Just noticed a photograph in the Summer 2001 issue of the UPHS "Streamliner" showing a Union Pacific observation car passing Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. This was basically a full-length gondola fitted with seats for passengers to linger and observe the scenery.
I believe Southern Pacific and Canadian Pacific had open-air cars like this. Even the Panama RR had a version with tiered seating. Which other railroads had these type cars? Was even one preserved anywhere?

denmeg_hogan@msn.com

The Rio Grande has such cars both narrow gauge and standard gauge.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

Two of the Canadian Pacific observation cars with a roof and open sides at both ends are at the Sierra Railway.



richard.s.wilkens@boeing.com

The Milwaukee Road had at least one. Its construction was identical to a standard passenger car up to the belt rail.

tmanz@afo.net

Montreal Street Railway had four streetcars that were specially built for sightseeing. They had a tiered seating arrangement and were open-air. Three have been preserved: one at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, one at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in Warehouse Point, Connecticut, and one at the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson-St. Constant, Quebec.

Link to photo of MSR #2 at Seashore

Which other railroads had these
> type cars?

Pacific Great Eastern had an old wooden open observation car.

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains
oldtimetrains@rrmail.com

> Which other railroads had these

> Pacific Great Eastern had an old wooden open
> observation car.

Canadian National rebuilt several old sleepers into open observation cars for its trains through the Rockies. One such car is preserved at CalgaryÂ’s Heritage Park (I rode it on the weekend).
Kevin

I've seen photos of one of the Great Northern's heavyweight trains, the Oriental Limited I believe, with a gondola-style observation car on the rear. I believe this was the era when the Oriental Ltd was the GN's top passenger train, and travel to Glacier Park was being promoted.

> Canadian National rebuilt several old
> sleepers into open observation cars for its
> trains through the Rockies. One such car is
> preserved at CalgaryÂ’s Heritage Park (I rode
> it on the weekend).
> Kevin


tsschult@usd.edu

I thought the Black Hills Central in SD got the PGE open obs car. This had been on the Vernonia, South Park, and Sunset Steam Railroad in Oregon.

The Skagit River Railway that was operated by Seattle City Light in Washington State operated open observation cars on its Skagit Tour trains from the late 20's to 1954. These were converted flatcars and all were scrapped.

Richard Wilkens

richard.s.wilkens@boeing.com

> Two of the Canadian Pacific observation cars
> with a roof and open sides at both ends are
> at the Sierra Railway.

There were three of these "Mountain Observation" cars (597, 598, 599) that the CP rebuilt in 1956 from standard coaches. In 1965 all three went to the ownership of West Coast Rail Association in Vancouver, B.C. It in turn sold two of the cars one went to Orange Empire (then Trolley Museum) for excursion train use and the other went to Rail Tours of Pennsylvania.

In the early 1970s these two cars were obtained by the Sierra Railway. 597 was rebuilt to have a bar and toilets for excursion trains.

The 598 is leased by West Coast for use on the BC Rail excusion trains ("Royal Hudson" trains).

I had the opportunity to ride the 599 when it was owned by Orange Empire. One time was at the rear of the San Joaquin Daylight, two others were on special trains on the UP out into the Mojave Desert. And I've riden it several times since on the Sierra.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

Does anyone know if former NS/SR heavyweight open air observation 1056 Lookout Mountain which was used on the SR steam program for several years is still operating on the Mount Hood Railroad in Oregon? I sure would like to see that car again.

st82@juno.com

I think more than a few trolley lines had completely open-air (no roof!) streetcars. Does not Muni operate a Blackpool(England) open-air car now on its Market St. or vintage F-line?
I saw a film of electric operations in Vancouver, B.C., and they had an open-air sightseeing trolley.
***
> Montreal Street Railway had four streetcars
> that were specially built for sightseeing.
> They had a tiered seating arrangement and
> were open-air. Three have been preserved:
> one at the Seashore Trolley Museum in
> Kennebunkport, Maine, one at the Connecticut
> Trolley Museum in Warehouse Point,
> Connecticut, and one at the Canadian Railway
> Museum in Delson-St. Constant, Quebec.


denmeg_hogan@msn.com

> There were three of these "Mountain
> Observation" cars (597, 598, 599) that
> the CP rebuilt in 1956 from standard
> coaches. In 1965 all three went to the
> ownership of West Coast Rail Association in
> Vancouver, B.C. It in turn sold two of the
> cars one went to Orange Empire (then Trolley
> Museum) for excursion train use and the
> other went to Rail Tours of Pennsylvania.

> In the early 1970s these two cars were
> obtained by the Sierra Railway. 597 was
> rebuilt to have a bar and toilets for
> excursion trains.

> The 598 is leased by West Coast for use on
> the BC Rail excusion trains ("Royal
> Hudson" trains).

> I had the opportunity to ride the 599 when
> it was owned by Orange Empire. One time was
> at the rear of the San Joaquin Daylight, two
> others were on special trains on the UP out
> into the Mojave Desert. And I've riden it
> several times since on the Sierra.

> Brian Norden

I remember riding the one that came East thru the Lehigh gorge on the CNJ in February, 1968. Colddddd but worth every minute.

The New Hope and Ivyland converted a RDG 1300-series coach into a similar "open air car" and Rail Tours (I believe) converted a RDG BAa baggage car to a full-length open car.

Southern Railway converted a couple of coaches into partially open cars for the Southern Steam Specials. "Lookout Mountain" had an observation platform on one end and was the usual rear car while "Missionary Ridge" ran mid-train.

Electric City Trolley Museum Associa

Although this is not an answer to your question, there is a photo of it on their excursion page.

http://www.mthoodrr.com/excursion.html
sfreer@tvrail.com

Yes, Muni does operate a fully-open sightseeing car. It's from Blackpool, England, which was known for its large "boat" open cars. Kansas City Public Service had a similar car, rebuilt from an older streetcar, that was known as the "Scout" (after the famous K.C. statue by that name) and ran sightseeing tours.

Goop