As to the obs. on the Abraham Lincoln, I can share the following:
In early 1975, the decision was made to withdraw the RTG turboliners from the St. Louis service and restore "conventional" steam heated equipment until Amfleet equipment would become available. With some concern as to being seen as "downgrading" the service, extra effort was made to capture and maintain (at St. Louis) the "best" available refurbished equipment for the "new" train (The Abraham Lincoln).
At the time, I was Amtrak's District Manager, Operations and Maintenance at St. Louis. I knew F.S. "Pat" King and will simply say that, if you attended to all the requirements of the job - including the "small" stuff - he'd lend you his support. I can remember many times in the early days watching him observe newly matched consists of refurbished cars depart; at the time, this was something to behold, as it had been well over 10 to 15 years since the eastern railroads (he was from the PC and PRR) had reason to undertake such work on their own equipment. He always liked to see a sharp-looking matched consist, and - on those trains - he liked the use of the obs cars EXCEPT as their "prime" seats tended to be used by Track Supervisors on passes riding their territory...
The Abe that we ran was a true "pocket streamliner", with Budd-built ex-L&N 58 seat coaches, ex-SP Diner Lounges, and at first the ex GN "Port of Seattle" then later, the ex Q DZ Dome lounge obs that Randy recalls. We even borrowed a GM&O drumhead from one of our mechanics, copied it, and carried Abe's silhouette in the "proper" place... This equipment was kept spotless and we made certain the dome windows were washed (ladder brigade with fountain brushes) every layover at St. Louis. The train exemplified the "clean window" philosophy notwithstanding the unavoidably questionable economics.
Footnote: We tried, but were unable to find suitable power to cycle at St. Louis (for maintenance), so pooled power from Chicago was used. Sometimes they were short, and for other reasons, we would have to "punt" at St. Louis. We asked for a set, to clean up for the inaugural run, but all that was available was a single E-9A, insufficient to make schedule (with press and others aboard). At the time we had a graveyard of E and F units at St. Louis, veterans of a grandiose ill-advised plan to steam heat the Terminal, and all awaiting trade-in to Pielet Brothers. The "best" of the bunch was # 465, an ex UP E-9B. We cut it in and, after blowing a lot of carbon on Alton Hill, she cleared up fine, and then continued to run in the pool for several years.
News of this "resurrection" was NOT well received, however, when the report of an A-B locomotive consist was received in Washington - but all the static cleared when "Pat" said it was OK....