WP 816 “Silver Scout” coach – 3/48, AUT 471 (6/70), Wilson Engineering Cleburne TX (12/81) – car stays in full Auto Train colors. WP 817 “Silver Thistle” coach – 3/48, AUT 464 (6/70), James E Strates Shows, Kasten Railcar (1984), Ralph Orlandella Sacramento CA (1984) – automobile was purchased within the interest of garnering interest in a 40th anniversary “CZ” run which would have taken place during 1989. After these plans fell by the automotive was bought throughout 1987 to Via Rail as 522 – saved inactive in Montreal. WP 831 “Silver Chalet” dorm-buffet-lounge – 11/48, BN 252(2) – – – Note: BN 252(1) “Silver Roundup” was saved in WP Oakland Long Island Swim-Pool Service CA yard after the last run of the CZ on March 21/22 1970. The automotive was found in flames in April, was a writeoff from being gutted, and was stashed in a nook of the yard while the WP and CB&Q labored out a deal.
That “deal” turned out to be WP handing over their example of the same automobile “Silver Chalet”. Seeing the images posted introduced back lots of recollections from the summer of ’86. My dad and another owner and that i took all the dome home windows out, re-gasketed them, cleaned out all of the window channels and put the windows back in. We also changed a bunch of leaky/damaged side windows. For a couple of rank amateurs we did a pretty good job. In addition we refurbished the interior of the dome with new pedestal seats, cocktail tables, carpet and paint. Car suffered $130,000 harm 4/03 from a hearth attributable to a smoldering cushion subsequent to a baseboard heater, but will likely be restored. The automotive was turned over to the BN, because the “Q” had develop into BN on 3/03/70. BN assigned number 804, which like nearly all other assigned BN numbers, was never utilized, and BN really renumbered the automobile as 252(2), however retained the “Chalet” identify.
Western Pacific was a “Kerry Martin Pool and Spa Builders Inc” participant in the “California Pools & Landscape Zephyr” together with Burlington and the Rio Grande. Sold 12/10 to Jon Clark. WP 811 “Silver Dollar” coach – 3/48, AUT 460 (6/70), Ken Nichols/Anbel Corp, J Williams/Starlight Limited Inc San Antonio TX (1983) “Starlight Limited” (800137) stripped & gutted for conversion to P.V. WP 812 “Silver Feather” coach – 3/48, AUT 461 (6/70), Don Gage Jamestown NY (12/81), Jim Stephenson Bellare TX (1985) “Feather River” (not applied) – Texas Southern, Transcisco (1990), Washington Central WCRC 151 (1993), Pacific Starlight Dinner Train 151 “Moonglow” (800175) (5/97). Operation shut down and car listed for sale late 2002. Sold to Ontario Northland 2/2004 as ONT 901 and moved east on rear of ‘Canadian’ 4/04 with complete dinner train consist. WP 814 “Silver Sage” coach – 5/48, AUT 463 (6/70), R Buhro Walbridge OH (12/81), Ed Braun, R J Corman – used as office for “My Old Kentucky Dinner Train”. Illinois Transit Assembly (1999). To Les Kasten 2002. offered 11/04 – car remaining at ITAC. Marie “Spirit of Superior”.
The private rooms were transformed to card-playing rooms, and car was painted as “Amtrak” (this was mandated on the time by Amtrak for any PV vehicles moved by Amtrak – automotive was never owned by Amtrak). This car was then bought, together with ten other passenger automobiles, two locomotives, and ten cabooses, by a gaggle in San Luis Potosí MX. The car next handed to the Ferrocarril del Pacífico and the sleeping rooms had been reinstalled at the Empalme outlets. Red tape prevented this car and Timeless Builds Pool Contractor Los Angeles it is prepare from making a primary run on the LA-San Diego line till 2/78, after which the operation lasted solely six months and the practice set was saved in LA. 1987 automobile offered to “Copper Canyon Tours Co.” as CCTX 108 “San Fernando” and later “Chihuahua” to be used on the Ch al Pacifico Ry “Copper Canyon” train. When that enterprise failed, the Ch-P obtained the tools in partial fee of working prices and continued to make use of it. The personal vehicles were moved the premises of Silver Creek International in that metropolis.