Here's the link to a previous short thread from 7/02:

http://rypn.sunserver.com/forum/viewtop ... am+tarboro

Forgot the GREENVILLE, but without the ACLSALHS "Survivors" info I don't recall where it is located.

Yes, it was built for the Sunset Limited. It was number 10214, a "Audubon" diner for the Sunset Limited. It did not go to Amtrak, but became #290 in the business car fleet. Then gifted in May 1998 by the Union Pacific to CSRM.

The Musuem in Sacramento also has the former "French Quarter" lounge 2987 also built by Budd for the Sunset Limited. Likewise, SP retained the car for business train use and numbered the car 291; and then later given by UP to CSRM.

ACL Greenville is located at TVRM's Grand Jct display yard. It has been used for the Thomas events in various roles and as a birthday party car. It is basically solid, but it has the "fluting flappin' in the breeze" problem that can be common with these cars. Previous experiences dictate that this may not be as significant a problem as first thought, however.

I was involved in helping arrange for the exterior cosmetic restoration for the roof and the return of the letterboards to ACL purple about 8 years ago. Mike Tilley and the Watauga Valley Chapter NRHS were instrumental in acquiring the correct paint color and the lettering was completed by the same company in upper East Tennessee that did the lettering for the Moultrie.

The hallway areas around the kitchen in these cars have a corrugated stainless finish that I have always thought was one of the neatest decors for a hallway in a passenger car, not to mention nearly maintenance free (no scraped and scratched paint or woodwork here).

A while back, I set up a Yahoo Group specifically dedicated to dining cars:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/rrdiningcars/
I think there are a dozen or so groups trying to recreate the traditional experience of dinner in the diner and more groups looking at some aspect of it. While the group is not very active, it is my hope that those of us recreating the pre-Amtrak dining car would have a place exchange ideas.

It also might be interesting to know which museums (or individuals) have Dining Cars which are still in existance but NOT currently restored or undergoing a restoration to service.

Les

Michael,

Do you happen to know if parts from FITZGERALD were acquired by TVRM interests for restoration of the GREENVILLE or another P-S car? This would have been quite a few years ago...maybe 10-15, or more? The bolt-on journal lids and brake valves are what I seem to recall as missing. Since I didn't really "inspect" the car I don't know what else might have been removed, but the owner at the time, who was interested in selling it (for way more than it would be worth in the market place) was the one who told me parts had been sold off the car.

This looks like it might be a car from the same series but I don't know for sure:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/perha45/539709645/

Also, isn't there another one of these cars with the unusual table layout at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville?

Frank:

I think you are correct. The small windows in the dining area were a characteristic of this design.

By the way, there were 13 cars in this series. The FEC had two and the RF&P had one. I missed these 3 cars in my last post.

According to one source, 11 of these were taken by Amtrak, so there is a good chance that several survive.

Insofar as I know, there were no parts acquired for the Greenville, but that doesn't mean we didn't get some parts. I must admit that I don't recall anyone mentioning TVRM getting any parts from the cars at Warm Springs, but I suppose it is possible. Removal of the bearing caps seems a bit odd. They are relatively easy to come by. Is it possible that the car in question was converted to a rotating end cap? Was through Warm Springs about three weeks ago and did not stop, but I noticed both cars were looking rough.

Bob; What happened to the Galt House? Thanks for any information on IRM.
Steve

Great Northern had a number of dinette/lounge cars with this seating configuration also. I'm not sure if any diners were so equipped. Roanoke Chapter NRHS's dinette/dormitory 1148 has 4 tables in this arrangement.

I believe there are four SOU 3100-series heavyweight diners extant. Three of them are in service.

SCRM has 3157 in use as a first-class car. There should be an article in the RYPN archives on the 3157 that I wrote when the car reentered service. I sort of consider its restoration "in progress" since we periodically upgrade or repair something else. The car was leased to the Hartwell RR for a while; they installed a GM diesel generator under it. The air conditioning has given us fits, but seems to be more or less working now (knock on wood). The leaf springs that support the side bearings broke from metal fatigue a few years ago; a full new set of springs were made by Benz Spring Co. in Oregon and installed by SCRM volunteers.

There's been some talk of repairing some of the refrigerators to keep sodas cold next. The donation of one of those small dorm-room fridges has lowered the priority of this project, even though we're still using coolers of ice for sodas. The car also has a floor issue in the hallway along the kitchen that needs some attention. This isn't a high priority either since the public never uses the hallway.

The folks at Oak Ridge, TN have 3164 in service. The dining area of their car is in slightly better condition than ours (BTW, anyone got any ideas on how to restore the Formica table tops?), but the kitchen end has lost some interior panels. IIRC the kitchen was rougher than ours, too. When I was up there a few years ago they said their car had been wrecked at one point. I suspect they'd also consider this car "in progress" in the same way ours is, unless they've finished the kitchen end since I was there.

TVRM also has a 3100-series car. It's one number off from ours but I can't remember if it's the 3156 or 3158. Their website doesn't have a roster so I can't check. They have done a total interior remodeling on their car. It looks great, but disappointed me a bit since they modernized the style.

The fourth survivor of the class is at SERM near Atlanta, #3168. Their website lists the car as an "open exhibit" but AFAIK it's not operable. When the springs broke on the 3157 we contacted them about doing a spring swap. They refused, which turned out to be just as well since the springs we wound up with are brand new.

TVRM has the 3158. Interior and kitchen have been modernized, but never "restored".

While it is technically a Cafe-Coach, IRM's B&M 3288 is being restored and has a kitchen and dining area. Replicating the kitchen will be a challenge! Similar B&M car 3285 is a full diner but it would be safe to say work on it consists of stabilization rather than restoration. With the Zephyr, the 'Liner, ACL 'Birmingham', IC 3996, and L&N 2726 'Galt House' there are 7 Dining cars at IRM. You could add the picnic table car in its Marquette and Huron Mountain configuration, several work cars, and a number of Parlor-Obs and Business cars that have dining and/or Kitchen areas.

http://www.irm.org/gallery/BM3288



Also, I consider North Shore 415 at Seashore Trolley Museum a particularly interesting diner, currently categorized as a tavern/lounge. I don't know if any other interurban diner cars exist (that is, not coaches or trolleys rebuilt as roadside diners or spaghetti specials). Electroliners excluded of course.

OA -

I had the privilege of dining in CNS&M #415 one day. A group (perhaps CERA?) chartered the diner and ran it in with a regular North Shore consist. The look of surprise on commuters faces as we pulled into the various platforms on Chicago's "L" were priceless. Almost as good as seeing the surprised looks on people in Chicago's western suburbs when a Burlington steam special went through town.

Les