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 Post subject: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 12:10 am 

Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:26 pm
Posts: 61
i have spent some time looking for round end cars with an observation deck like the polar express. i saw one article about what it was based off of. i searched and found no results. i later tried to find the article again a month or 2 later. but had no luck.

does anyone have any info on the origins of this beautiful passenger car?

thx


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 1:34 am 

Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:54 am
Posts: 1019
Location: Califoothills / Midwest Prairies / PNW
It was based on a Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line) parlor-observation car. Two of these survive, both motorized and converted to straight coach with conventional ends, during the need for serving additional passengers during WW2.


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2021 10:53 pm 

Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:04 pm
Posts: 314
The "Mardi Gras" is a similar car used on the former Iowa Pacific. No rear observation platform but it did have the red light on top of the car. This car is a wonderful ride if you ever get the chance. I believe it is currently for sale but can not confirm. More information below.

http://railfan44.blogspot.com/2012/09/a ... ide-i.html


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:31 am 

Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 4:02 pm
Posts: 1742
Location: Back in NE Ohio
Wasn't Mardi Gras bought by either RBMN or TVRM from the Iowa Pacific auction? Yeah, nice car, come take a ride on the original storied City of New Orleans.


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:17 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:25 pm
Posts: 2324
Location: The Atlantic Coast Line
Quote:
[The car] was based on a Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line) parlor-observation car. Two of these survive, both motorized and converted to straight coach with conventional ends, during the need for serving additional passengers during WW2.


Link to photo of CNS&M 410 from the Don Ross site.

Wesley


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 1:07 pm 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:59 pm
Posts: 644
If round-end interurban cars are of interest, Western Railway Museum has Sacramento Northern's Bidwell.

https://www.wrm.org/visit/car-roster/pa ... rn-bidwell


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:44 am 

Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:34 pm
Posts: 2752
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
How about this car in the Beijing railway museum?


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 Post subject: Re: what was the round end car in the movie Polar Express?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:13 pm 

Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:42 am
Posts: 440
Location: Haslett, Michigan USA
If there was ever a steam-road observation car with a rounded platform I've never seen a picture of it. It would not have worked with normal draft gear and steps.

One remarkable car that came close was Pere Marquette parlor-cafe-observation No. 25, built by American Car and Foundry in 1901. This is featured in "Pere Marquette Passener Car Pictorial" by Art Million. The open platform was conventionally-shaped but longer than normal, and the end of the carbody was rounded, with curved-glass windows wrapping around the corners. A wooden round-end observation! The car appears to have been unique, and was out of service by 1924.

Aarne H. Frobom
Steam Railroading Institute
Owosso, Michigan


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