We are in the process of restoring our World War 2 era Pullman Troop Sleeper. The car is getting new paint, new windows and will be used as a display car. Our plans are to restore one end of the car "as it was" with two sets of triple tiered bunks. We have talked about "replicating" these bunks but wonder if there might be some originals out there somewhere. So the question; Are there any authentic Pullman three tiered bunks still in existance and available?

Thanks.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

So the question; Are there
> any authentic Pullman three tiered bunks
> still in existance and available?

In existance, yes: the B&O Museum snagged some from ex-WM troop sleeper MOW bunk cars on the Maryland Midland at Union Bridge MD 8 years ago for it's 50% restoration of the interior of it's own Ex-WM sleeper.

Available: well, not from that source any more I don't think (though you could give the Midland a call to check: David B. Hart, Manager Transportation, 410-775-7718, ext. 24,
dhart@mmidrwy.com) but I think that sort of approach might be your best lead on where you need to look. Find some shortlines that still have some troop sleeper MOW equipment on the roster and start dialing.

Durango Herald article
eledbetter@rypn.org

The Portola RR museum troop sleeper still has its bunks, but not the matresses, which were apparently an odd size (at least by today's standards). You could at least get dimensions, etc. as I think they were/are pretty simple affairs.
S'
David D.

djdewey@cncnet.com

It was pointed out to me a while back that so-called "odd" mattresses are still used in what we might call industrial applications, such as prisons, college dorms, etc. I remember having to order an odd size of bedsheets for my college dorm bed in the 1980s, and they seemed oddly close to Pullman berth size, based on the Pullman day coaches I've worked in. So if you get nowhere with "normal" bedding, see who supplies bedding in quantity to dorms, motels, etc. You might get lucky and be able to acquire seconds of the right size.

lner4472@bcpl.net

Actually, if your restoration is to WWII configuration (as opposed to MOW), you might want to contact Shawn Hearne at the B&O Museum and have him pull the artifact file for that sleeper--as I remember it included some very good 8x10s of a troop sleeper interior in its original condition that were very helpful to us in fabricating replacement parts like brackets for holding rifles, etc. Shawn might be able to arrange to duplicate the most useful items for you.

Durango Herald article
eledbetter@rypn.org

Good point. We used a remanent component of Banner Linen Services to get replacement mattresses for both our Huron lightship and for our D&C stateroom display. Ironically, I think banner originally supplied much of that materail to the D&C back in the twilight of Great Lakes passenger travel.

TJ

> It was pointed out to me a while back that
> so-called "odd" mattresses are
> still used in what we might call industrial
> applications, such as prisons, college
> dorms, etc. I remember having to order an
> odd size of bedsheets for my college dorm
> bed in the 1980s, and they seemed oddly
> close to Pullman berth size, based on the
> Pullman day coaches I've worked in. So if
> you get nowhere with "normal"
> bedding, see who supplies bedding in
> quantity to dorms, motels, etc. You might
> get lucky and be able to acquire seconds of
> the right size.


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

the troop kitchen/guard car at the museum in Campo has bunks.

Guard Car #10 info