Scout (passenger train)

For other uses, see Scout.

A view of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's Train No. 1, The Scout, heading out of Belen, New Mexico on April 6, 1940.

The Scout was one of the named passenger trains of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was initially assigned train Nos. 1 (westbound) & 10 (eastbound), and its route ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. Inaugurated on January 16, 1916, this "budget" heavyweight train consisted of tourist sleeping cars equipped with upper and lower berths, "chair" cars (coaches) for the truly cost-conscious, and an open-end observation car.

The train was assigned Nos. 1 & 2 in 1920, only to revert to Nos. 1 & 10 a year later. The Scout made its last run on June 7, 1948.

[edit] History

January 19, 1916: The Scout commences operation.
January 4, 1931: Regular service on the Scout is discontinued as a result of the economic effects of the Great Depression. Thereafter, economy service was provided by the Hopi, the Missionary, and the Navajo passenger trains.
1920: The westbound Scout is assigned No. 10, but is redesignated as No. 1 the following year.
May 10, 1936: Regular service on the "new" (renovated) Scout resumes. The westbound trip was completed in 60 hours, 15 minutes, while the eastbound schedule was reduced to 58 hours, 35 minutes.
June 7, 1948: The Scout is withdrawn from service as passengers increasingly prefer to travel aboard Santa Fe's streamlined trains.

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