This Observation Car came into Cumberland, MD on the end of a freight. I've searched all the usual places that I'm aware of and haven't turned up anything on this car.

Just for my own curiosity, I was wondering if anyone could fill in the blanks who owns the car and a brief history of it.

Thank You!
Tim W.

Looks like the new porch car purchased by Valley Railroad of Connecticut; the VRRX reporting marks are comparatively new, VRR having used "VALE" for many years.

The car was listed on Ozark Mountain's site and was purchased a few months ago by VRR. J. David could possibly weigh in on their plans for the car. I suspect this will be another high-ticket car for their Christmas Train operations.

Howard P.

Hi
I was just up o Ozark Mountain RR web site, in there sold section i did find this ,

Built 1925 by the Pullman Co. as a 10 section observation lounge and named Monte Viso, rebuilt by Pullman and renamed Capital Road. Sold to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in 1948 and became their #400, renamed by the C&NW to Wyoming, it was sold into private ownership and renamed Carolyn. The floor plan consist of an observation lounge, double bedroom (with toilet/shower), compartment with upper berth and lower stationary bed (lower bed removed) with a connecting shower/bath to the master room which has room for a lower stationary bed (bed removed) Many upgrades have been put into the car and they include new hardwood laminate floors, interior paint & tile work, wall coverings, new electric baseboard heat, all windows have new gaskets, new exterior paint (several years old), new coated roof, 55 KW STADCO generator, new Northwest Electric air conditioning. Some additional mechanical details include: H couplers, non Amtrak compliant Head End Power (wire and HEP jumpers have been vandalized and will need to be replaced), truck mounted cylinders, APEE bearings, market lights, Microphor tanks, comp shoes, good wheels.

Thank You Gentlemen....

This car is line item #346 in the "Surviving Pullman" thread. After conversion to a business car by C&NW, it was initially #400 (1st), and was later renumbered to #401 (2nd). Apparently, when the name Wyoming was applied, the number was removed.

Pictures:

1. As C&NW #401 (2nd) at West Chicago: http://www.cnwhs.org/memberphotos/albums/userpics/10025/CNW%20Passenger%20Car%20%23401%20West%20Chicago%2C%20Ill..jpg (C&NW Historical Society photo)

2. As C&NW Wyoming, note that there is no number visible: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnw_wyoming0.jpg (North East Rails photo)

Greetings:
VALE is the FRA designation for Valley Railroad Co.
VRRX is the UMLER designation for Valley Railroad Co.
Howard is correct: another high-ticket car for our North Pole Express service.
We figure a two NPX season payback on the cost of the car, transportation and initial modifications/repairs needed to make it useable for the intended purpose: buffet-lounge-obs.
More later, busy today, THOMAS & PERCY are visiting...
J.David

Greetings:
The business car formerly known as "Carolyn" arrived today in good condition after a circuitous trip to Essex, CT via Willard, OH.
It will be re-named: "Middletown"...
J.David

David and the forum,

I recently purchased several Kodachrome slides of C&NW business and passenger cars in Council Bluffs, IA, on May 3rd, 1983, taken by Jerry Bosanek, including one of the #400, which at the time was the #404 (3rd):

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4287016

Thanks Ted!
FYI, work on it's conversion to a Lounge Car are well advanced, and the name of the car is to be "Goodspeed" (one of the stations along our line and the name of theater across the river from us).
J.David

J. David -

Yellow and green (C&NW) exterior paint?


Les

Les:
No possible way.
It has a decent paint job done in 2012, so it will remain Pepsi Blue and with Yellow trim, probably until it really needs repainting.
J.David

David,

Do you know if this car ever had an #800xxx-series number applied? Thanks in advance!