Wednesday, August 5, 2015

4449 Heads East for Train Festival 2009: Silver Lariat

…Continued from Colonial Crafts.

IMG_7744 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 'California Zephyr' Dome Coach 'Silver Lariat' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Lariat in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Silver Lariat is a Dome Coach built by the Budd Company for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1948 for use on the Chicago-Oakland California Zephyr, which was jointly operated by the CB&Q, the Denver & Rio Grande Western and the Western Pacific. The car was assigned #4718. In California Zephyr service, Silver Lariat was originally designated for unescorted women and mothers with young children and was the first dome car in the train, right behind the baggage car.

IMG_7748 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 'California Zephyr' Dome Coach 'Silver Lariat' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Lariat in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

When CB&Q was merged into Burlington Northern in 1970, Silver Lariat was to become BN #4682 but was not relettered before being sold to Amtrak in 1971, where it served as #9452 until its retirement in July 1984. Current owners Al Bishop and Burt Hermey purchased the car from Amtrak in 1985 and spent 5 years restoring it.

IMG_7763 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 'California Zephyr' Dome Coach 'Silver Lariat' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Lariat in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Silver Lariat still contains an original California Zephyr mural by Mary Louise Lawser called Pony Express. Silver Lariat is currently operated by California Zephyr Railcar Charters with two other former California Zephyr cars: Silver Rapids and Silver Solarium.

IMG_7766 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 'California Zephyr' Dome Coach 'Silver Lariat' in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009
Silver Lariat
in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Continue to Silver Rapids

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