I'm looking for the current whereabouts of several of these 60 seat coach-14 seat smokers that were ordered by PRR in January 1951 for the Congressional and were delivered from October to December of that year in Budd Lot #9621-110 in PRR Class P85H.

Commonly known as "Congo" coaches, 30 of the 32 were acquired by Amtrak in 1976 in the #74xx-series, although the PRR #15xx-series numbers were retained until the cars were converted to head end power (HEP) or otherwise retired. Under Amtrak ownership, these coaches were regularly assigned to the Clockers.

PRR #1568 was retired and scrapped in 1968.

PRR #1569 to PC #1569 to Amtrak #7400 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7000 (1981). Retired and sold in 2003 to Tacoma Rail as TMBL #4003, later renumbered #40030.

PRR #1570 to PC #1570 to Amtrak #7401 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7001 (1981). Stored in 2004 and sold in 2007 to Quebec, North Shore & Labrador #1003.

PRR #1571 to PC #1571 to Amtrak #7402 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7002 (1981). Retired and sold in 2001 to the Panarail Tourism Company and named Rio Indio.

PRR #1572 to PC #1572 to Amtrak #7403 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7003 (1981). Retired and sold in 2001 to the Panarail Tourism Company and named Rio Bayano.

PRR #1573 to PC #1573 to Amtrak #7404 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7004 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Ticonderoga. Retired and sold in 2003 to Tacoma Rail as TMBL #4002, later renumbered #40020.

PRR #1574 to PC #1574 to Amtrak #7405 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7005 (1981). Transferred to MofW in 2003.

PRR #1575 to PC #1575 to Amtrak #7406 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7006 (1981). Retired and sold in 2001 to the Panarail Tourism Company and named Rio Mamoni.

PRR #1576 to PC #1576 to Amtrak #7407 (not applied) to HEP ADA coach #7007 (1981). Retired in 2002. Current status unknown.

PRR #1577 to PC #1577 to Amtrak #7408 (not applied) to HEP #7600 (1981). Stored in 2002 and used as a crew training car. Later sold to the South Branch Valley RR as SBVR #7600 and used on the Potomac Eagle.

PRR #1578 to PC #1578 to Amtrak #7409 (not applied) to HEP #7601 (1981). Stored in 1997. Current status unknown.

PRR #1579 to PC #1579 to Amtrak #7410 (not applied) to HEP #7602 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Albany. Retired and sold in 2003 to private ownership and used at Tennessee Central RY Museum as TCRX #7602 Algood.

PRR #1580 to PC #1580 to Amtrak #7411 (not applied) to HEP #7603 (1981). Retired and sold in 2003 to Tacoma Rail as TMBL #4001, later renumbered #40010.

PRR #1581 was retired and scrapped in 1968.

PRR #1582 to PC #1582 to Amtrak #7412 (not applied) to HEP #7604 (1981). Damaged by fire in 1-2002 and listed as retired in 2003. Scrapped?? Current status unknown.

PRR #1583 to PC #1583 to Amtrak #7413 (not applied) transferred to MofW in 1977 as catenary tool car #16312.

PRR #1584 to PC #1584 to Amtrak #7414 (not applied) to HEP #7605 (1981). Retired and sold in 2003 to the South Branch Valley RR as SBVR #7605 and used on the Potomac Eagle.

PRR #1585 to PC #1585 to Amtrak #7415 (not applied) to HEP #7606 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Schenectady. Stored in 2002 and sold in 2005 to Quebec, North Shore & Labrador #1001.

PRR #1586 to PC #1586 to Amtrak #7416 (not applied). Stored in 1981 and sold in 1992 to unknown party. Current status unknown.

PRR #1587 to PC #1587 to Amtrak #7417 (not applied) to HEP #7607 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Fort Edward. Retired in 2001. Current status unknown.

PRR #1588 to PC #1588 to Amtrak #7418 (not applied) to HEP #7608 (1981). Retired in 2003. Current status unknown.

PRR #1589 to PC #1589 to Amtrak #7419 (not applied) to HEP #7609 (1981). Retired and sold in 2003 to Grand Canyon RY (GCRX) #7609 and named Bright Angel.

PRR #1590 to PC #1590 to Amtrak #7420 (not applied) to HEP #7610 (1981). Retired and sold in 2001 to the Panarail Tourism Company and named Rio Gatun.

PRR #1591 to PC #1591 to Amtrak #7421 (not applied) to HEP #7611 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named New York City. Retired in 2003. Current status unknown.

PRR #1592 to PC #1592 to Amtrak #7422 (not applied) transferred to MofW in 1977 as catenary tool car #16313.

PRR #1593 to PC #1593 to Amtrak #7423 (not applied) to HEP #7612 (1981). Retired in 2003. Current status unknown.

PRR #1594 to PC #1594 to Amtrak #7424 (not applied) to HEP #7613 (1981). Retired and sold in 2003 to Arizona Transit Assembly (ATAX) #7613. To Friends of the 261 (when??) as NSRX #7613 and named St. Paul Pass (#800798). Sold in 2012 to the Galveston RR Museum and renamed George H. Gould (#800882).

