As many of you are aware of, VMT's Pullman "Lake Pearl" is currently undergoing an exterior restoration at Roanoke Chapter NRHS's 9th St facility. This is a contract restoration, with several Chapter members working on it as part time VMT employees, as well as some people volunteering. The restoration is being underwritten by an individual donor.

Work has been proceeding well on the car despite a fair amount of inclement weather. Much of the metalwork that is necessary is in the vestibule areas. We are reaching the point that some decisions will soon have to be made regarding what exact period the car will be restored to. The possible range is from the late 1930's when A/C was added to 1967 when it entered excursion service.

As preserved for the last 25 years, the car had a blue marbled linoleum in the vestibule and expanded metal safety tread on the steps. However, this is consistent with Southern Ry. Haynes Shop practices, and may not represent what was standard under Pullman ownership. I have not had any luck with any internet searches on finding out what was standard Pullman practice. Verbal information indicates that Pullman used checkered tile in the vestibules during the 1940's. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any evidence that anyone ever took any detailed photos of the vestibule of a Pullman car.

I am having similar issues on the interior. Our donor has expressed interest in possibly funding an interior restoration also. If this happens we would like to have the car restored to a consistent period on the outside and interior. The interior is currently finished in a green & white (rather ugly) scheme, and has solid heavy weave upholstery in 3 different badly faded and dry rotted colors. Again, this is consistent with SR practice, but I have also seen similar upholstery in photos of other preserved Pullmans.

Any information that you have on heavyweight Pullmans during the 1940-1960 time frame would be appreciated. Photos especially, but also contacts with other restorers and suppliers. To save the trouble of some obvious responses.....

Yes, we have contacted the Pullman Library
Yes, we have contacted Adlake about certain needed components..
We have a contact at SRHA that is looking for info
We are working with friends in the passenger car dept. at TVRM

Well, the museum I volunteer at has a Northern Pacific Pullman that was built in 1915 and modernized sometime in the 1940's (I think). It is currently unrestored and I believe has not been changed since being retired. I may be able to obtain access to the car and examine the vestibule area for signs of how it was originally configured.

The thing to do would be for personnel at other museums to do the same with Pullman cars of the same era to see if any consistent practice/pattern of flooring and/or tread can be derived from remaining evidence in the cars.

Have you tried the Pullman Co. records that are held at the Smithsonian Institution?

Here is a interior color list from a 1938 Northern Pacific Tourist Car rebuild.

http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GeneHa ... _0391A.jpg

-Hudson

The Newbeery Library in Chicago will have the data card on your specific car. It will identify the relevant drawings and interior design items like carpet, upholstery, paint, etc. They have some of the referenced drawings. IRM Pullman library has the rest of the drawings. Photo collection is split up some at Newberry, some at Smithsonian, some at California State Railroad Museum and i think some at Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. In most cases you will need to go to these facilities and do your own research. It is slow and copies are expensive. If you take the time, and do the traveling, you should be able to get every detail about the car when it came out of Pullman service. In looking at the ownership cards you will conclude that every car was different and researching your particular car is the only way you will be able to get your particular car correct.

On the checkerd floor covering, there were four different colors used that I know about, black, white, green and red, only two for any particular floor. There were squares of rubber, approximately two inches square, that were vulcanized to a black rubber back. RCA Rubber has offered to make this material in the past, but I do not know anyone that took the project as far as a quote. Most of the fabrics are available from a design center. They will probably come out of Europe and be custom dyed.

You project is doable, but will require a lot of research.

Most of the information that people have dished out so far is a bit misleading. It's harder to explain that can be easily done here on a forum. So please seek better guidance.

The guys at TVRM are well versed in SR interiors but they should be able to point you to somebody who knows Pullman interiors inside and out. The information is there, just keep looking.

And whatever you do...do not try to "improve" on the way the Lake Pearl was built. We see too many museum Pullmans with flowered curtains and bright red cushions on all the seats. Keep it authentic. Don't try to "re-decorate" the car to suit modern tastes.

T7

Here are a few of pictures taken of the vestibule and steps of the 1915-built Pullman CORYDON in the collection of Orange Empire Railway Museum. The car was sold to one of the movie studios in 1944. The pictures were taken today (Sunday Aug 4th).

These tiles have faded badly...the were originally were very dark green and terra cotta red. Nobody makes (nor will make for you) this pattern. You will need to get some 12 X 12 tiles and cut them down to the size you need. Then they should be glued to a thin sheet of some sort...to make a mat. The originals were glued to a rubber mat, good luck finding that. The mat is then cut and glued down. It's a lot of work but well worth the effort.

T7

Depending on thew thickness, recycled conveyor belt might be just what you need to back thinner modern tile. It's certainly resilient.

dave

All kinds of rubber sheet goods available from McMaster Carr that could work for the backer sheet; more difficult to find colored material for the show side. Might be easier to replicate with vinyl flooring products; colored squares bonded to vinyl sheet flooring.

Harder to find are going to be those step tread plates. These were cast iron, IIRC, with some sort of hard grit inclusions to yield a non slip surface that never wears out. This is likely still available in a straight line or check pattern, but the "bulls-eye" dots are distinctive. Nystrom has some cast plates on the last page of this catalog:

http://www.nystrom.com/ftpgetfile.php?id=3057

Don't know if they are available without the nosing lip.

On Edit: This outfit seems to offer a good selection of flat tread plates, Type 100, from 6" to 12" deep, should be something usable, but not the correct pattern:

http://www.thematking.com/business_indu ... s/into.htm

Try searching "cast iron non-slip stair tread, threshold".

By the way, as old as these steps are, they are likely not the original, until the twenties Pullman only used three tread steps.

Dennis,
You're correct about that. The change occurred in the mid-twenties and then earlier cars were rebuilt with the new configuration. More information can be found here on Thomas Madden's Pullman Project website: http://www.pullmanproject.com/Steps.htm

I suppose IRM's Pullman Library has drawings of both configurations.

You will NOT want to use vinyl (as suggested by somebody else), it will crack/break easily and discolor rather quickly. Overall vinyl will not hold up to the elements. The colored rubber tile is readily available (search on the internet) in 12 X 12 squares. The rubber will last for a long time without cracking.

They make a guillotine style tile cutter but I can never find one when I need one. Use a straight edge, utility knives and lots of patience to cut the rubber.

T7

Can't say I disagree... I was thinking vinyl might be easier to source in the proper colors, and would likely hold up OK in the interior, but UV exposure will kill in in the vestibule for sure... the floor will end up looking like an old cracked dashboard in a matter of years. Take Termite's advice and find the proper colors in rubber tile.

Jeff,

Is that the correct plan number? My copy of Tom Madden's CCR database (not the most current version) says LAKE PEARL is Lot 4725, Plan 3585, no sub letter shown, built 12 Oct. 1923. It does show the car going to Southern. 1923 sounds a bit late for a 25XX series plan number.

I gave Jeff the plan & lot numbers for the Lake Pearl. I got them from William Kratville's "Passenger Car Catalog", 1966 edition, pg. 36