lettering for Santa Fe’s Fe-24 1948 “SF and Texas Chief” for gen. freight service

Built in December 1941, Pressed Steel delivered 500 fifty-foot cars to the Santa Fe under Lot number 5676. Initially given road numbers as Series 10000-10499, and assigned into general freight service. Of this group 300 cars were selected for high-speed passenger express service and fitted with steam lines and Allied Full-Cushion high speed trucks, while retaining their mineral brown paint and map series scheme. In 1942, these 300 cars were repainted in coach green and lettered in DULUX yellow as express cars and dedicated to passenger service. It was common to see these distinctive cars at the head-end position in almost all name trains across the country well into the 1950’s.

In the spring of 1947, the four remaining slogans: Grand Canyon Line, El Capitan. Super Chief and Chief (Scout having been dropped in 1946) were revised in style for the Series 10300-10499 that remained in freight service. At the same time the map was replaced with “Ship & Travel Santa Fe All the Way” on the right side. Note: the new slogans were designed in one size and applied to both 40’ and 50’ cars. (Unfortunately, in the post-1947 scheme, there is no systematic record of which slogans went with which car numbers. Richard Hendrickson)

In 1948, a fifth slogan was added advertising the new Texas Chief, and in 1954, a sixth, the new San Francisco Chief. Paint & Lettering: Cars, underbodies and truck sideframes were painted ATSF Mineral Brown: TCP-251 a dark freight car brown up until late 1945, then a medium red/brown beginning in 1949. Both shades can be modified with a drop of TP-179 gray to replicate normal oxidation.

Lettering in all white stencil paste. Periods in reporting marks were dropped in repainted cars beginning in 1943. Black anti-slip compound applied to the steel roofs. (By 1947, the anti-slip compound applied to the roofs was also mineral brown)

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals
Printed by Microscale Industries