Strata-Dome
| Strata-Dome | |
|---|---|
The B&O's Columbian on the Thomas Viaduct in 1949. The Strata-Dome is the fourth car back.
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Interior of one of the Pullman-built Strata-Domes. Note the instrument panel at the front.
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| In service | 1949–1981 |
| Manufacturer |
Pullman-Standard Budd Company |
| Number built | 5 |
| Operator(s) |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (1949-1971) |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (1949-1971)
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (1969-1971)
The Strata-Domes were a fleet of five streamlined dome cars operated by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ("B&O"). The term referred both to a pair of dome cars constructed by Pullman-Standard and three Budd Company domes the B&O acquired from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ("C&O"). They were the first dome cars operated in the Eastern United States, following on the success of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's "Vista-Domes" in the west. The cars entered service in 1949 and were all out of regular service by 1981. Several have been preserved.
Pullman-Standard built the two original Strata-Domes. The dome area seated 24, while the lower level contained two lounges and coach seating for 42. To accommodate the lower clearances on railroads in the Eastern United States the dome sat lower on the Strata Dome than on other dome cars, 21 inches (530 mm) instead of the standard 28 inches (710 mm). These cars were numbered 5550 and 5551 and given the names High Dome and Sky Dome. At the front of the car the B&O installed a speedometer, clock, altimeter, and barometer.
In December 1950 the B&O acquired three dome-sleepers from the C&O. The Budd Company had built these cars for the Chessie, a Washington, D.C.–Cincinnati, Ohio luxury streamliner which was cancelled before it entered service. Each of these had 24 dome seats, with 3 drawing rooms, 5 roomettes, 1 bedroom in the lower level. The B&O numbered these 7600–7602, with the names Moonlight Dome, Starlight Dome, and Sunlight Dome.
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