Anyone recall which pasenger cars were used for the Track 1 Restaurant at LaSalle Station? What happened to them? Were they still owned by the Rock Island when used for that restaurant?<p>On a similar thread, there was a restaurant [Iron Horse Restaurant?]in Tulsa that had a number of former IC cars and an ex-MP dome back in the 1970's. <br>Sonny Look's Steak House in downtown Houston had an ex-Santa Fe car, also back in the 1970's. I also recall a Santa Fe car being used as part of a diner in Santa Fe, N.M., about a block or two from the Santa Fe depot. Anyone know what those two cars were and what happened to them?<br>

I don't know the exact identity of the cars, or their ultimate disposition, however I was told that they were crewed by Dining Car Department employees who were surplus to the railroad's requirements, but could not be furloughged because of a clause in their union contracts.<p>The cars were veterans of the Golden State Limited, and were owned by the Rock Island at the time. I remember having a delicious lunch there in 1975. It closed shortly thereafter. (No coincidence I hope.)<br>



kevingillespie@usa.net

One of the cars used at the Track ! restaurant was Rock Island #481. This car was named the "Pacific Shore" The car was originally built for the New York Central's 20th Century Limited by Pullman Standard in 1948. It was one of two cars built for the train and was named the "Atlantic Shore", #10572. It was the mid-train lounge, complete with a small galley, secretary office w/phone booth and a barber shop w/shower.<p>NYC removed the car from Century service in 1959 and sold it to the Rock Island. It was used in various train service on the line until becoming a permanent resident at LaSalle St Station as the commuter restaurant.<p>Rock Island sold the car to a farmer in Clear Lake, Iowa to be used as migrant worker quarters. The WNYRHS acquired the car through donation in 1982 and moved the car one mile to the railhead and shipped it back to Buffalo, NY. The car is now in storage awaiting restoration funding.<p>The interior is fairly intact, although all the furniture is gone. The unique feature of the lounge was the mirrored walls on one side of the car which gives the area the illusion of a much larger room.<p>Hopefully, funds will be available someday to do the sheet metal work on the car and restore it to its former glory.



WNY RY Historical Society
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