Pacific Sunset was converted from Union Pacific 10 roomette, 6 double bedroom sleeper "Pacific Sunset".  The car is Amtrak ready and Don has taken it to the west coast a couple of times.

Don also owns former Wabash business car #5, "Indiana" which is restored and in beautiful condition.  As Don said, "The interior finish of the Indiana is original.  Remarkably good for it's age, 1924.  The Wabash did some modifications in the early '50s, it could have been refinished then.  The wood is Cuban and Mexican mahogany.  All the blueprints, letters and specifications from when the car was built had been saved by the Railroad, which is unusual.  A fellow from the RR contacted the previous owner to see if he wanted all the records from the car that he was about to throw away.  How many railroad people would do that?  Probably an old Wabash guy.  Some of the correspondence between ACF and  the Wabash is included, which is interesting reading.  They spared no expense in building the car...it has some interesting features, such as a secret compartment in the President's bedroom  to hide the booze during prohibition.  I think you can still smell the  smoke from Arthur K. Atkinson's cigar.

Photos follow:

  Over the drop pit on shop trucks.  Interior photos are next:

Don still has three of the former Bluebird cars.  Dome chair car 201 has had the trucks rebuilt and is intact inside with the only surviving mural.  Dome parlor observation #1601 has had the trucks rebuilt, has HEP and other Amtrak requirements but still needs some cosmetic work.

  Dome chair car 201.

  Dome parlor observation #1601.

Don also owns dome chair car #202 which, along with the Pacific Sunset, is for sale.  Finally, Don has caboose 2854 and heavyweight combine #606.  According to a copy of a Wabash passenger car equipment book, the 606 was built in 1927 by St. Louis Car as a baggage-smoker with 26 smoking room seats.  Don said the seats are gone but the baggage racks and bulkhead between baggage room and smoking room exist.

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Last updated 04/25/2008