I remember seeing Silver Horizon ( ex CB&Q 375 / ex Amtrak 9250) used as the station in Maricopa Arizona. This unique car, I believe was one of seven cars, ( 4 for the Burlington, 2 for the Western Pacific and 1 for the Rio Grande ), that were used on the California Zephyr, and were built as three double bedroom, 1 drawing room, dome, lounge observation cars back in 1948 by Budd.

Later I heard , the car was no longer being used as the Amtrak station in Maricopa ( outside of Phoenix ) and was moved to a vacant lot, where some talk was being done regarding hte car's future. I believe there was some talk about the city using the car in a park, or selling the car to a museum ?

Anyone know the current story ? Also .. I know the Silver Crescent is in Miami, Sivler Solarium is still running, Silver Lookout is up in North Dakota... Where are the other 3... Is one of the cars owned by the BNSF at their headquarters in Texas ?? Did the NYSW have one ??

Thanks for the information on what is going on in Maricopa


Dean Levin

Silver Sky (D&RGW): Now in Saginaw, MI under private ownership to be restored to charter service after being left stripped and neglected by VIA for many years.

Silver Penthouse (CB&Q): Now landlocked and extensively remodeled as a "deli car" at BNSF HQ in Ft. Worth, TX., renamed "Prarie View". I guess "Silver Penthouse" was too racy a name.

Silver Planet (WP): Last reported to be in private charter service in Mexico under the name 'San Luis'.

All info courtesy WebLurker's DomeMAIN page:
http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker

I'd also like to know what's going on with the car in Maricopa. I understand it was ill-suited to be a station and hated by many in that role, but the cosmetic restoration looked nice. It deserves to be on display somewhere at least.

SILVER RIDGE is preserved at IRM in Union, IL in operating condition. It was one of the cars sent to Chicago for filming of Flag of our Fathers.

Bob Kutella

I just looked up a satellite photo on Google Maps of the Maricopa station-- it's easy to see because it's a small town and there's one set of tracks running through it. According to the satellite photo which has a copyright of 2007 (not sure when it was taken though) the Silver Horizon is still in place, but it looks like another building, perhaps a temporary "Amshack" station has been placed between it and the tracks. I can email a frame grab of this map if anyone's interested but I don't know how to attach it here.

Along the same line, does anyone know the whereabouts or status of another ex-CZ car, the Silver Swan. Built as a 6-5, it made it to Amtrak service and was last reported in use on President Carter's "Peanut Special" inaugural train from Plains, Geogia to Washington, DC.