Surviving Pullman Heavyweight Sleeping Cars

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2025 5:26 pm

Rainier Rails wrote:

Update:

On Tuesday, July 7th, 2020, 2nd Post on Page #41, Rainier Rails wrote:

On Friday, October 1st, 2010, 8th Post on Page #2, Newriver400 wrote:

Glen Ayr was in Jacksonville (sold recently to AC&W in North Carolina)

On Monday, January 6th, 2014, 10th Post on Page #3, Rainier Rails wrote:

28. Glen Ayr (Lot #6182, Plan #3523C, 1928, 6C-3DR, ACL)--sold to ACL (1948) to pvt. owner (Jacksonville) to AC&W

Additional Info:

This car was in the collection of the North Florida RY Museum before the sale to the AC&W. The museum's website still lists the car despite the sale to AC&W: http://www.nfrm.org/glen_ayr.htm and states that the car was donated by SBD to the NRHS North Florida Chapter in 1986.

There was some question last year in the Passenger Car List group on GroupsIO if the car was still at the museum. The most recent Google street view imagery shows the other equipment in the museum's collection, but the Glen Ayr isn't visible, so it would seem it has indeed left Jacksonville for NC.

This car was donated by the AC&W to the Pullman National Historic Park in 2023. (Likely as a result of AC&W acquiring another 6-3, the Glen Summit.)

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... onal-park/

Quote:

The Glen Ayr, an all-steel Pullman heavyweight sleeper, has [been] donated by Robert Menzies from the railway’s collection of historic Pullman cars. It is the first railcar donated to the Foundation and the National Park, which has been seeking to display equipment built at the Pullman factory. Built for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, the Glen Ayr operated on the North Western Limited between Chicago and the Twin Cities. In 1948, it was sold to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, which used it in Florida service during periods of heavy winter demand. It was eventually acquired by the Aberdeen Carolina & Western and has been stored in Jacksonville, Fla.

“The Glen Ayr exemplifies the artistry and engineering of the Pullman Co. at its peak,” Joseph C. Szabo, Foundation president emeritus and former Federal Railroad Administration administrator, said in a press release. “Owning this car before it risks being lost to time is a milestone achievement for both HPF and our partners in the NPS and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.” Szabo leads the interagency Railcar Working Group, established by the NPBS and IDNR to acquire significant Pullman cars for inclusion in future exhibits.

It will take several years to create an appropriate method to display the Glen Ayr, the Foundation says. But it calls the acquisition “an essential step toward building a vibrant visitor experience that centers on the contributions of Pullman workers and the evolution of railroad travel.” Said Robert Montgomery, the Foundation’s Executive Director, “Each railcar we secure is a step closer to honoring the legacy of Pullman Porters, craftsmen, and passengers whose lives intersected in these rolling landmarks.”

pullmanologist · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:20 am **Posts:** 24

"This car was donated by the AC&W to the Pullman National Historic Park in 2023. (Likely as a result of AC&W acquiring another 6-3, the Glen Summit.)"

The GLEN AYR was not donated to the Pullman National Historical Park - it was donated to the Historic Pullman Foundation. The Foundation is the not-for-profit partner of the Pullman National Park and the car will eventually be a part of the collection of cars to be displayed at the Pullman National Park. The car was placed back on the rails on July 31st at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America facility at Silvis, IL. It will remain there in storage until the restoration project is underway.

There are a lot of exciting things and exciting railroad cars that are in the works for the Park at the former Pullman Car Works property. I would invite and encourage everyone that is interested in railroading history, particularly that of the Pullman Company to support these efforts through membership in the Historic Pullman Foundation! https://www.pullmanil.org/

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2025 3:48 am

Update:

On Tuesday, January 7th, 2014, 12th Post on Page #5, Rainier Rails wrote:

150. White Cloud (Lot #4574, Plan #4046A, 1920/36, 12S-2DB, NYC, ex-Fingal)--sold to P&LE (1948) resold to Henry Long-Irl Daffin-Max Solomon and rebuilt to 6S-2DB-buffet lounge as the Pequea Valley (circa 1958-1959) stored in Lancaster, PA, then moved to Strasburg Rail Road (circa 1962) resold to Ralph Hostetter (circa 1985-1986??) moved to storage on Octoraro Railway (circa 1985-1986??) resold to Harlansburg Station Transportation Museum, Harlansburg, PA (unknown date)

On Thursday, January 9th, 2014, 5th Post on Page #7, Rainier Rails wrote:

190. James Fenimore Cooper (Lot #6220, Plan #3410B, 1929, 12S-1DR, PRR)--sold to PRR #8823 (1948) to MofW #473713 (1959) resold to unknown/private owner, Niles, OH (unknown date) resold to Harlansburg Station Transportation Museum, Harlansburg, PA (1984)

As posted both here in another thread, as well as in groups on Facebook, the Harlansburg collection has now been listed for sale, including all four cars on-site (these two heavyweights, and two ex-AT&SF lightweight chairs that were used in PC/NJDOT commuter service).

Thread on the sale started the other day by ADM IV: https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48918

Additional ownership and approximate date info for the White Cloud, which had not been included for said car in this thread before, was found via a quick search in two old threads by K.R. Bell, and therefore were added to my quotes/summary above (threads linked below):

https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2607

https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4127

Sources:

1. "The Complete Roster of Heavyweight Pullman Cars" by Robert J. Wayner (Wayner Publications, 1985)

2. "Passenger Car Catalog: Pullman Operated Equipment, 1912-1949" by William W. Kratville (Kratville Publications, 1968)

3. Tom Madden's Pullman Project CCR database: http://pullmanproject.com/Database.htm

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Additions and corrections are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Surviving Pullman Heavyweight Sleeping Cars

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