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The Sun Lounge: A Unique Solarium Railcar

Published: February 8, 2025

By: Adam Burns

The Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL), a prominent player in American railway history, forged a legacy of innovation and service, capturing the imaginations of travelers across the southeastern United States.

Among its many contributions to rail travel, the Sun Lounge railcars stand out as a remarkable example of mid-20th-century ingenuity, representing both a technological feat and a luxurious experience for passengers.

The Sun Lounges comprised a trio of aerodynamically designed sleeper-lounge cars constructed by Pullman-Standard in 1956. These cars boasted a notable glazed roof section designed to emulate the allure of a dome car, yet with a lower profile to accommodate the height restrictions posed by tunnels along the East Coast of the United States, where true dome cars could not operate.

The Seaboard deployed all three cars within its premier service, the Silver Meteor, navigating the route between New York City and Miami, Florida. Subsequent to this, the cars were incorporated into the fleets of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) and Amtrak. Presently, two out of the three Sun Lounges remain extant under private ownership.

A Seaboard Coast Line 'Sun Lounge' is on RF&P's Train #57, the "Silver Meteor," arriving at Alexandria Union Station (Virginia) on Aptril 29, 1969. Roger Puta photo.

The Seaboard Air Line operated from 1900 to 1967, serving a network of 4,100 route miles that spanned from Virginia to Florida. Renowned for its passenger trains such as the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Silver Comet, SAL sought to enhance the travel experience by integrating unique offerings that would distinguish it from competitors. This ambition led to the creation of the Sun Lounge railcars in the late 1940s.

The Sun Lounge was designed specifically to provide the solarium appeal and sightseeing opportunities offered by a standard dome car while providing the clearance restrictions necessary for tunnels located in Baltimore and New York City when operating over the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Essentially, the Sun Lounge was simply a standard-height, lightweight streamlined car with large windows spanning roughly half the carbody, including along the roof.

Design

The idea of a "sun lounge" or "sun parlor" in rail travel was not novel. As early as 1911, the Illinois Central Railroad introduced the Panama Limited, which featured a "sun-parlor" observation car adorned with wrap-around windows and a refined mahogany interior. Similarly, in 1931, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) incorporated a "lounge sun-parlor car" into the Southern States Special, one of its routes running from New York to Florida.

SAL collaborated with the Pullman Company to create a sleeper-lounge car that embodied the luxurious experience of a dome car within a single-level design. The innovative "Sun Lounge" was cleverly partitioned into two segments. One section housed five double bedrooms, while the opposite end featured a lounge area designated for the use of sleeping car passengers. A quaint bar, strategically placed between these two areas, catered to the refreshment needs of the passengers. This exclusive lounge was distinguished by expansive picture windows and a glass-paneled roof, which emulated the panoramic allure of a dome car. The interior of the lounge was adorned with Floridian influences, including light fixtures crafted from driftwood. In contemporaneous marketing campaigns, the Seaboard vividly highlighted the Sun Lounge's unparalleled design, proclaiming it as "unlike anything on the rails at present."

The interiors of the Sun Lounge cars were a testament to the opulent approach that SAL embraced to attract passengers. They were equipped with plush seating, elegant décor, and amenities that catered to luxury travelers.

Passengers could enjoy a range of on-board services, including fine dining, with meals provided by SAL's dining car services. For leisure, the atmosphere of the Sun Lounge was complemented by the attentive care of valets and servers, further enhancing the memorable experience for all those aboard.

The functionality of the Sun Lounge railcars was further enhanced by a sophisticated ventilation system, which ensured that the comfort of passengers was maintained regardless of external temperatures. During the summer months, when heat retention might otherwise have been an issue, this feature ensured a cooling airflow, mitigating the effects of the sunlit exposure.

Technologically, the design of the Sun Lounge railcars required complex engineering to ensure the structural integrity and stability of such large glass panels amidst the vibrations and rigors of rail travel. The strength and resilience of the materials used were indicative of the era’s advancements in railcar construction, emphasizing durability without compromising on aesthetic appeal.

Beyond technical and luxury aspects, these railcars symbolized a cultural moment in American travel, where railway companies strove to provide not merely transportation but an experience all its own. The vision behind the Sun Lounge cars was to imbue the journey itself with a sense of discovery and pleasure, transforming the practice of rail travel into a scenic engagement with the environment.

Although the Seaboard Air Line Railroad eventually merged with its rival, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, in 1967, forming the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad—a precursor to later amalgamations that would create CSX Transportation—the Sun Lounge cars remain a poignant reminder of SAL’s legacy. They reflect an era when attention to passenger comfort and luxury was paramount, and when rail travel encapsulated an elegance that still captivates enthusiasts and historians today.

Operational History

In 1956, Pullman manufactured three Sun Lounge cars for the Seaboard, designated as Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and Hollywood Beach, with car numbers 18 through 20. These luxury cars were initially deployed on the Silver Meteor service. Following the 1967 merger of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, forming the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, the Sun Lounge cars were rebranded to align with SCL's standardized naming conventions. Hollywood Beach was renamed Sun Ray, Miami Beach became Sun View, and Palm Beach was rechristened as Sun Beam, with new numbers 6500 to 6502 assigned, respectively. The original "Beach" names were reassigned to Seaboard's existing 5 double bedroom-buffet-lounge cars to harmonize the naming with similar ACL configurations.

In 1971, Amtrak assumed control of these lounge cars, retaining the SCL appellations while once again updating their numbers to 3200–3202. The Sun Lounge cars continued to serve the Silver Meteor but were shifted to the Florida Special during the 1971-1972 winter season. The Sun View car was retired in 1977, with Sun Beam and Sun Ray subsequently withdrawn from service in 1981. Notably, none of these cars were upgraded to head-end power under Amtrak's Heritage Fleet program. The Sun Beam (formerly Palm Beach) was dismantled in the 1980s, whereas the remaining two cars, Sun Ray and Sun View, have entered private ownership.

Specifications

Legacy

In retrospect, the Sun Lounge cars of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad were more than just a mode of transit; they were an embodiment of a bygone era of railroading that balanced the art of travel with the expertise of engineering. They illustrate a chapter in American history where the promise of the journey was as significant as the destination itself—an ethos that continues to resonate with those who appreciate the golden age of rail travel. Through their panoramic views and inviting allure, the Sun Lounge cars provided a spectacular window to the world, and in doing so, they left a lasting impression on rail transportation in the United States.