http://www.bytrain.org/

http://www.bytrain.org/
joshua@NOSPAMjoshuakblay.com

Most of these cars are the former C&NW business train cars (and former F7B HEP unit) they bought when the UP took over the C&NW. They were really nice when the C&NW still had them.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

It would be interesting to learn the complete histories of these cars, and which C&NW trains they were normally assigned to when new.

NCDOT has a nice website and appears somewhat committed to rail transport in their state. Note, though, the award of two million dollars to upgrade shortlines. While no doubt helpful to the railroads involved, two million would only build a highway interchange or two and is a drop in the bucket in overall transportation funding. This, to me, is indicative of the lack of understanding Americans have for utilizing railroads to their full advantage to make the roads safer and last longer, by reducing truck traffic on them. Railroads, big and small, need to do a lot better job at educating the public about their importance to society, to get a bigger portion of the transportation pie.



ryarger@rypn.org

Would be nice to see something fresh on that page. Been the same stale listing (sans details) for some time...

teamzurg@earthlink.net

None of these cars are original C&NW cars, they were acquired and rebuilt in the 80's just for the business train (with one exception, noted below). The following is the heritage of these cars (and the f-unit) as I remember:
Full Dome Car; ex-AMTRAK, ex-Auto Train, ex-Milwaukee Road
Open End Observation Business Car; ex-Chicago Great Western (acquired in C&NW-CGW merger)
2 Eight-Bedroom Sleeping Cars; ex-Kansas City Southern Coaches
Dining Car; ex-Alaska Railroad, ex-Union Pacific
F-B Unit Power Car; ex-Chicago Great Western F3B

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

Oops, I was thinking of the wrong dome car. The ex-C&NW Super Dome car went to CN after the Milwaukee, and then went through a series of private owners before the C&NW.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

I had a chance to find the history of these cars last night. Additional info and corrections are below:

> Full Dome Car; Built by Pullman in 1952 for the Milwaukee Road. This car was part of lot 6908, plan 7635; Milwaukee numbered the Super Dome 53 and used in on the Olympian Hiawatha. In 1964, the car was sold to the Canadian National as car #2401, Athabaska. CN rebuilt the car in 1974 and it became a 54 seat lounge on the upper level and a 20 seat cafe on the lower level; at this time it was renumbered 2701. VIA Rail used the car on various runs through 1982 when it became surplus.
In 1983, Milwaukee Rail Car purchased the car and it was charted by various groups for several months. The C&NW became interested in the car after seeing it on excursions and using it on test runs. Milwaukee Rail Car rebuilt it with an upper lounge that seated 54 and contained a bar and sold it to the C&NW in 1985. The lower level became a dining room with a capacity of 16. It was the only dome car that the C&NW ever owned.

> Open End Observation Business Car; ex-Chicago Great Western (acquired in C&NW-CGW merger)

> 2 Eight-Bedroom Sleeping Cars; Built by Pullman in 1965 as Kansas City Southern 72-seat coaches #273 and 276. The plan number was 53614, lot number 7033. In 1969, due to the KCS' passenger service demise, the New Jersey Department of Transportation purchased the cars and they ran under the same number on CNJ commuter trains. The cars were eventually transferred to NJ Transit.
Through a swap with NJ Transit of four C&NW F-Units for nine NJT coaches (four of which were never used by C&NW), the Chicago and North Western acquired* the cars in 1986. Milwaukee Rail Car completely rebuilt the cars into eight stateroom sleepers with four shared shower / bathrooms and delivered the car to C&NW in July of 1986.

> Dining Car; Built by Pullman in 1947 as a 36 seat diner under plan 7499 and lot 6718 for the Burlington's use on the Empire Builder. The car was numbered 1154 and named Lake Michigan. In 1951, the car was reassigned to the Great Northern for use on the Western Star. 1952 saw the number of seats increase to 42 and in 1955, ownership actually passed to the Great Northern. The car remained through the formation of Burlinton Northern and the creation of Amtrak as BN kept the car for business excursions and renumbered it A-12. The car was considered surplus in 1983 and was sold to Railway Equipment and Transportation Company who restored it to its original Empire Builder scheme of orange and green.
Upon C&NW approval*, Milwaukee Rail Car purchased the car from RE&T and rebuilt the car with movable tables and convection ovens. The tables could be arranged in a four plus two configuration or as one long buffet.

> F-B Unit Power Car; Originally built as Chicago Great Western F5B #102D, and renumbered by CNW to 304, the locomotive was stripped of the prime mover, generator, and traction motors. Two Cummins HEP generators were installed for train heating, lighting, and air conditioning.

*The Chicago and North Western and Milwaukee Rail Car had an unusual method for handling the railroad's business car acquisitions. C&NW would test a car, "approve" it, and Milwaukee Rail Car would purchase and rebuild the car to C&NW's specifications. Upon completion, the C&NW would buy the car from Milwaukee Rail Car. This method was used to reduce rebuilding costs.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

These former C&NW business train cars (and F7B HEP unit) are going to be actioned on EBAY. See link below for details.

Boyd


NCDOT Cars for Sale - Info
bowens@rypn.org

> These former C&NW business train cars
> (and F7B HEP unit) are going to be actioned
> on EBAY. See link below for details.

> Boyd

Thanks Boyd! That's the kind of info I was hoping to see. Very enlightening.



teamzurg@earthlink.net