The former American Orient Express full-length dome "Yellowstone", former Great Northern 1392 "Mountain View".

GCRY apparently has at least one other full-length dome, former CB&Q 1395 "River View". Both reportedly came from the Anschutz fleet in Denver after Xanterra's acquisition of the GCRY.

From a TrainOrders post in 2011:
AOEX 800743. Former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 1395 "River View", built by Budd in 1955. To BN 1395 at merger, then Amtrak 9365 in 1971. Rebuilt with HEP and renumbered 9302 in 1984, sold to American Orient Express (AOE) in 2001. Lounge and table top seating in the dome area, small bar, lounge seats, and office in lower level. To Xanterra for their American Railway Explorer. Mr. Anschutz cancelled that project in August 2010 and sent several former AOE/GrandLuxe Express cars to his Xanterra Grand Canyon Railway in April 2011. (Info courtesy GrandLuxe Rail Journeys Roster)

Photo from GCRY's Facebook account. Album of more photos of the interior in progress here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 983&type=1

I see they thought long and hard on what to name it.

Yukk yukk.

I think the other contenders were

"Train Ride" or

"Dome Car"

Also, considering the shift long term from open window Stillwell stock to sealed window, air conditioned stock, maybe the name should be

"Bubble Boy".

I couldn't remember the "Q" having a full-length dome. Well, they owned one but it was not in silver:

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GNRHSN ... img101.jpg

It's funny, it says Grand Canyon twice.

Should have called it Grand Dome.

Grand Canyon^2

at least "Grand View" or "Canyon View" would have been a little more acceptable.

What was wrong with original name, River View?.... they follow the River, err, creek up to the North Rim, so it would be appropriately applicable.

There are over 150 historically appropriate names that are used within the Grand Canyon, to describe various parts, that they could have chosen.

Sometimes I wonder.

Speaking of, what will they do with their SP "Sub" fleet as time moves on? They seem to be using it less and less. I'd hate to see some of the better preserved Subs allowed to fall into disrepair.

If you notice closely, above the railroad banner on the top of the car, you will see what is left of the gold and green that was applied by WRC for what would have been the American Railway Explorer. We had just finished priming the 18th car when the project was closed. Most of the cars went to Ross Rowland and what is now becoming the Greenbrier Express (please do not derail this great discussion with your angst about that project.)

The former American Orient Express cars, later knows as Grand Lux were all renamed as part of the ARE project. The name of each car was a location with-in a US National Park (ironically also a park that Xanterra provides concessionaire services to.) The full domes were named Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Otherwise known as New Orleans and Copper Canyon respectively when they were AOE and Grand Lux cars.

It appears that Grand Canyon Ry. has elected to leave the name of the full dome as changed for the ARE project. Though you may find it ironic that the car has the words Grand Canyon on it twice, this is indeed the name that was approved by Xanterra (Mr. Anschutz) during the project. I find it fitting that the car retained its new name "Grand Canyon"

It would be fitting, if the second full dome is placed in service that it too retain its new name, Yellowstone.

Interestingly enough, the great green interior and carpet is the new product that was purchased for the ARE and is fittingly being used by Xanterra in this restoration.

This is what the dome looked like after we finished it and sent it back to Denver in June of 2010. What never was......



Enjoy,

This got me to thinking. How many railroads did this? For instance:

Did the Pennsylvania Railroad have a car named Pennsylvania?

Did the Santa Fe have a car named Santa Fe?

Did the Burlington have a car named Burlington?

Did the.....well, you get the idea.


Les

I moved these cars on property when BNSF delivered them last year. I remember being so excited to hear what the big wigs were gonna name this car, and feeling very let down when the e-mail arrived announcing this name. I find it to be just about on par with the quality of many other things that Xanterra does.

Really? I mean, REALLY?

Perhaps THE most famous railroad business car out there for perhaps 40 years or more....

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rspict ... ?id=121379



From http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/F ... _cars.html :

You bit they did!

Just like the car "Pennsylvania" mentioned above these were business cars. In fact the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe had lightweight business cars named ATCHISON, TOPEKA, and SANTA FE.

The Budd company built a car for the CB&Q named BURLINGTON. Later after the BN merger the car was named BURLINGTON NORTHERN. Then later the BN renamed it MISSISSIPPI RIVER continuing the "river" names that the Northern Pacific used.