Great shots Don!

Alexander's comment about the round end of C&O 1875 "Big Ben" (and presumably the other two ex-C&O obs cars) being butchered in their conversion to midtrain use got me worried, so I did a little research. Recent pics of the "Big Ben" and #1876 show them with the roofline extensions and diaphragms removed, and it appears that the round ends are pretty much intact except for the cutting & modification required for the full-height vestibule door. Even the top rear marker light housing was left intact, just covered up by the roofline extension.

A recent pic of #1875 "Big Ben"

http://trainweb.org/DOMEmain/picCO1875a.jpg

And #1876 "Silver Holly"

http://trainweb.org/DOMEmain/picCO1876.jpg

I found no good pictures of #1877, "Linoma", but presumably the midtrain modifications have been removed from that car as well.

Well, sheesh, fine, DON'T tell us where the 1875 and 1876 are today....... <:-/

Well, according to Weblurker's Dome-main, Silver Holly #1876, is on display at the Daytona Beach (FL) Museum of Arts & Sciences

http://moas.org/index.cfm.

There's no location given for #1875, though it's said to be owned by Ben Butterworth (Jr.?) as of 2006.

A previous post listed the location of the Big Ben as "Field of Dreams, Iowa". I suspect this was sarcastic - am I correct?

I have heard that Ben Butterworth's equipment has moved to Indianapolis - is that correct? If so, that may have included the Big Ben and the Limona.

I second the kudos to Don C. for his fine photos - I have never seen pictures of the DL&W diner in Amtrak paint or in service on the RI.

While it's not a dome, the Bluewater NRHS obs car 6604 (Budd ex-SAL) also had a vestibule added, then removed, to and from its round end. Today you would never know this work was done unless someone told you.

Chris.