|
Union Pacific
4051
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Buffet
- Lounge
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Dining Car is an important part of the railroad passenger train. It's the place where passengers eat their meals, and it's specially configured to cook and serve food. Originally built in 1928 as part of a ten-car order of 36-seat diners, this car was later modernized to blend in with the "streamlined" cars of the day. The upgrading included the installation of large picture windows and a modified roof. In 1964 the car was modified to become a Buffet-Lounge. The pantry portion of the kitchen was replaced with a lunch counter for passengers to use in lieu of table service. The car was retired in 1970 and sold to a company that planned to use it as part of a hotel project. Their plans to use the car in the project never happened and it ended up being sold again and moved to Nampa Idaho, where it was discovered by the Museum in 2008 after several decades of dead storage. The Museum purchased the car in 2008 and spent many months preparing it to move to California. It arrived at the Museum in February 2009. Since its arrival Museum volunteers have been working steadily to return the car to its in-service appearance. A major cleanup of the car was performed and all of the windows replaced with new glass. In late 2010, the exterior of the car had major bodywork performed and was repainted. Future phases of the project will focus on additional refurbishment of the interior including new carpeting and obtaining a complete set of the correct tables and furniture. Sister car 4054 is preserved at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, California. Re-numberings: Built 1928 as UP 316, re-numbered 1940 as 3616, re-numbered (II) 4051 1964. The acquisition and restoration of Car 4051 has been made possible through the generous support of Willard Seyb.
Video snapshot of the car shortly after its arrival in 2009
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Page Updated 4/7/11 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||