Pages

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

4449 Heads East for Train Festival 2009: Silver Rapids

…Continued from Silver Lariat.

IMG_7747 Pennsylvania Railroad 'California Zephyr' Sleeper 'Silver Rapids' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Rapids in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Silver Rapids is a California Zephyr 10-6 Sleeper built by the Budd Company for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1948 for through service between New York City and Oakland, California. This was the only car of this design owned by the Pennsylvania. The name Silver Rapids was selected for this car because all California Zephyr cars had names that started with Silver, and all of the Pennsylvania's other 10-6 sleepers had named ending with Rapids. The car was assigned #8449.

IMG_7751 Pennsylvania Railroad 'California Zephyr' Sleeper 'Silver Rapids' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Rapids in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

The California Zephyr's through service to New York City ended in 1957, and Silver Rapids served as just another 10-6 sleeper on the Pennsylvania Railroad and its successor Penn Central. In 1971 the car was sold to Amtrak and it remained in service until 1980, when it was retired. David Goodheart purchased the car from Amtrak in 1985 and rebuilt it to then-current Amtrak standards.

IMG_7761 Pennsylvania Railroad 'California Zephyr' Sleeper 'Silver Rapids' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Rapids in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

California Zephyr Railcar Charters began leasing Silver Rapids from Goodheart in 2000, and purchased the car from his estate in 2005. Originally featuring 10 roomettes and 6 bedrooms, two of Silver Rapids' roomettes have been converted into a galley and a shower room.

IMG_7764 Pennsylvania Railroad 'California Zephyr' Sleeper 'Silver Rapids' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Rapids
in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Continue to Silver Solarium

No comments:

Post a Comment