Nostalgia & History > Al Chione Dupe Slides: GN Passenger Cars, Part 3

The next 4 slides:

Again, if anybody can identify who took these slides, when, or where, this would be very helpful!  Thanks in advance!

Photo #9: streamlined heavyweight 62 seat chair #955.  Built in 1914 by Barney & Smith in Lot #3666 as GN double-vestibuled 84 seat coach #4505, 1 of 30 such cars (#4500-#4529) built in that Lot, which were later renumbered to #950-#979.  #4500-#4509 had 84 seats and #4510-#4529 had 85 seats.  The #955 was modernized in 1935 with ice-activated air conditioning and a women's lounge, with seating reduced to 78 (still the original walkover coach seats).  The #955 was later rebuilt to a streamlined appearance, with seating reduced to 62 (31 sets of reclining chairs), a luggage tower (rack) at the men's end, and roller bearing axles.  I don't have any disposition info for this car.  Location of this photo is unknown.

Photo #10: streamlined heavyweight buffet-parlor blunt end observation #1085 (2nd).  Built in 1929 by Pullman in Lot #6249 to Plan #3990 as barber shop-37 seat buffet lounge sun room (solarium) observation David C. Shepard, 1 of 8 such cars built in that Lot for the Empire Builder; cars were delivered between May and June 1929.  In February 1941, GN acquired 7 of these cars as #1070-#1076, the David C. Shepard as #1073 (1st).  In October 1954, the #1073 (1st) was rebuilt to the #1085 (2nd) for the Seattle-Portland pool, with a 10 seat buffet and 26 parlor seats; the car was streamlined, with a blunt end observation, and the AC changed from ice activated to Waukesha.  Later, the #1085 (2nd) was redesignated rules instruction car #X-7853 (with the interior only slightly modified) which was renumbered as BN #B2 after the merger.  In 1974, the #B2 was renumbered/named as #A11 Deschutes River, which in 1982 was renumbered #B12; the #B12 was renumbered back to #A11 in 1989.  The #A11 was later rebuilt by BNSF to sleeper lounge #60, with 4 state rooms, retaining the name Deschutes River.  After the Stevens Pass (2nd) was sold in 2003, the Deschutes River was renamed Stevens Pass (3rd).  Location of this photo is unknown.

Posting from Estes Park, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/16 19:09 by Rainier_Rails.

Next 2:

Photo #11: steam generator #13.  Built in 1948 by EMD in Order #E836 as GN F3B #432B, 1 of 20 F3 locomotives built in that Order.  10 A units (#430A, #430D, #432A, #432D, #434A, #434D, #436A, #436D, #438A & #438D) and 10 B units (#430B, #430C, #432B, #432C, #434B, #434C, #436B, #436C, #438B & #438C).  Between 1965 and 1967, GN rebuilt 9 F3B's and 1 F9B to steam generators (heater cars) #10-#19, including the #432B, which was rebuilt to heater car #13 in June 1966.  6 of these 10 heater cars (#10-#15) were sold to Amtrak in August 1972 as #1910-#1915, the #13 as #1913.  In 1977, due to a labor disagreement, Amtrak renumbered its steam generators from the #19xx-series to the #6xx-series, the #1913 as #663.  The #663 was later retired and sold to the Lake Shore Railroad Historical Society and is now at the Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville.  Seen here in St. Paul.

Photo #12: express boxcar #2617, 1 of 50 such cars (#2600-#2649) built by GN in 1952.  I don't have any disposition info for this car.  Location of this photo is unknown.

Posting from Estes Park, CO

That's quite a history on the Stevens Pass.  I had tried to figure out the renaming & renumbering of that car and the same name applied to a sleeper, now sold, before.  Talk about confusing!  Here is the car in Topeka, and you will notice there are still windows on the end.  I believe it is now used by BNSF as a workout/gym car.

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Today's BNSF "Stevens Pass" still has the 4 large staterooms; this view shows the aisle side. There may be a small lounge or "workout" room 
at the vestibule end.

while your in colorado you can go see a GN express car at PUEBLO union depot