 192109816.
  3. ^ a b c Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972). Car Names, Numbers and Consists. New York: Wayner Publications. OCLC 8848690.
  4. ^ Union Pacific Railroad. "Chair". Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  5. ^ Union Pacific Railroad. "Observation-lounge". Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "Kit/Product Reviews". Prototype Modeler. 1978. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Porterfield, James D. (1993). Dining by Rail: The History and Recipes of America's Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-18711-4. OCLC 26809358.
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