Nostalgia & History > Big Ben on Maroon Monday

Big Ben at Joliet, IL on Train #6 from Rock Island the morning of March 29, 1971.  Ben's round end went first into Chicago so it was last in the evening going west.

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Was that built for C&O's Chessie?

Yes it was, in 1948 I believe.  Happy I rode it back in '73.

-John

Yes, Big Ben was built for the Chessie and sold to the Rio Grande, where they added a mid-train diaphragm.

After the Royal Gorge and Yampa Valley trains were discontinued, Rio Grande sold their domed-observation cars to private owners. Butterworth Tours acquired and named one of the 3 cars Big Ben and ran it on the Quad Cities Rocket until 1975. For less than $20 you could ride in Big Ben round trip from Rock Island to Chicago, have a ham and eggs breakfast in the diner and a full dinner on the return trip. The track was a bit rough - coffee cups were limited to half-full, but it was a fun trip.

Gordy Bjoraker
Hiawatha101

Nice that it was placed next to the diner too. I worked #5&6 occasionally from 1972-76 before heading west to the UP.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Great photo of a neat car, providing an interesting service. 

Andy

What ever became of Big Ben?

I believe the car is owned by "Big Ben" himself these days, and stored in Charles City, IA.

Here's a shot from inside of Big Ben taken in 1972 on board the Quad City Rocket.  My brother (glord) took the photo of me (cnw8531) on one of our trips into Chicago and back.  Those were fun trips and I'd give just about anything to go back and do it all again!

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First time I have seen an interior shot of that dome.  I almost had a chance to ride the Big Ben when it was on the Michigan Northern.  They pulled it at the last minute before departure from Cadillac.  Darn!  Here is a shot of the Big Ben taken the day prior riding to Mackinaw City. This was Labor Day weekend 1983.

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