Astra Dome
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Pullman-Standard
| Astra Dome | |
|---|---|
 An Astra Dome lounge-observation car brings up the rear of the City of Los Angeles in the 1950s. | |
 The upper-level dining area in an Astra Dome dining car. | |
| Manufacturer | American Car and Foundry Pullman-Standard |
| Constructed | 1954–1955 |
| Entered service | 1955–1971 |
| Number built | 41 |
| Fleet numbers | Union Pacific:
Wabash:
|
| Operators | Union Pacific Railroad (1955-1971) Wabash Railroad (1958-1964) Auto-Train Corporation (1971-1981) |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 85 feet (26 m) |
| Width | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Notes/references | |
| [1] | |
The Astra Domes were a fleet of streamlined dome cars built by the American Car and Foundry Company ("ACF") and later by Pullman-Standard ("PS") for the Union Pacific Railroad between 1954–1958. ACF built a total of 35 cars including coaches, dining cars, and observation cars, while PS built 5 for Union Pacific. After 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.
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.[2]: 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 connected the two levels.[3]: 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.[4] 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.[5]
