Big Dome
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The Big Domes were a fleet of streamlined dome cars built by the Budd Company for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1954. Budd built a total of 14 cars in two batches. The Santa Fe operated all 14 on various streamlined trains until it conveyed its passenger trains to Amtrak in 1971. The Santa Fe retained one as a business car and sold the remaining 13 to the Auto-Train Corporation, which operated them for another ten years. All but two have been preserved in varying condition.
Ex-ATSF Big Domes on the Auto-Train in 1973
The lounge area of a Big Dome in 1954
Dome car
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A dome car is a type of railway passenger car that has a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. It also can include features of a coach, lounge car, dining car, sleeping car or observation. Beginning in 1945, dome cars were primarily used in the United States and Canada, though a small number were constructed in Europe for Trans Europ Express service.
Former California Zephyr Silver Bridle dome car in excursion train service with the defunct Inland Lakes Railway in Plymouth, Florida
The upper-level interior of a dome car, configured as a dining area, on display at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Dome observation car at the rear of Union Pacific's City of Portland passenger train
An excursion train pulled by Milwaukee Road 261 with a full-length Super Dome car in 2008