Nostalgia & History > MKT heavyweight diner and ATSF car -- May 82

A friend of mine showed me two cars "hidden" away in the shade.
Bad memory, these were at Austin or San Antonio.

(1-3)  It was nice to see this MKT heavyweight diner - last used in work service - that had 
          survived.

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(4)  The K-A-T-Y that was painted above the window was (I think) used during the 
       passenger service years.

(5-6)  A couple from the dark inside.
         The dining area still had the floor heating vents, a couple of light fixtures and windows that 
         could be opened. The car doesn't look like it was rebuilt for air-conditioning so the meals 
         served in the summer must have been rough
          The kitchen looked to be in fair shape after all those years.
         I don't know what happened to this car.

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(7)  Next to the diner was ex-Santa Fe "shorty" business car #428.
      Built by P-S in 1925, I believe it is now in Colorado. 

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I wonder if the MKT car survived? Anybody know?

Wow, I had no idea the Katy diner lasted that long. It was built in 1918 by AC&F for the MKT of Texas, as their #2050, Cameron Park. It later was renamed Waco. Deramus had the car rebuilt by Darby, and it came out nameless as MKT 1, and was the last car on the last southbound Texas Special out of Dallas. I really wish that one had made it into preservation, as to my knowledge it was cut up, but I thought it had happened in the late 60's early 70's.

Bradley Linda
Waco, TX

I remember seeing these buried deep in the San Antonio SP yard when I was stationed there in the early 80's.

Brian Ehni



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/17 11:51 by twin_star_rocket.

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The MKT car.

Brian Ehni

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The other ATSF Division Superindenant car was 404.

Brian Ehni

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Are either one of the ex Santa Fe cars still around?

According to this, 404 went to the Texas Transportation Muesum, and 428 is in Meade, CO. I have not verified either.
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr162.htm

Brian Ehni
 

404 is indeed, still extant. http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/collection-santa-fe-404.php

And I see some railcars at Boulder Scientific at this address in Google Earth, but non seem to be a shorty observation. The other Boulder Scientific location has no rail cars visible.
598 3rd St, Berthoud, CO 80513


Brian Ehni

Thanks for the shots of the cars in the San Antonio yard.
I wasn't sure where I took my shots, but San Antonio it was.

Gary

428 did go to Boulder Scientific in Colorado after it left the Fillmore & Western in the early 2000's

Too bad if the Katy diner got cut up.  None of the tell-tale signs of side-sill rot you normally see on a long neglected heavyweight car.

Tim

Neat 6 wheel trucks on the Katy diner!