Planning for the Santa Fe’s new San Francisco Chief was well along when the railroad chose to add a full-length dome car to each consist. Six additional full length domes (nos. 550-555) came from the Budd Co. with modified lower decks that included a small bar, a nurse’s office, and dormitory space for 12 crewmen. The upper deck layout remained the same.
This Walthers Big Dome represents one of the second group of cars built for the San Francisco Chief. It’s an impressive model measuring a scale 85′-0″ long, 10′-6″ wide and 15′-6″ tall. All of these measurements match the dimensions on official prototype car diagrams.
The HO dome car model follows the common carbody design and typical construction methods that allow
Walthers to produce such a wide variety of passenger cars. In this case, the model is fabricated from more than 70 parts. A rigid plastic frame provides the core, and all of the major parts latch into various notches. Large openings within the main core allow access so the flush-fitting clear window glazing can snap into the side window openings.
The lower deck is designed to sandwich a pair of long steel weights on top of the main floor casting. Electrical
contacts are provided to add lighting if desired. A series of walls divide up the lower level into the crew rooms and bar. These walls also support the upstairs dome floor. A small group of underbody fittings are cemented in place around the trucks.
Like its 97-ton prototype, this model rides on a pair of General Steel Castings type RDO 6-wheel trucks with outside swing hangers. Both sideframes are cast metal and they’re attached to a plastic center plate. The three-piece wheelsets have a pair of stub-axle-mounted RP-25 contour metal wheels pressed into an
acetal plastic axle tube. This combination allows the car to pick up lighting current with all 12 wheels. With a drop of light oil on each axle end, the car is free-rolling. All of the wheelsets on our sample matched the National Model Railroad Association’s standards gauge.
Our sample came with Walthers Proto-Max metal couplers mounted in swinging coupler boxes attached with small Phillips screws. Both couplers were mounted at the proper height.
Our sample car was entirely plated with a shiny metallic silver finish that closely replicated clean stainless steel. The santa fe road names on the letter boards were cleanly printed and completely opaque. The car numbers are supplied as a decal for the buyer to apply.
Overall, Walthers has done a fine job on this superb Big Dome model.
Manufacturer
Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.
5601 W. Florist Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53218-1622
www.walthers.com
Era: 1954 to present
Features
- Full interior details
- Moveable diaphragms
- Proto-Max metal knuckle couplers at the correct height
- Simulated stainless-steel finish
- Weight: 8 ounces (1 ounce more than NMRA Recommended Practice 20.1)
