hi train people! i am currently in the process of renovating an old wood sided and wood interior train car here in new mexico. i have tried to identify its origin and use, but, am not sure about it. i saw a pic on the internet that looks a bit like it, however, it would be great to have more info. the pic i saw called it a foremans car.
the person i got it from said it was a crew car that was used to house the folks who were building the railroad, hence, the normal house sized window openings and doors. some of the metal latches have the AT&SF initials on them, so, i know its from that system.
if anyone can offer any help.....i would be very happy!
thanks

Looks like a G. I. Pullman.....a troop transport car. Many were surplussed into work train crew accomodations.

dave

hmmmm, interesting. which war would that have been for? is there a way to find some id on the car somewhere. like a number or something?
thanks for the quick response!

Not a former troop sleeper, but an AT&SF wood-sided boxcar, later made into some sort of camp car/work train car by AT&SF. I'd bet there are Santa Fe historians who could give you far more detail on this car.

There were no wood-sided "G. I. Pullmans", at least not in the WW 2 era.

Howard P.

Santacarolina -

This car looks like it still might have its underframe. If so, then you might find the railroad reporting marks and the car number somewhere on that frame. A member of one of the AT&SF historical societies might give you an idea as to where to look. Of course, this depends on whether you can gain access to the underframe. I am not quite sure what that white area under the sides of the car is made out of. If a concrete pad, then scratch that idea. But if it is just wood planking or something, it might be fairly easy to gain access. Take a flashlight, and be careful under there!

Les

Hi les...thanks for the response. It does indeed have its under frame and there is access to the under side. I don't know of a local group, but will do some searching.
Thanks

I would concur that it was a wood boxcar that was pressed into duty as a work car. PRR took their old 1890s X-23 wooden box cars that were sitting in dead lines on sidings around their system and converted them into NX-23 cabooses in 1942 for the war effort. Search the web for ATSF boxcars in photo sections and you might find your car.

Good luck with your restoration. From the photo it looks in very good shape.

Later!
Mr. Ed

Thanks Ed.....will try to find with that search.
Also, thanks for the compliment! It's still in process, but, has come a long, long way from when I got it. I'll try to add updates when it's ready.