Varnish

This page shows some of the passenger equipment that I've bumped into in various places. I'll be adding more views as I manage to locate the pictures in my pile o' feathers!

Open-end Pullman observation car FRIENDSHIP, sitting on a spur in South Fork, CO on 12/26/2000. It's destined to be the offices of the Wagon Wheel Gap railroad, a startup tourist line between South Fork and Creede.

On 12/26/98, Amtrak #5 (the California Zephyr was sporting two private cars in the consist at Rocky Flats, including this car-- lettered "Trans Alpine and Sierra". It also appears in the shot below. (If you have any information about this car, please drop me a line.)

Wisconsin Central's private car "Sierra Hotel" is on Amtrak #5 ) at Plainview, 12/26/98. This car was originally CB&Q #251, the dorm-buffet-lounge "Silver Lounge" from the original California Zephyr. It was modified in 1987/88 with an open-end observation platform.

Grand Canyon Railway dome car "Coconino", parked at the South rim on 4/12/99. This car was originally Northern Pacific #554, and has been on the GCRY since 1996.

Opposite side of the "Coconino". Visit the WebLurker's DOME.main for more information on this and other dome cars.

The 1915-vintage heavyweight Ski Train cars. Here they're rounding the curve at Crescent in January 1982 (I think...). It was the annual Mayor of Denver's ski trip. These eight cars served on the Ski Train up until 1987, when they were sold to the Napa Valley Wine Train.

A round-end observation car destined for the startup tourist line between South Fork and Creede, resting in Monte Vista, CO on 10/20/01. If you have information about this car's heritage, please contact me with details. The reporting marks read "PPCX 6401".

It doesn't look like much now, but this car has a long and glorious history. Originally built with wood sheathing by Barney & Smith in 1910 as Western Pacific's OAKLAND, it was returned to the D&RGW in November 1923. In 1936 it was rebuilt with steel sheathing and large picture windows as diner-lounge MOUNT YALE. It saw service on the premier trains of the day, including the Exposition Flyer and others. It was retired and put into maintenance-of-way service as AX-3275 in February 1953. Here it's seen at Grand Junction, December 1, 2002.

Amtrak's high-level cars, called Superliners, were delivered in two major groups.  The first batch came in 1977-78 (now referred to as Superliner I), and the second in 1994 (Superliner II).  They are used primarily on the Western long-distance trains (e.g. Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited), in California, and on the Auto Train.  All of these photos are of the California Zephyr.

 Coach 31523, shown at Glenwood Springs on 11/30/02.

Another view of coach 31523.  A Superliner I built as coach/baggage car No. 31023, this coach is now classified as a Super Smoker.

Coach No. 34062 is seen on the California Zephyr at Grand Junction, CO on 1/05/2006.  On this day the train was being run as a stub operation west of Denver, turning at Grand Junction, and as such was run without sleepers, baggage car, or lounge.  Three coaches and a diner behind two P42DC's were the entire train.  The announced reason was because of  flooding in California, although why they didn't run through to Salt Lake was not explained to me.  This is a standard S1 coach.

Transition Sleeper 39019, a Superliner I (1/1/04).  Look closely at the far end of the car and you will see a small window on the end.  These cars have a standard-height vestibule on that end, allowing passage into the baggage car (or other standard-height equipment).

Sleeper 32050, a Superliner I in essentially original paint, the Phase II scheme-- note the extremely narrow white separation between the red and blue.  It's at Coal Creek Canyon west of Denver, trailing a coach in the same scheme, in July 1986.

Sleeper 32059, at Glenwood Springs on 11/30/02.  It's a Superliner I, and the former paint scheme is showing through in places.

Sleeper 32083, a Superliner II carrying the name "IOWA".  S2 sleepers are named for states.  (1/1/04)

Sightseer Lounge car 33013, a Superliner I (8/07/01).  These cars are the best place to be for the scenic portions of a trip, particularly in Colorado's canyon country.

Sightseer Lounge car 33020, a Superliner I (11/30/02).  Lounge cars are the most easily spotted, with their large amount of glass on sides and roof.

Interior of a Superliner I Sightseer Lounge car, upper level.  Photo is taken standing with the stairway immediately to the left.  Notice the earth-tone interior, which is the as-built color scheme.  Word has it that some cars have been refitted in the Superliner II scheme (see below).  Sightseer lounges have a TV monitor at each end of the car, to the left of the aisle, on which movies are played in the evenings.

Interior of a Superliner I Sightseer Lounge car, upper level, looking the opposite direction.  Stairway is just to the right.  Seat cushions in these lounges are a putty-colored tan on the stationary seats (lounge clusters) in the middle of the car, and darker brown on the swivel seats to each end.

Sightseer Lounge car 33041, a Superliner II, waiting at Denver Union Station on 1/1/04.  Notice that the vestibule door is more centered than on a Superliner I, and that this side of the lower level has no windows beyond the door. 

The opposite side of Sightseer Lounge car 33041.  You can see that the lower level on this side has two regular-size windows to the left of the door, plus one smaller window (in the lounge attendant's area). 

Interior of a Superliner II Sightseer Lounge car, upper level.  The steward at left is coming up the staircase.  Yes, that's the Ski Train visible out the right-hand windows; photo taken at Denver Union Station.

Interior of a Superliner II Sightseer Lounge car, upper level, looking the opposite direction.  Stairway is just to the right.  Notice the interior colors based on light gray, which is the as-built color scheme.  Stationary seats (lounge clusters) typically are dark blue-gray, and the swivel seats at each end of the car are maroon.

Interior of a Superliner II Sightseer Lounge car, lower level.  Stairway is on the right, beyond the vestibule area.  Photo taken from doorway of the lavatory, which is the full width of the car and handicap-accessible.  The door at the far end leads to the concession area.  The tables on the near end are designed for easy access by those with disabilities, whereas the tables at the far end are standard booths.

Diner 38008, a Superliner I, at Glenwood Springs on 11/30/02.

Diner 38062, a Superliner II.  It was quite new when this photo was taken on June 30, 1995.  The Phase 4 paint scheme with the two narrow red stripes debuted with the Superliner II series; note the other cars in the train are still in the Phase 3 scheme.  By the way, food onboard contemporary Amtrak diners is first-class.

Diner 38011, a Superliner I, at Glenwood Springs on 1/1/2004.