Rapido N Scale SP Dome Cars

SP modelers have been raving about our HO models of Southern Pacific’s home-built dome-lounge cars while N scalers have been asking “What about N scale?!” We’ve listened! Rapido Trains is excited to announce the N Scale release of these iconic cars!

SP built one prototype and six production Dome Lounge cars between 1954 and 1955. All were built new in the railroad’s Sacramento General Shops, using select frame pieces from various retired Pullman-Standard pre-war “Daylight” cars. The Budd Company supplied the dome structure as a kit. Essentially, these cars were new construction using salvaged frame pieces for accounting purposes, and because SP’s foundry couldn’t roll a long enough center sill, and no one could supply one quickly enough.

Initially built for service on the San Joaquin and Shasta Daylights and the Overland, they later saw wider service. Initially built for service on the San Joaquin and Shasta Daylights and the Overland services, they later saw wider service. Originally built with corrugated side panels, the cars were modified by the SP with slab sides in the 1960s. At least four of these cars lasted into the Amtrak era.

The interiors of the cars featured a bar/lounge on the lower level and comfortable lounge seating on the upper level. In part because of the varied origins of the donor cars, underbody configurations also changed.

 Rapido’s models have been designed with the help of noted SP exert Bob Zenk. It includes a full interior, highly detailed underbody, and either corrugated or stepped smooth sides!