PRR #1595 to PC #1595 to Amtrak #7425 (not applied) to HEP #7614 (1981). Stored in 1997 and sold in 2007 to Quebec, North Shore & Labrador #1004.

PRR #1596 to PC #1596 to Amtrak #7426 (not applied) to HEP #7615 (1981). Reassigned to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Glens Falls. Retired and sold in 2003 to Arizona Transit Assembly (ATAX) #7615. To Friends of the 261 (when??) as NSRX #7615 and named Arizona (#800861). Sold in 2012 to the Galveston RR Museum and renamed Alonzo H. Harter.

PRR #1597 to PC #1597 to Amtrak #7427 (not applied) to HEP #7616 (1981). Transferred to the Adirondack in 1996 and named Whitehall. Retired and sold in 2003 to Arizona Transit Assembly (ATAX) #7616. To Friends of the 261 (when??) as NSRX #7616 and named Lake Pepin (#800799).

PRR #1598 to PC #1598 to Amtrak #7428 (not applied) to HEP #7617 (1981). Stored in 2003 and sold in 2005 to Quebec, North Shore & Labrador #1002.

PRR #1599 to PC #1599 to Amtrak #7429 (not applied) to HEP #7618 (1981). Retired and sold in 2001 to the Panarail Tourism Company and named Rio Paqueni.

Sources:

1. "Streamliner Cars Volume Two: The Budd Company" by W. David Randall (RPC Publications, 1981)

2. "Amtrak by the Numbers" by David C. Warner and Elbert Simon (White River Productions, 2011)

3. PRR passenger car diagram pages: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?sel=pass&sz=sm&fr=

There is one car on the Grand Canyon that carries the name Arizona but I do not know if it is the one that went from NSRX to Galveston. Here's a link to a shot of the car..
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3811962

I think we're looking at two different Congo coaches with the name Arizona. What makes it confusing is that the three NSRX cars were initially acquired from Amtrak by Arizona Transit Assembly, which was started by Grand Canyon's Chief Mechanical Officer.

Here's what the equipment page (http://www.thetrain.com/the-train/train-equipment/) of Grand Canyon's website says about the two Congo coaches currently in service on the line (Arizona and Bright Angel):



Of course, ATAX acquired the three Congo coaches used by NSRX in 2003, so I'm wondering if the Galveston RR Museum website was incorrect, and that the two cars sold to them in 2012 were the #7616 Lake Pepin and #7613 St. Paul Pass, not the #7615 Arizona and #7613 St. Paul Pass. If that's the case, then it is very likely the Arizona in service on the GCRY is indeed the #7615.

Maybe one of the forum members more familiar with the GCRY fleet will be able to confirm or deny the above.

The Panama Canal Ry bought eight of the cars, not 5. They leased the former KCS diesel shop in New Orleans(Metairie) and contracted with Pete Messina to rebuild them for tourist service. 5 cars were redone as you have listed and were shipped to Panama out of the port of New Orleans along with 5 rebuilt F40s. The Southern Pacific dome was rebuilt here too, but after being sent to Shreveport for painting, it was shipped out of Houston.
Anyway, we also had cars 7601, 7607, and 7612 here. 7601 arrived with a big square hole cut in the side, as Amtrak was apparently in the process of turning this car into a baggage car when it was sold. 7601 disappeared several years ago . Up until recently, 7607 and 7612 were parked together behind the shop, the ends facing each other were without trucks and on cement blocks. Sometime in the last year one of these disappeared. (Its hard to tell which is which, the Amtrak numbers and lettering have weathered off). About the same time, Pete started working on a car, turning it in to a theater car(I was told for KCS, but perhaps KCSM, KCS already has the ARTHUR STILWELL). I've only seen it outside the shop building once, all identification had been removed, its just a silver Budd car with one end cut out for a big theatre window and three cascading windows on each side cut out, etc. The car is being totally rebuilt. I think this is one of the leftover Panama cars.
I just did a search and found 7601 as seen last November in Madison, IL(Gateway Rail?). Notice the baggage door cutout.
I just found this pic, so its 7612 that's missing and perhaps becoming a theater car
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3505878
7613 and 7615 were also at Pete's shop for about 6 months. It WAS the ARIZONA and ST PAUL PASS that were here. They had some work done here and even had their names changed while here to the new names Galveston picked out.
I will find out for certain the identity of the new theater car.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3706888

Thanks, Greg, for the info!

In that case, then the Arizona in service on GCRY is another car from this series. Anyone know which one?

GCRX ARIZONA car number is 7608. That would be a clue. Just like BRIGHT ANGEL's car number is 7609, ex Amtrak 7609.

Thanks Greg!!!

Thanks, Greg, for the info!

Mystery solved!

Rainier

Regarding the following car


PRR #1593 to PC #1593 to Amtrak #7423 (not applied) to HEP #7612 (1981). Retired in 2003. Current status unknown.

Located in Metairie La ( New Orleans ) owned by KCS / Panama Canal RR

Current picture provided


Dean Levin

Thanks, Dean, for the info and photo of #7612!

Which car is currently being converted to a theater? #7607?

Thanks in advance.

Yes...

Here is a recent shot of the car, as it now appears as a Track Inspection car...

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3908361

Thanks, Jerry, for the info and photo link!