4449 Heads East for Train Festival 2009: Silver Rapids

…Continued from Silver Lariat.

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.

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.

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.

Silver Rapids in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Continue to Silver Solarium…

4449 Heads East for Train Festival 2009: Colonial Crafts

…Continued from Chesapeake & Ohio #3 Chapel Hill.

Colonial Crafts in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Colonial Crafts is the only survivor of eight Colonial-series 3-Bedroom, 1-Drawing Room, Buffet Lounge cars built by Pullman-Standard for the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of a 95-car order. Colonial Crafts entered service in Chicago on June 4, 1949 and was originally assigned #8412.

Colonial Crafts in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

In May 1964, Colonial Crafts was reclassified as a parlor car; the bedrooms were closed and the car was renumbered #7149. In 1970 the car was retired to a museum in western Pennsylvania. The car’s current owners, Rod & Ellen Fishburn bought the car in 1985 and restored it to its original appearance and operating condition.

Colonial Crafts in Wishram, Washington on July 3, 2009

Continue to Silver Lariat…

Pennsylvania RR GG1 #4927

Pennsylvania #4927 is a GG1 built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at its own Juanita Shops in Altoona, PA in 1942. 139 GG1s were built between 1934 and 1943, all for the Pennsylvania Railroad. They were transferred to the Pennsylvania’s successor Penn Central in 1968. 40 GG1s were eventually sold to Amtrak, including #4927 in 1976, when it became Amtrak #4939. The rest operated on Penn Central’s successor Conrail until 1979. 13 of those were acquired by New Jersey Transit. Amtrak retired the GG1s in 1981. The last operating GG1s were retired from New Jersey Transit in 1983. Today, only 16 of the 139 GG1s survive. #4927 is one of those few, having found its way to IRM after its retirement in 1981. It was restored to Pennsylvania colors in 1999.

Continue to South Shore Line #803…